Want to freely choose and switch wireless carriers? These are the best unlocked smartphones you can buy.
Buying an unlocked smartphone in the US can be a smart move, whether you want to travel the globe or simply don’t want to be tied to a single carrier like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint. You’ll be able to swap in SIM cards between various carriers and use the phone anywhere in the world. Say goodbye to expensive roaming charges.
However, there are a few drawbacks with these no contract, unlocked phones. They’re typically expensive since you don’t sign up for a normal two-year contract. You’re no longer subsidizing the full price of the phone (no, it doesn’t really cost $199), so the upfront cost will be much higher.
That high up-front cost can be worth it, though. Being able to freely switch between carriers means you can always get the right mobile plan at the right price for you. Want unlimited data one month but won’t need it the next month? With an unlocked phone, you can switch as needed without worrying about breaking some agreement you have with a carrier.
That high up-front cost can be worth it, though. Being able to freely switch between carriers means you can always get the right mobile plan at the right price for you. Want unlimited data one month but won’t need it the next month? With an unlocked phone, you can switch as needed without worrying about breaking some agreement you have with a carrier
1. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
The best Android phone around
Release date: March 2018| Weight: 189g| Dimensions: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5mm| OS: Android 8 Oreo| Screen size: 6.2-inch| Resolution: 1440 x 2960| CPU: Snapdragon 845 / Exynos 9810| RAM: 6GB| Storage: 64GB/128GB| Battery: 3,500mAh| Rear camera: Dual 12MP| Front camera: 8MP
Super premium build
Excellent low-light cameras
Battery not amazing
It’s not hard to pick the best unlocked phone when the best smartphone on the market is available unlocked. Samsung’s big, powerful Galaxy S9 Plus is the phone to beat, with its stunning 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display that isn’t flanked by ugly bezels or an over-hyped notch. It’s dual-lens, dual-aperture camera is also one of the best on the market (bested only by the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro). Let’s not forget it also has a big, fast-charging battery, Face Unlock, AR Emoji and a commendable 3.5mm headphone jack.
Will it work for me? The Galaxy S9 Plus supports a wide range of connections, with GSM and CDMA support. It’ll work on all major US mobile carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint T-Mobile and US Cellular, and even on many smaller carriers, like Boost Mobile and Cricket.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review
2. iPhone X
The best iPhone Apple has ever made
Release date: October 2017| Weight: 174g| Dimensions: 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm| OS: iOS 11| Screen size: 5.8-inch| Resolution: 1125×2436| CPU: A11 Bionic| RAM: 3GB| Storage: 64/256GB| Battery: 2716mAh| Rear camera: 12MP+12MP| Front camera: 7MP
Brilliant screen
Powerful innards
Incredibly expensive
iOS 11 can be buggy
Though Apple’s most advanced iPhone to date didn’t initially launch unlocked, Apple has since released a SIM-free model. The iPhone X boasts a fully revamped design, with a bezel-free, 5.8-inch display. This is Apple’s first iPhone to include an OLED screen, for vastly improved image contrast and better battery life. The iPhone X’s advanced front-facing camera enables Apple’s secure facial recognition and Animoji. Though iOS 11 problems can crop up, this is still the best iPhone there is, and that makes it the best unlocked iPhone as well.
Will it work for me? Apple says the unlocked iPhone X as working with any carrier. Expect no issues getting connected with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon.
Read more: iPhone X review
3. Samsung Galaxy S9
A great phone for the smaller-handed
Release date: March 2018| Weight: 163g| Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm| OS: Android 8 Oreo| Screen size: 5.8-inch| Resolution: 1440 x 2960| CPU: Snapdragon 845 / Exynos 9810| RAM: 4GB| Storage: 64GB/128GB| Battery: 3,000mAh| Rear camera: 12MP| Front camera: 8MP
Premium build
Excellent screen
Battery life not great
Single sensor on the rear
Samsung’s Galaxy S9 is a great unlocked option for someone with a slightly smaller budget and hand. In most ways, it lives up to the reputation established by the Galaxy S9 Plus. It has the same powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset, a brilliant Super AMOLED display, but 5.8 inches in this case. Casual photographers will get a lot of mileage out of the new camera, which can capture superb low-light photos. Stereo speakers make streaming movies and TV shows that much better. And, Hi-Fi audio fans can breathe easy knowing the Galaxy S9 also has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Will it work for me? The Galaxy S9 supports a wide range of connections, with GSM and CDMA support. It should work on all major US mobile carriers and even on many smaller carriers.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S9 review
4. Google Pixel 2 XL
A great cameraphone with a neat design
Release date: October 2017| Weight: 175g| Dimensions: 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9mm| OS: Android 8 Oreo| Screen size: 6-inch| Resolution: 1440 x 2880| CPU: Snapdragon 835| RAM: 4GB| Storage: 64GB/128GB| Battery: 3,520mAh| Rear camera: 12MP| Front camera: 8MP
Superb camera
Great design
No 3.5mm headphone port
Screen has poor viewing angles
For a clean Android experience and fast updates to the latest software, the Pixel 2 XL is the right choice. It’s the biggest and latest from Google, and has an edge on the smaller Pixel 2, as it has reduced bezels around a crisp Quad HD+ OLED display. That screen is 6 inches and flanked by front-facing stereo speakers for a superior experience watching content. The Pixel 2 XL camera also ranks among the best on a smartphone. Pair all that with a good battery life, and you’ve got a great unlocked phone.
Will it work for me? The Pixel 2 XL boasts world-wide network compatibility, supporting both GSM and CDMA networks. It should work on all GSM-based mobile carriers in the US as well as Sprint, Verizon, smaller MVNOs and Google’s Project Fi network.
Read more: Google Pixel 2 XL review
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
A brilliant phone for camera and stylus fans alike
Release date: September 2017| Weight: 195g| Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6mm| OS: Android 7.1.1 Nougat| Screen size: 6.3-inch| Resolution: 1440 x 2630| CPU: Exynos 8895| RAM: 6GB| Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB| Battery: 3,300mAh| Rear camera: Dual 12MP| Front camera: 8MP
Amazing performance
Impressive camera
Expensive
Weak speaker
The Galaxy Note 8 may not be Samsung’s latest phone anymore, but it’s still the biggest, and that’s handy for folks that want as much screen real estate as possible. It comes with a dazzling 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display that goes right to the edges of the phone. There’s still plenty of performance coming from the Snapdragon 835 chipset as well. The dual-camera setup doesn’t fall far behind the competition either. Samsung’s S Pen for the Note 8 opens the door to special features that make this phablet a great pick for customers with mobile productivity in mind.
Will it work for me? The Galaxy Note 8 supports a wide range of connections, with GSM and CDMA support. It should work on all major US mobile carriers and even on many smaller carriers.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review
6. LG V30
An impressive combination of power and performance
Release date: September 2017| Weight: 158g| Dimensions: 151.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm| OS: Android 7| Screen size: 6.0-inch| Resolution: 1440 x 2880| CPU: Snapdragon 835| RAM: 4GB| Storage: 64/128GB| Battery: 3300mAh| Rear camera: 16MP+16MP| Front camera: 5MP
Streamlined design
Excellent audio performance
Low-light photography not great
The LG V30 is easy to miss, but it’s LG’s best smartphone, at least until the LG G7 ThinQ gets herer. It has a dazzling design the can go toe-to-toe with Samsung’s. The 6-inch OLED display is a crisp 2880 x 1440, and the phone has wonderful battery life. True audiophiles need look no further, as the included 3.5mm headphone jack and LG’s Quad DAC make for a superior smartphone audio experience.
