Best Unlocked Cell Phones in 2021

Unlocked phone deals in September

It's a great time to be a wireless customer! Cell phone plans are more competitive than ever, and with contracts solidly in the history books, your phone can probably be unlocked for use on any carrier you choose.

What is an unlocked phone? It's a device that is no longer locked to a specific carrier. This allows you to take it to another carrier if you find a cheaper plan.

There are some conditions though. In the following guide, you'll learn what an unlocked cell phone means, when you can and cannot take your device to another carrier, how to find the best unlocked cell phone deals and how to save 50% or more on your cell phone plan.

It's a lot of information to cover so let's get started!

Table of Contents

• Best unlocked iPhone deals

• Best cheap unlocked iPhones

• Best unlocked Samsung phone deals

• Best cheap unlocked Samsung phones

• Bring your phone to a cheaper carrier

Best unlocked iPhone deals

Apple iPhone 12 Unlocked

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Network

AT&T

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$779*

MSRP: $879* $100 saving + 3 months free service

4/5

22 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Apple iPhone 12 (Unlocked)	128GB	$779
Apple iPhone 12 (AT&T)	128GB	$729
Apple iPhone 12 (Verizon)	128GB	$729
Apple iPhone 12 (T-Mobile)	128GB	$779

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.1"
Screen Resolution	2532 x 1170 pixels
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	A14 Bionic Chip pixels
Internal Memory	64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Operating System	iOS 14
Back Camera	Dual 12MP
Front Camera	12MP
HDR for Photos	HDR
Video Resolution	4K, FHD, HD
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Talk Time	Up to 20 hours
Dimensions	146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm
Weight	164g
Splash Proof	IP68
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Attractive design

• Fantastic audio quality

• 5G compatible

• Amazing OLED display

Cons

• No charger or headphones included

• Battery life

• Not much camera upgrade

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Apple iPhone 12 Pro Unlocked

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Network

Verizon

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$999

4/5

13 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Unlocked)	128GB	$999
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (AT&T)	128GB	$899
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Verizon)	128GB	$999
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (T-Mobile)	128GB	$999

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.1"
Screen Resolution	2532 x 1170 pixels
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	A14 Bionic Chip pixels
Internal Memory	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Operating System	iOS 14
Back Camera	12MP
Front Camera	12MP
HDR for Photos	HDR
Video Resolution	4K, FHD, HD
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Dimensions	146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm
Weight	189g
Splash Proof	IP68
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Bright and colorful OLED display

• Good photo quality

• 5G compatible

• Good quality speakers

• Attractive design

Cons

• Shorter battery life than iPhone 11

• No charger or headphones included

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Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$1,099

5/5

10 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (Refurbished)	128GB	$1,005
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (Unlocked)	128GB	$1,099
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (AT&T)	128GB	$999
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (Verizon)	128GB	$1,099
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (T-Mobile)	128GB	$1,099

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.7"
Screen Resolution	2778 x 1284 pixels
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	A14 Bionic Chip pixels
Internal Memory	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Operating System	iOS 14
Back Camera	12MP
Front Camera	12MP
HDR for Photos	HDR
Video Resolution	4K, FHD, HD
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Dimensions	160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4mm
Weight	228g
Splash Proof	IP68
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Durable and water resistant

• Large OLED screen

• 5G compatible

• Great battery life and fast charging

• Photo and video quality

Cons

• Expensive

• Heavy

• No charger or headphones

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Best cheap unlocked iPhones

Apple iPhone SE Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

64GB

Condition

New

Price

$399*

* Includes 6 months FREE service

4/5

22 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Apple iPhone SE (Refurbished)	64GB	$255
Apple iPhone SE (Unlocked)	64GB	$399
Apple iPhone SE (AT&T)	64GB	$349
Apple iPhone SE (Verizon)	64GB	$349
Apple iPhone SE (T-Mobile)	64GB	$399

