These unlocked phones will give you maximum freedom, with the ability to switch carriers at will and easily use your phone abroad.
The best unlocked phones in the US offer total no-contract freedom if you’re willing to accept a deceptively high full price. Because unlocked phones aren’t tied down to any specific carrier, you get to choose which mobile carrier you want to use and can freely switch between plans.
As mobile carriers have moved further and further away from locked-down contracts, many more phones are available with no strings attached, including unlocked iPhones. This can make it trickier to decide which one you want.
And, while many of the best unlocked phones will work on the networks of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and most MVNOs (minor carriers that operate on bigger carrier’s networks), some GSM-only phones have limited support for certain networks. This makes it even trickier to be sure you’re getting a phone that’ll work for you.
We’re here to help, though. We’ve reviewed all of the best phones, and have the details you’ll need about which carriers you can use them on. We’ve taken all that information to rank the best unlocked phones for you, so you can get a phone that’ll work with the carriers you want and let you save money by only getting the data plan you need, not the one stipulated by an installment agreement.
If you’re ready, here are the best unlocked phone options available to you.
Release date: March 2019| Weight: 175g/198g (ceramic)| Dimensions: 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm| OS: Android 9| Screen size: 6.4-inch| Resolution: 1440 x 3040| CPU: Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9820| RAM: 8GB/12GB| Storage: 128GB/512GB/1TB| Battery: 4,100mAh| Rear camera: 12MP wide + 12MP 2x telephoto + 16MP ultrawide| Front camera: 10MP + 8MP
If you to just get the best phone out there without worry about its hefty cost, then the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus is it. This powerful Android phones runs on the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset backed by 8GB to 12GB of RAM, so it can blast through productivity and gaming alike.
The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display is incredibly sharp and features a hole-punch design for the twin front-facing cameras, allowing the screen to stretch extra high up on the front of the phone. And, the three rear cameras on the back of the Galaxy S10 Plus are among the best we’ve ever seen.
Will it work for me? Samsung’s phones support a wide range of carriers, including the big four here in the US. Expect full support at AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. (Note: Make sure you’re buying the US-version with a Snapdragon chipset for full carrier support.)
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review
Release date: September 2018| Weight: 208g| Dimensions: 157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7mm| OS: iOS 12| Screen size: 6.5-inch| Resolution: 1242 x 2688| CPU: A12 Bionic| RAM: 4GB| Storage: 64/256/512GB| Battery: 3,174mAh| Rear camera: 12MP+12MP| Front camera: 7MP
Apple’s iPhone XS Max offers a heaping dose of performance and screen space. With its nearly bezel-less display measuring a full 6.5 inches, it’s stunning to look at. Surgical steel around the edge and a glass front and back make it the phone itself quite the looker as well. While the price is certainly high, there is no better Apple phone.
Will it work for me? Apple says the unlocked iPhone XS Max can be activated with any carrier, which means you’ll have no issue with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon, and many smaller carriers will likely work as well. Unlike last year’s new iPhone, you won’t have to choose between Intel GSM-only and Qualcomm GSM+CDMA modems – Apple went with an Intel GSM+CDMA modem from the start.
Read More:iPhone XS Max review
Release date: October 2018| Weight: 148g| Dimensions: 145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm| OS: Android Pie| Screen size: 5.5-inch| Resolution: 1080 x 2160| CPU: Snapdragon 845| RAM: 4GB| Storage: 64GB/128/256GB| Battery: 2,915mAh| Rear camera: 12.2MP| Front camera: Dual 8MP
Google’s Pixel 3 once again sets the bar for what a smartphone camera can do. The Pixel 3 has the updated specs you’d expect from an Android smartphone released in 2018, even if the design hasn’t quite followed the bezel-free design others are going for. Still, the screen is a usable 5.5-inch OLED with dual front-facing speakers that are nice to have. The battery is enough to get the job done each day, and Google’s ongoing software updates make this a phone that won’t become irrelevant too quickly.
