Best unlocked phones that work on Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T out of the box
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Nowadays, Qualcomm and other cellular modem makers have gotten so good in stuffing tens of LTE or 5G bands and filtering them without interference in a single chip, that more and more phone makers are offering unlocked phones that can work with any US carrier out of the box, Verizon included. Here are the best of those unlocked phones you can get right now, pop a SIM card in, and just start enjoying your network of choice in all of its glory.
High-end
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Due to the integrated 5G modem, the unlocked Galaxy S21 Ultra supports all US carrier bands out of the box, and you can get it at the links below. What's in store for us with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and how has Samsung improve it in comparison with the S20 Ultra predecessor and its lack of camera focus? Here are the main Galaxy S21 Ultra vs S20 Ultra advantages:
- S Pen support
- Dynamic 120Hz@1440p LTPO display refresh rate
- 5nm Snapdragon 888 chipset with integrated 5G modem
- 3rd-gen 108MP sensor with brighter Night Mode
- 10x periscope and 3x telephoto zoom cameras
- Faster memory
- More color options, cooler Contour Cut design
Apple iPhone 12 Pro/Max
The unlocked 12 Pro Max is Apple's largest, best spec'd iPhone that is guaranteed to work on all major carriers
Apple was late to the 5G game, but came out swinging with the iPhone 12 series that supports a record number of 5G bands, and, when you buy the unlocked model from Apple's website below, you get compatibility with each and every US carrier. The iPhone 12 Pro/Max also bring a Ceramic Shield display protection, huge camera sensors and pixels, as well as the new magnetic charging and accessories in tow.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The unlocked Galaxy Note 20 Ultra supports all US carrier bands, 4G or 5G, and is its current premium S Pen-wielding smartphone by Samsung. It’s an extra large phone with a huge camera bump, plus it’s heavier than before and it barely fits in a pocket. The 6.9-inch screen is class-leading and features a 120Hz refresh rate for a buttery smooth experience. Camera quality is also excellent and you have up to 50X zoom. Battery life, however, is just good, not quite great. You will need to charge it every night.
Read more:Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review
Mid-range
Samsung Galaxy S21+ and S21
The small and middle children of the S21 family is as capable as they come at their sub-$1000 and sub-$800 prices. Compared to its direct threat, the 6.7" iPhone 12 Pro Max, for instance, the Galaxy S21+ offers more features, like a display with high 120Hz refresh rate, at a tad lower price. The fused camera island corner design is also more interesting than what the cartoonish matte/gloss undertaking that the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers, so it's a no brainer if you want to jump ship despite the crop zoom it uses instead of a telephoto camera.
Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
Samsung's 2020 flagship trio is packed to the brim with powerful hardware and impressive cameras. Yes, the S20 Ultra can go to crazy 100x zoom, but the S20 and S20+'s cameras are not ones to disappoint. Equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 and support for a wide variety of bands, these devices will not disappoint not only on every major US carrier, but across the world as well, and at a lower price now that the S21 series is here.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra review
Apple iPhone 12
Not only is this pretty boy the best value-for-money iPhone in the new 12 series, as it carries most of the Pro features without the price tag, but it is also the most future-proof 5G handset. With the support of the new C-bands that are acquired or will be auctioned off to Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile, it is the one piece of hardware to get if you want to take advantage of the 5G buildouts that are yet to happen in the next year or two in the US.
Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4/XL
Read more: Google Pixel 5 review
Budget
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Yes, it can be found at a sub-$600 mark, and, yes, it is every bit as capable as an S20, and even more so, as it offers true optical zoom lens on the back. With a huge battery and 1080p display, it goes where the S20+ doesn't with the same 4500mAh pack, and is one of the best value-for-money unlocked phones you can get in the US, directly from Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy A51
The Galaxy A51 has some of the best pocket cameras you can always carry with you at the current steeply discounted $250 price. Samsung also equipped it with a fast chipset, stereo speakers, and added great looks and ergonomics to the mix. The experience of setting up Samsung's phones to work on any US carrier is a piece of cake as they come packing a wide variety of bands when you buy their unlocked versions from the link below.
Apple iPhone 8 to 11
The iPhones 8 (for the nostalgia-driven) to 11 are currently sitting in Apple's low- to mid-range, and are very carrier-friendly, with more than 20 supported LTE bands. Apple started this trend by providing a record number of LTE band support with each and every iPhone iteration since the 5s, and we are now at the 40+ band mark with the unlocked iPhone 12 models, which the globetrotter or carrier hopper in you will surely appreciate.
Read more: Apple iPhone 11 review
Google Pixel 4a
The Google Pixel 4a follows up on the popularity of the affordable Pixel 3a, which brought most of Android best at a competitive price point. The budget 4a is an even better deal, with Google bringing a surprising amount of polish for just $300 in the promo below. Between its excellent camera, good display, and competent specs, the Pixel 4a is an incredible value and a triumphant addition to Google’s smartphone legacy.
Read more: Google Pixel 4a review
Read more: Google Pixel 4a review
Motorola Moto G Stylus, G Play, and G Power 2021
The Moto G line has some of the few phones that come with a built-in stylus, like the G Stylus 2021 but that’s not the only thing the new mid-range Moto G 2021 models have going for them. For the purpose of this roundup, the unlocked models you can buy below support all US carrier bands, for starters. Moreover, the phones deliver hiccup-free performance, good photos and videos, and even great audio quality.
Apple iPhone SE 2020
The iPhone SE 2020 is an wolf in sheep's clothing, holding mighty power under its inconspicuous iPhone 8 exterior and modest $399 pricing. The sheer fact, however, that the iPhone SE 2020 is 99% iPhone 8 means that Apple may have managed to keep a larger profit margin on the handset that it does with the iPhone 11 family. Still, you are getting one of the best cameras and certainly the most powerful processor in the budget class.
Read more: Apple iPhone SE 2020 review
Read more: Apple iPhone SE 2020 review