Device Specs

Screen Size	4.7"
Screen Resolution	1334 x 750 pixels
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	A13 Bionic pixels
Internal Memory	64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Operating System	iOS 13
Back Camera	12MP
Front Camera	7MP
HDR for Photos	Yes
Video Resolution	4K, FHD, HD
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Talk Time	Up to 14 hours
Dimensions	138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm
Weight	148g
Splash Proof	IP67
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	Nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact and lightweight

• Water-resistant

• Amazing A13 chip performance

• Affordable price

• Touch ID

Cons

• Battery capacity

• Night mode is missed

• Only a 5W charger

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Apple iPhone 11 Unlocked

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Network

AT&T

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$549*

MSRP: $649* $100 saving + 3 months free service

4/5

13 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Apple iPhone 11 (Refurbished)	128GB	$405
Apple iPhone 11 (Unlocked)	128GB	$549
Apple iPhone 11 (AT&T)	128GB	$499
Apple iPhone 11 (Verizon)	128GB	$499
Apple iPhone 11 (T-Mobile)	128GB	$549

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.1"
Screen Resolution	1792 x 828 pixels
HDR Screen	No pixels
Processor	A13 Bionic pixels
Internal Memory	64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Operating System	iOS 13
Back Camera	12MP (Dual)
Front Camera	12MP
HDR for Photos	Yes
Video Resolution	4K, FHD, HD
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Talk Time	Up to 17 hours (video playback)
Dimensions	150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm
Weight	194g
Splash Proof	IP68
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	Nano
eSIM	Yes
Model Number	A2111
User Manual	Apple iPhone 11 User Manual

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Tougher and water resistant design

• Great quality speakers

• Good photos from main camera

• Excellent selfie photo and video quality

• Powerful A13 processor

Cons

• No screen update

• Storage starts at 64GB

• Only a 5W charger included

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Apple iPhone 12 mini Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

64GB

Condition

New

Price

$729*

* Includes 6 months FREE service

5/5

8 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Unlocked)	64GB	$729
Apple iPhone 12 mini (AT&T)	64GB	$629
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Verizon)	64GB	$679
Apple iPhone 12 mini (T-Mobile)	64GB	$729

Device Specs

Screen Size	5.4"
Screen Resolution	2340 x 1080 pixels
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	A14 Bionic Chip pixels
Internal Memory	64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Operating System	iOS 14
Back Camera	Dual 12MP
Front Camera	12MP
HDR for Photos	HDR
Video Resolution	4K, FHD, HD
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Dimensions	131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm
Weight	135g
Splash Proof	IP68
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Great compact size

• Excellent camera

• 5G compatible

• Brilliant OLED display

Cons

• Battery life

• No tele lens

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Best unlocked Samsung phone deals

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$799*

MSRP: $849* $50 off with 12 month plan

4/5

4 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Samsung Galaxy S21 (Refurbished)	128GB	$481
Samsung Galaxy S21 (Unlocked)	128GB	$799
Samsung Galaxy S21 (T-Mobile)	128GB	$799

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.2"
Screen Resolution	1080 x 2400
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	Qualcomm SM8350 snapdragon 888 pixels
Internal Memory	128GB, 256GB
Operating System	Android 11, One UI 3.1
Back Camera	12MP, 64MP, 12MP
Front Camera	10MP
HDR for Photos	Yes
Video Resolution	8K, 4K
Wireless Charging	Yes

Dimensions	151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm
Weight	169g
Splash Proof	Yes
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	Nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus 5G Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$999*

MSRP: $1,049* $50 off with 12 month plan

5/5

2 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Refurbished)	128GB	$785
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (Unlocked)	128GB	$999
Samsung Galaxy S21+ (T-Mobile)	128GB	$999

