unlocked
Latest
Samsung releases unlocked Galaxy S7 phones in the US
Waiting for the unlocked versions of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge? We hope you've been saving up. They're now available in the US for those who don't want to be locked into a contract with a carrier for two years and those who want the freedom to choose their plans. The unlocked devices are still the same phones you fell in love with earlier this year and will work on most GSM and CDMA carriers in the country, including all the big hitters (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and US Cellular). You can nab one straight from Samsung's website, but you can also get either of them from various distributors and retailers, such as Amazon, Best Buy and Target. As always, expect to pay more up front for an unlocked device: the Galaxy S7 will set you back $670, while the Galaxy S7 edge will cost you $100 more.
Freetel is fighting to find a US niche for its mid-range phones
If you take a look at who's making reasonably priced unlocked phones for the US, you'll see Chinese names like ZTE and Huawei pop up a lot. Freetel — a Japanese smartphone maker — wants in on that game, and it hopes a touch of Japanese design philosophy will help it stand out in a far-flung market that's notoriously tough to squeeze into. That's partially the idea behind announcing the Rei, a $249 Marshmallow-powered device that they expect to launch in the US within 6 to 7 weeks.
Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact arrive in the US
As promised, Sony has brought its latest and greatest smartphones to the US. Both the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact are now on sale in unlocked form through Amazon, Best Buy, B&H and other shops at respective prices of $599 and $499. Both pack a fair punch for the price between their Snapdragon 810 processors, 32GB of storage and 23-megapixel rear cameras. The big differences are the displays (5.2 inches on the Z5 versus 4.6 on the Compact) and RAM (3GB versus 2GB). They should work nicely on AT&T, T-Mobile and other American networks that share their frequencies. However, you shouldn't expect exactly the same phone that you'd get elsewhere -- there's a catch.
Apple's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are now available SIM-free
Apple is now selling unlocked versions of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, giving you options if you'd rather not be tied to a contract or want a handset that works in other countries. The downside, of course, is that you'll pay the full retail price without those carrier subsidies -- starting at $649 for the (controversial) 16GB iPhone 6s at Apple Stores or online. In addition, Apple has started rolling out its latest iPhones in 36 new countries, including Mexico, Russia, Taiwan and Spain. They're now available in 48 nations, and will hit about 80 more by the end of the year.
Verizon makes it easier to bring (some) phones to its network
As a CDMA-based carrier (until LTE takes over), Verizon isn't nearly as friendly to the bring-your-own-phone trend as the likes of AT&T or T-Mobile. You can't usually swap SIM cards and expect your unlocked phone to work. Thankfully, the carrier recently made the process a whole lot easier... provided you have the right device, that is. It'll now activate compatible, unlocked versions of the iPhone 6 and Nexus 6. So long as you can find your device's ID and pick up a Verizon SIM, you can jump over to Big Red without having to ditch your existing hardware. You'll likely be stuck if you own another device, but that's more due to technology (few unlocked phones have full Verizon CDMA and LTE support at present) than anything else.
Moto X Style Pure Edition will work on any US carrier
Motorola's Moto X Style has an extra trick up its sleeve. If you get the unlocked Pure Edition in the US, it'll reportedly work on any US carrier, including LTE -- you won't have to give up fast data to get the phone you want on your network of choice. It'll cost $400 at Amazon, Best Buy and Motorola when it arrives in September, or about "$200 to $300 less" than comparable flagship phones.
Pre-orders for a 'reversible' Android phone open April 21st (updated)
Wondering when you could get your hands on the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3? You know, the Android smartphone that can take calls upside down? Well, it shouldn't be too much longer. Pre-orders start April 21st with a $249 asking price for the 5.5-inch version (pictured above, left). As Android Central notes, that's a $30 break if you lay money down now as opposed to later on down the road. The official launch date is still rather ambiguous, but a press release over on 9to5Google says that the unlocked Lollipop devices start shipping sometime in May. Update: Slight change of plan: Alcatel OneTouch is now doing a "limited time early pre-sale" ahead of the original April 21st pre-order launch. Better yet, the phone will cost just $199.99 during this period, which translates to a $50 discount.
