Best Buy Unlocked Phones For Sale
It wasn't too long ago that 5G was a feature that could only be had in the best and brightest flagships from the leading smartphone manufacturers. Now, things have reached the point where the latest generation of connectivity is coming to devices that are almost as cheap as phones were back in the halcyon days of carrier-subsidized $200 flagships. These aren't from no-name makers, or from Chinese smartphone brands that may or may not lose access to Google Play at any moment from rising political tensions, either.
best buy unlocked phones for sale
Right now, the best cheap 5G phone is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G based on our analysis of display, performance, battery life, and price. The device offers one of the best display experiences you can get from sub-$450 phones and offers 5G support with most major carriers.
However, we also realize not all needs are the same. For some, you might need a more affordable phone that wields a large display and decent camera. The table below shows how the best cheap 5G phones compare on price, camera capabilities, and battery capacity.
The process to make our smartphone selections includes testing the phones for weeks, reading reviews from other websites and publications, researching reviewer guides and manufacturer websites, talking with colleagues and other users who have hands-on experience with the smartphones, and then selecting the best from all of the available choices.
These are our choices for the best unlocked phones available in the US, followed by what to consider when you buy an unlocked device. Our picks range from inexpensive basic handsets to powerful flagships. Most are 5G phones, including those in Apple's iPhone 14 series, Google's Pixel 7 lineup, and Samsung's latest Galaxy S and Z families. These run on every form of US 5G, including high-speed millimeter wave and C-band spectrum.
Google's Pixel phones have the smoothest software and are among the most future-proof Android handsets. The Pixel 7 also has an all-day battery and excellent cameras. Available unlocked from Google's store, it works on all three US carriers.
iPhones are the most easily available, universally unlocked line of phones in America because of Apple's nationwide network of brick-and-mortar stores. Unlocked iPhones support every US carrier's frequency bands and you can easily switch them from carrier to carrier. Just remember, it's all eSIM in iPhone 14 models.
Google's phones have smooth, simple software and they always get updates first. The Pixel 6a also has the best camera on a midrange phone. It works on all three US carriers and you can buy it directly from Google.
The Galaxy S23+ is our top pick for Android flagship phones: It offers class-leading power, excellent cameras, extensive battery life, and a standout display. And with the unlocked model, you can take advantage of its superb 5G connectivity on all the major US carriers. Like the S23 Ultra, you can even get it in some exclusive colors if you buy directly from Samsung online.
With an unlocked device, you can trade up or sell your phone whenever you want without waiting for the end of a leasing or installment plan. You can also own multiple handsets and swap your SIM card between them. If you travel internationally, you can pop in a local, pay-as-you-go card overseas and never pay horrendous international roaming charges. You can also take advantage of super-cheap prepaid plans from virtual operators in the US that piggyback on compatible networks (for the best carrier where you live, see our story on the Best Mobile Networks).
An unlocked phone is a phone that isn't tied to a specific carrier. When you purchase an unlocked Pixel phone, you get to choose which carrier or plan works best for you. Most phones in the Google Store come unlocked.
The biggest sales tend to pop up on phones one generation old when a new phone comes out. For instance, you can probably get a good deal on the iPhone 13 right after the iPhone14 comes out.
Mobile departments inside stores are being revamped to include updated vendor and carrier experiences, and space dedicated to prepaid and unlocked phones. Those areas, which will be staffed by specially-trained store associates, will also have new menu boards "similar to those found at fast-food restaurants" to search for product information and promotions.
The smartphone market has also become fairly saturated, and is coming off of a year that marked a historic low point in the total number of phones shipped from suppliers (although Best Buy's smartphone sales numbers picked up toward the end of the year.) Overall, customers just don't seem to have the sense of urgency to buy new phones the way they once did.
Best Buy continues to perform better than many other retailers, having last week reported modest first quarter sales growth, solidly beating analyst expectations. Still, some analysts say sales of smartphones and other consumer electronics continue to be a weak spot. Maybe a broad overhaul to how Best Buy sells those devices can be the difference-maker.
Are unlocked phones part of some secret society and hard to find? Quite the opposite, really. In fact, there are are plenty of great spots to buy unlocked phones, some of which are places you already shop.
Best Buy gives consumers a handful of options for finding unlocked phones, including a section of models which are considered universally unlocked. In other words, these would work with any carrier. You can also shop by brand, carrier compatibility, price, and condition. Indeed, there are pre-owned and refurbished devices to choose from, too.
Save big on top-of-the-line models with this week's roundup of the best phone deals. Score flagship smartphones from last year and this year, plus surprisingly affordable previous-generation models.
Prefer to have a new one? This Editors' Choice open-box unlocked Apple iPhone 6s 16GB GSM smartphone is available in four colors for $609.99 with free shipping. That's $10 under our February mention and the best price we've seen for a new unit. (It's a current low for a new, factory-sealed unit by $138.)
Think of SellCell as the Hotwire or Travelocity of the gadget reseller industry. Simply look up your phone and then they will show you who has the best offer. We also checked individually to make sure it was a legit price. Once you decide which site to go with, select that store and it takes you to their site to complete the sale. 041b061a72