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.7"
Screen Resolution	1080 x 2400
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	Qualcomm SM8350 snapdragon 888 pixels
Internal Memory	128GB, 256GB
Operating System	Android 11, One UI 3.1
Back Camera	12MP, 64MP, 12MP
Front Camera	10MP
HDR for Photos	Yes
Video Resolution	8K, 4K, 1080p
Wireless Charging	Yes

Dimensions	161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8 mm
Weight	200g
Splash Proof	Yes
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	Nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$949*

MSRP: $999* $50 off with 12 month plan

4/5

9 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Unlocked)	128GB	$949
Samsung Galaxy Note20 (Verizon)	128GB	$1,199
Samsung Galaxy Note20 (T-Mobile)	128GB	$949

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.7"
Screen Resolution	2400 x 1080 pixels
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus pixels
Internal Memory	128GB
Operating System	Android 10
Back Camera	12MP Ultra Wide, 12MP Wide-angle, 64MP Telephoto
Front Camera	10MP
HDR for Photos	Yes
Video Resolution	HD, FHD, 4K UHD, 8K
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Talk Time	Up to 34 hours
Standby Time	Up to 11.8 days
Dimensions	161.6 x 75.2 x 8.3mm
Weight	194g
Splash Proof	IP68
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

128GB

Condition

New

Price

$1,249*

MSRP: $1,299* $50 off with 12 month plan

5/5

5 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra (Unlocked)	128GB	$1,249
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra (T-Mobile)	128GB	$1,249

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.9"
Screen Resolution	3088 x 1440 pixels
HDR Screen	Yes pixels
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus pixels
Internal Memory	128GB, 512GB
Operating System	Android 10
Back Camera	12MP Ultra Wide, 108MP Wide-angle, 12MP Telephoto
Front Camera	10MP
HDR for Photos	Yes
Video Resolution	HD, FHD, 4K UHD, 8K
Wireless Charging	Yes

Voice Commands	Yes
Talk Time	Up to 35 hours
Standby Time	Up to 12 days
Dimensions	164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1mm
Weight	208g
Splash Proof	IP68
Water Resistant	Yes
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	nano
eSIM	Yes

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

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Best cheap unlocked Samsung phones

Samsung Galaxy A21 Unlocked

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Network

T-Mobile

Storage

32GB

Condition

New

Price

$229*

MSRP: $279* $50 off with 12 month plan

3/5

3 User Reviews

Best Deals

Device	Storage	Price
Samsung Galaxy A21 (Unlocked)	32GB	$229
Samsung Galaxy A21 (T-Mobile)	32GB	$229

Device Specs

Screen Size	6.5"
Screen Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels
HDR Screen	No pixels
Internal Memory	32GB
Operating System	Android 10
Back Camera	48MP, 8MP, 2MP, 2MP
Front Camera	13MP
HDR for Photos	No
Video Resolution	FHD
Wireless Charging	No

Voice Commands	Yes
Dimensions	163.7 x 75.3 x 8.9mm
Weight	192g
Splash Proof	No
Water Resistant	No
WiFi & 4G Calling	Yes
GPS	Yes
SIM Card	Nano
eSIM	No
Model Number	SM-A215UZKATMB

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large 6.5" screen

• Amazing quad camera

• Powerful battery

• Excellent front camera

Cons

• No Gorilla glass protection

• No wireless charging

• Plastic body

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Compare the cheapest unlocked Samsung phone prices

Unlocked phone benefits

When it comes to value the best unlocked smartphone deals are in the used and refurbished market.

Benefits of buying a refurbished smartphone:

• Save money: You can get a popular device just a model or two old for about half the retail price.

• Keep your freedom: Having an unlocked, paid-off phone means you can switch to a new carrier if you find a better deal.

• Plenty of reliable sellers: The used cell phone industry is booming, resulting in a variety of reputable sellers to choose from, stocking everything from Samsung unlocked phones to unlocked iPhones and more.

• Repairs are easy: With this market growth many affordable phone repair services are available.

• More bang for your buck: You could spend up to $1000 on a shiny new smartphone only to get a couple of small upgrades from the previous model. It's seldom worth the price hike.