US carriers make it (somewhat) easier to unlock your phone
If you've struggled with getting your carrier to unlock your phone so that you can easily travel abroad -- or, gasp, switch providers -- today is an important day. As promised, seven US networks (AT&T, Bluegrass Cellular, Cellcom, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon) are now honoring a voluntary code of conduct that, among other things, lets you get your phone unlocked without a big fight. As a rule, carriers will agree to derestrict your phone after you've paid off your device or service contract. You'll have to ask most of them to do it, which could take up to two days. It's easier on a couple of carriers, however. Sprint will automatically unlock SIM-based cellular service on phones bought from today onward, while T-Mobile bundles an app with newer phones that lets you start the process yourself.
Apple is now selling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus SIM-free in the US
Fancy a new iPhone, but don't want to be locked in with a specific carrier? Good news: Apple today started selling SIM-free versions of its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Prior to this, you had to choose a two-year contract or buy one of them unlocked with T-Mobile. Thankfully, that's no longer a problem. The SIM-free versions start at $649 for the 16GB iPhone 6, climbing up to $949 for the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus. Apple has taken a tad longer than usual to offer the unlocked versions, both online and in-store. Of course, you'll still need to sidle up with a carrier, but at least now you'll have more control over the contract you choose.
Moto X Pure Edition gets a 64GB option
Motorola trotted out a bloatware-free version of the Moto X (2014) back in September, and now, it's getting a memory boost. The company quietly added the 64GB Pure Edition handset to its Moto Maker site where you're free to fine-tune a design before committing funds. While that tally doubles the max storage space, it's only available on the unlocked model for use on AT&T or T-Mobile, and sets you back $600 off-contract. That's $100 more than the regular Pure Edition. At any rate, folks who've clamored for more memory are finally getting an option, and one that's already rockin' the latest version of Android.
Kogan's latest phone one-ups the Moto G LTE with a bigger screen
The Moto G LTE offers a lot of smartphone for the money, but Kogan reckons that's not quite enough value for your hard-earned cash -- the Aussie outfit just brought its latest smartphone, the Agora 4G, to the US and UK. Pay the same $219 (£149) you would for Motorola's device and you'll get a larger 5-inch screen, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a beefier 2,500mAh battery on top of speedy LTE data (on AT&T) and a quad-core Snapdragon processor. Sounds great, doesn't it?
President Obama signs cellphone unlocking bill into law
After getting the approval of both the House and the Senate, the US cellphone unlocking bill needed just one more signature to remove the carrier-swapping restriction. Today, President Barack Obama signed the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act into law, making it once again legal for smartphone owners to unlock their device without direct permission from the carrier it's locked to. If you'll recall, the effort began as a petition, and is what the White House is calling "an example of democracy at its best." Should you be in need of refresher on the finer points, we explain the whole thing right here. [Photo credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]
Sony's Xperia Z1 Compact finally comes to the US
When we reviewed Sony's Xperia Z1 Compact, we concluded that it's exactly what a miniature flagship should be: big features in a small package. But despite the handset's many merits, Sony hasn't so far managed to offer it through any carriers in the US. Instead, starting today, it's selling the Z1 Compact direct from its own webiste, for a price of $550. The device is unlocked, of course, so at least you get the choice of whichever GSM carrier takes your fancy -- although its LTE bands don't make it especially friendly with AT&T.
You can take your Sprint phone to other US carriers next year
If you're with Sprint, you don't have many options for unlocking your phone's SIM card slot; if you can do it at all, you're limited to service on foreign networks. You'll have far more flexibility in the near future, though. The carrier has revealed that it will unlock devices for American use starting with those launched on or after February 11th, 2015. The move will let you use SIM-based features (such as LTE data) on AT&T, T-Mobile and other US providers as long as your device supports the right frequencies. Sprint's prepaid brands, including Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, will also offer the added freedom.
