Best US Cellular phones right now [Handpicked list]

The Galaxy S22 Ultra, with its S Pen on deck, is Samsung's best phone of 2022. Not only does it have some excellent hardware inside, but it also tops up all that with an impressive camera and superb zooming capabilities, besting the competition. 

Inside the device, you can expect to find a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, Qualcomm's top silicon this year, as well as some 12GB of RAM on board, and either 128, 256GB, or even 1TB of storage on deck. Its quad-camera system is helmed by the 108MP camera, with its large 1/1.33" camera sensor and wide f/1.8 aperture, but the true showpiece here is the super-long 10X periscope camera, which weighs in at 10MP.

In our Galaxy S22 Ultra review, we loved the superb screen quality of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, its built-in S Pen, and much smoother video stabilization, as well as the four years of major software updates. However, we were somewhat irked by the lack of a microSD card slot, the somewhat uninspiring battery life, and the loudspeaker quality which could use some improvements.

The Galaxy S23 is Samsung's compact flagship offering for 2023. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, a slightly tuned-up version of the regular Snapdragon chip, and the same-old 6.1-inch Dynamic OLED display that's become a staple of the most compact Galaxy, this phone can easily be regarded as a compact powerhouse that should be considered by all those longing for an easy-to-handle but a very adept phone. Available in Botanic Green, Misty Lavender, Phantom Black, and Cotton Cream, it has a color option for just about anyone. 

With a slightly improved design and the same old triple-camera setup at the rear, the Galaxy S23 is still a perfectly capable device that rivals the iPhone 14 and Pixel 7, delivering excellent value. Considering that you can almost always find a decent deal, you won't have to break the piggy bank to get the Galaxy S23. And with a qualifying trade-in on US Cellular, you might not even have to pay a dime.

Before you make a purchase, make sure to check out our full Galaxy S23 review which might answer all the questions you have about this trooper. 

The Pixel 7 Pro is powered by Google's second-gen Tensor G2 chipset, which once again emphasizes the user experience and overall functionality instead of raw performance. But this doesn't mean that the hardware is severely lacking; on the contrary, the Pixel 7 Pro is an incredible deal at its starting price of $899. 

In our Pixel 7 Pro review, we revealed that we're very impressed with its powerful zoom camera and dedicated software support, which means that the Pixel 7 Pro will remain a secure device for years to come. What sets the Pixel 7 Pro apart, however, are the machine-learning and artificial intelligence strengths of the phone, which is fueled by the second-gen Tensor chipset. It gets some exclusive Pixel features that no other Android phone has, which truly sets it apart and makes it user-oriented as much as possible.

It's a great deal at $899, and an easily recommendable phone for potential Pixel adopters.

US Cellular sells all kinds of phones from both the iOS and Android ecosystems. The carrier's offerings include not only the most premium offerings that Apple, Samsung, and Google have in tow but also some basic feature phones. You can also buy tablets, including the latest iPads, and different kinds of mobile accessories, like smartwatches. There are even connected home devices on sale with US Cellular.

For years now, US Cellular has been selling unlocked phones, except for some devices that are locked to the carrier for 120 days after purchase (you can find the complete list here). 

If you have an older device that was sold before February 2016, your phone might be locked to US Cellular but a subsequent software update should have unlocked it to other networks. Have in mind that the carrier might not be able to unlock such older phones or devices that have technical limitations and can't access other networks. To make sure your phone is locked or unlocked by the carrier, you can try calling 611 while connected to the US Cellular network. 

Yes. US Cellular allows you to unlock phones that are locked to it for 120 days after the initial purchase. After that 120-day period has passed, the carrier will automatically unlock your device. You can apply for earlier phone unlock provided that you meet any of the following criteria: you have paid your device in full and are in good standing with the carrier, have fulfilled all your pending obligations, or you are on military duty and prove that you will be deployed outside of US Cellular's coverage area. For more info, feel free to check out US Cellular's support page.