Considerations when buying an unlocked phone

Now that you know why buying a used or refurbished phone online is a budget-wise decision here are some things to keep in mind while shopping:

• Refurbished vs. used - used smartphones come as-is, while refurbs are devices which have been repaired and repackaged for sale.

• Returns - choose a seller with a solid return policy in case the item doesn't meet your expectations.

• Warranties - many sites offer a warranty on their products. These range from 30 days (from BuyBackWorld, for example) to a full year, like Decluttr offers.

• Device compatibility: As we discussed above, you may experience problems taking a CDMA phone to a GSM network and vice versa. Your best bet is to compare unlocked cell phones made for the specific network you want. For example, if you have T-Mobile, look for the best T-Mobile cell phone deals.

• Certification - some sellers offer certified iPhones and Android devices so you can be sure it's been put through rigorous testing.

• Condition - some sellers use "grades" to indicate the phones condition. A is the best, B may have some minor wear, C has visible defects. Other sites use "Excellent", "Good", and "Fair" to convey the same information.

• Payment plans - more and more sites are offering device payments. These typically come with high interest so think hard before taking advantage of the offer.

If you have the luxury of time, you'll find the cheapest unlocked phone prices when you buy right before a new model comes out. For example, when the Samsung Galaxy S9 came out, the price of used Samsung Galaxy S8 phones dropped considerably.

What is an unlocked phone?

An unlocked phone is a device that has been released from its tie to the original carrier. When you buy a phone through, say, T-Mobile, until that phone is unlocked you can't, for example, take that phone to AT&T.

In order for a phone to be unlocked from the carrier:

• The account must be in good standing.

• The phone must not have been reported stolen.

• The remaining balance on any device payments must be paid off.

The exception to the rule is Verizon Wireless - Verizon phones come unlocked. The carrier had announced plans to implement a locking period at the end of 2018 but at the time of this writing that hasn't happened yet.

Can you use an unlocked phone on any network?

Yes, and no. The two types of signals used in wireless technology are GSM and CDMA. AT&T and T Mobile operate on GSM networks, Sprint and Verizon on CDMA.

While you may be able to take a GSM phone to a CDMA network and vice versa, only your 4G signal will work. If your signal drops down to 3G your phone will become a paperweight.

If your phone is a universal (sometimes called global) unlocked phone, it is designed for full functionality on both technologies. There are only a few models of global unlocked versions. These devices are more expensive, but come in handy if you're a frequent international traveler because you can just pop in a new SIM card at your destination.

Sell Your Old Phone for Cash

Don't leave that old device lying around - turn it into extra cold, hard cash in your wallet!

When you sell your phone instead of trading it in you'll get cash instead of credit, plus you'll get a higher offer for it, especially if it's in great condition.

Bring your phone to a cheaper carrier

If you're buying an unlocked phone in order to switch carriers you'll be happy to know you can save up to 50% off your cell phone bill by going with an MVNO.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators - MVNOs - are smaller carriers that buy or lease extra space on the big four networks. Lower overhead allows them to sell service to you at a lower cost than you'd pay a major wireless carrier.

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Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $660 per year

MVNO benefits

• Cheap cell phone plans.

• Service on the same reliable 4G LTE & 5G networks you're used to.

• Freedom from contracts, credit checks, and overage fees - cancel any time.

• Custom plans so you only pay for what you need.

• Bring your own phone and number.

MVNOs offer all the same options as the big guys. Choose exactly what you need - from family plans to unlimited data plans and everything in between.

There are MVNOs for all four major networks - AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Best cheap bring your own phone plans

Unlocked phone deals FAQs

Recap

Buying a used unlocked cell phone can save you more than 50% off retail. It's a great deal as long as you:

• Compare prices before buying.

• Compare cell phone plans from MVNOs to maximize your savings.

• Sell your old phone for cash.