BLU's latest smartphone is big, cheap and contract-free
When it comes to offering a vast selection of Android smartphones on the cheap, BLU Products is a company that quickly comes to mind. And now we can add another one to its budget-friendly lineup: the Blu Studio 6.0 HD. As its moniker would imply, this is a 6-inch handset, with a 1,280, x 720 display, a quad-core, 1.3GHz chip (Mediatek MT6582, if you're so inclined) and a decent 3,000mAh battery inside. Perhaps what's most interesting here, however, is that the 6.0 HD will be available unlocked for a mere $250, which is a great price if you're looking for a phone this size and not interested in any carrier contracts.
Sony releases an unlocked Xperia Z1 with US-friendly LTE
Frustrated that you've had to sign up to T-Mobile just to pick up an Xperia Z1 variant with completely US-native LTE? That won't be a problem after this week. Sony has released an unlocked version of the Z1 that can take advantage of 4G speeds on AT&T, T-Mobile and their virtual network partners. The flagship Android phone should also support LTE on bigger Canadian carriers, if you're inclined to travel. You won't get anything else special for the $620 you'll spend on the unlocked model, but it may scratch the itch if you're unwilling to wait for stateside releases of newer hardware like the Z2 or Z1 Compact.
Motorola's New Year's resolution is to sell more smartphones, drops unlocked Moto X to $400
It's no secret that Motorola's flagship Moto X hasn't been a tremendous hit with consumers, and with considerable inventory likely building up, it's time to move some product. Google's smartphone arm is kicking off the new year with some aggressive new pricing. The base configured Moto X will now run you $400 without a contract or carrier affiliation, while the much-anticipated wood flavor now commands a cool $500. Moto Maker pricing remains at $100 with a new AT&T, Sprint or Verizon contract, if a two-year agreement is how you like to roll.
BLU's Life Pure smartphone delivers 1080p, a 13-megapixel camera and 32GB of space for $349
BLU Products can offer a lot of smartphone for the money, but its devices seldom come with the sharp screens and ample memory that you'd expect from rivals. The company is closing that gap with its new Life Pure, however. The $349 unlocked handset carries the same 5-inch, 1080p screen that you've seen on flagships from the past year, including the HTC Droid DNA; it even stuffs in a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front camera and 32GB of storage, giving it more overall media prowess than a similarly-priced Nexus 5. With that said, you won't want to chuck your reference Google phone out the window just yet. The Life Pure is running on a slower 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek chip (albeit with 2GB of RAM), doesn't include LTE and uses Android 4.2. This isn't an early adopter's phone, then. Still, we can see some buyers trading performance for features when the Life Pure goes on sale in the near future.
BLU unveils two budget Android phones with 3G on more North American carriers
BLU Products' unlocked smartphones have only been truly useful in North America when using bigger carriers like AT&T and Rogers, but the company is giving us a few more choices today. Its new Advance 4.0 and Studio 5.0 II both support HSPA+ data on smaller networks like T-Mobile, Solavei and Wind Mobile; if you want to jump to a cheaper provider, you won't have to give up 3G in the process. The handsets are otherwise modest. Both Android 4.2 devices come with a dual-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front VGA camera. You're mostly left deciding between the Advance 4.0's 4-inch TFT display and the Studio 5.0 II's 5-inch IPS panel. Whichever phone you choose, it won't cost much. BLU is offering the Advance 4.0 today for $89 outright, while its Studio 5.0 II cousin sells for $139.
Motorola now selling unlocked Moto G in the US, starting at $179
Motorola just gave Americans a surprise holiday gift: it's now selling an unlocked version of the Moto G in the US. Starting today, you can purchase both 8GB ($179) and 16GB ($199) editions of the entry-level smartphone with HSPA+ data optimized either for most US carriers (including AT&T and T-Mobile) or for international travel. Any orders placed today should ship by December 2nd, although you'll have to be content with a black shell -- the phone's colored backs and flip covers are "coming soon." Those on CDMA networks will still have to wait until January to get a Moto G of their own, but everyone else can start shopping at the source link.
