unlocked
Latest
Google's Pixel 4a 5G drops to an all-time low at Amazon and B&H
You can now pick up a Pixel 4a for just $449 at Amazon and B&H — the cheapest price we've seen so far.
The unlocked, 5G-capable Motorola Edge will launch on July 31st
Motorola's Edge Plus is a fascinating option for smartphone shoppers, but there's at least one notable catch: You can only get one if you're a Verizon customer. This morning, Motorola confirmed that it will begin to sell the slightly more modest -- and fully unlocked -- Edge starting on July 31st. You'll be able to buy one direct from Motorola, plus the usual cadre of retail partners, like Amazon, B&H and Best Buy.
The Pixel 3a XL is down to $350 at B&H
B&H Photo Video is selling the Pixel 3a XL unlocked for $350 -- that’s a $130 savings.
UK plans to ban sales of locked mobile phones
The UK's communications regulator is proposing a rule to ban carriers from selling phones that are tied to their networks. O2, Sky, Three, Virgin Mobile and some smaller carriers already offer unlocked phones, but Ofcom wants the likes of BT Mobile/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone to do the same. It's also seeking better clarity for customers about whether their handset is locked.
Samsung confirms when you can buy Galaxy Tab S6, Watch Active2 and more
Samsung announced a bunch of new products over the summer, including the Galaxy Tab S6 and the second iteration of its Galaxy Watch Active. Now we know when to expect them, and how much they'll cost.
Man charged with bribing AT&T staff to illegally unlock phones
There's no question that there's a market for unlocked phones, but one man may have been too eager to profit from that demand. The US has charged Pakistani citizen Muhammad Fahd with bribing staff at AT&T's call center in Bothell, Washington to disable the carrier's locking software and illegally unlock phones before they're eligible. Fahd reportedly had workers insert malware and "otherwise misuse" AT&T's networks between 2012 and 2017, paying one insider $428,500 over the five-year period and even having some bribes delivered in person.
Palm is selling an unlocked version of its tiny smartphone
As much as Palm's tiny phone has improved over the past several months, there's still been one glaring limitation: you've had to use it on Verizon (Engadget's parent company) in the US. You won't have to be quite so picky after today. Palm has opened pre-orders for an unlocked version of the minuscule Android device that will work as a stand-alone phone on most major US carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile and the prepaid Metro brand. No, there's no mention of Sprint -- ironically, the home of the original Palm Pre won't get this device a decade later.
ZTE's latest phones promise tall screens for under $200
You don't have too many choices in the US when it comes to tall-ratio smartphones on a budget -- the Moto E5 series is on the short list. ZTE believes it can expand your options a little further. It's launching the Blade Max View (above) and Blade Max 2s (below), both of which offer 2,160 x 1,080 LCD screens, decent 1.4GHz Snapdragon 435 processors and 32GB of expandable storage for $200 and $180 respectively. The Max View is definitely the better value of the two, as it touts dual 16MP/2MP rear cameras and stereo speakers where the Max 2s carries a single 13MP rear camera and mono sound.
ASUS' Android Go phone comes to the US for $110
The first Android Go phone to reach the US, the Alcatel 1X, was frankly lackluster between its not-even-720p screen and mediocre processing power. ASUS, however, is hoping to spice things up by launching the ZenFone Live (L1) in the US as a Best Buy exclusive. The unlocked handset costs slightly more than its rival at $110, but you're getting a lot more for your extra Hamilton. The ZenFone carries an 18:9 ratio, 5.5-inch 1,440 x 720 LCD screen, a speedier Snapdragon 425 processor and a heftier 3,000mAh battery, not to mention dual nano-SIM slots and a place for your microSD cards. This might be an ideal phone if you're a traveler who'd rather not risk their main device on a trip.
Alcatel's first Android Go phone reaches the US next week
ZTE's Android Go phone might be hard to get in the US thanks to its trade debacle, but don't worry -- there's another option on the way. As teased in March, Alcatel is releasing its Go-equipped 1X phone in the US sometime next week (the first full week of June) in a carrier-unlocked form for $100. It'll be available through Amazon at first, but should be available through Best Buy and Walmart's online store in the weeks ahead. As with other Go devices, the hardware isn't really the highlight here -- it's all about the software.
Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact arrive in the US on April 20th
If you're an American and have had your curiosity piqued by Sony's heavily redesigned Xperia XZ2, you can indulge your curiosity in the very near future. Sony will sell both the XZ2 and the XZ2 Compact through Best Buy starting online April 20th (with pre-orders beginning April 13th), and retail on May 6th. Amazon and other retailers will sell the handsets on May 20th. Be prepared to pay a premium for the cachet of owning a relatively uncommon phone in the country, though: the XZ2 Compact will cost $650, while its full-size counterpart will carry a $800 price tag.
Verizon will begin locking phones to deter thieves
Verizon currently has the most generous unlocked phones policy of all wireless carriers, but according to CNET, that will be changing soon. In an effort to combat phone theft, Verizon will begin locking the phones it sells to consumers starting Monday. While the phones will immediately be unlocked as soon as the customer activates service, later this spring the wireless carrier will begin keeping phones locked for a certain amount of time after purchase.
Xfinity Mobile now works with your unlocked iPhone
Until now, Comcast's Xfinity Mobile service has meant buying one of its locked devices. But what if you already have a phone and want to switch? You now have that choice... if you're firmly in Apple's camp. Xfinity Mobile has enabled an in-store Bring Your Own Device option, but only for "select" unlocked iPhone models. Other manufacturers' phones will have to wait until later in 2018. You can receive a gift card if you trade in a phone that doesn't qualify, although that means settling for a locked handset (and likely getting less than your handset is worth).
Apple's iPhone X is available SIM-free in the US
Apple is offering another reason to nab its thousand-dollar smartphone. A month since the iPhone X landed, the handset is now selling SIM-free and unlocked in the US with full support for both CDMA and GSM networks. You should see the new "buy without a carrier" option on Apple's online store, allowing you to ditch the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. Click on it, and you'l be able to choose your finish (silver or space gray) and the storage: 64GB for $999 or 256GB for $1,149.
HTC's U11 is one of the first non-Google phones to get Android Oreo
Unless you have a Google-branded phone or are willing to jump into a beta test, you probably haven't had an easy upgrade path to Android Oreo. However, it seems like they're starting to trickle out: HTC is releasing an Oreo update for the unlocked U11 on November 26th (that's today, if you're reading this when it's fresh). There's no timetable for carrier-locked models just yet, but the company's Mo Versi has promised that Sprint's U11 will get a taste of Google's cookie-branded OS "soon."
Canada rules that all new cellphones must be unlocked
Canadians pay some of the highest wireless rates of any G7 nation, and to add insult to injury, they often have to shell out $50 or more to unlock cellphones when switching operators. However, the nation's wireless regulator, the CRTC, has now ordered carriers to unlock devices for free and decreed that all new smartphones must be sold unlocked. The move was prompted by excoriating public criticism on unlocking fees after the CRTC requested comment on new wireless rules.
BlackBerry KEYone hits Amazon and Best Buy on May 31st
BlackBerry and TCL have teased the KEYone for nearly half a year, and now Americans can finally see what all the fuss is about without jumping through hoops. The two have revealed that unlocked, US-friendly variants of the Android-powered BlackBerry will be available at both Amazon and Best Buy on May 31st. Spend $550 and you'll get the phone in either a GSM-tuned version (for the likes of AT&T and T-Mobile) or, if you shop at Amazon, a CDMA model optimized for Verizon. If that up-front price is just too much, Sprint and other carriers should offer the KEYone this summer.
Unlocked versions of Samsung's Galaxy S8 are up for pre-order
Want one of Samsung's lithe new S8 handsets but want to pick your own carrier? Awesome, because pre-orders have opened for unlocked versions of the nigh-bezel-free phone. In our review, mobile editor Chris Velazco proposed that the devices could almost make you forget about Samsung's fiery news from last year.
BlackBerry KEYone reaches the US on May 31st
To say that the launch of the BlackBerry KEYone has been protracted would be an understatement. BlackBerry and TCL teased the high-profile phone in January, dished out proper details in February, and has left people wondering about a specific US release date ever since. At last, you can relax: BlackBerry and TCL have revealed that the keyboard-equipped Android phone will reach both the US and Canada on May 31st. Americans will be limited to buying the $549 unlocked CDMA or GSM versions at first, but take heart -- there will be carrier deals, including a Sprint launch sometime in the summer. If you thought the up front price was too much to swallow, you'll have a way of softening the blow.
Blu smartphones secretly harvested texts and contacts
Blu Products, the leading seller of unlocked smartphones in the US, has revealed a serious security problem with a bunch of its products. It says a third-party app called "Wireless Update" has been "collecting unauthorized personal data in the form of text messages, call logs and contacts from customers" on some devices. While the app has been "self-updated" and is no longer siphoning data, Blu advises users to check their phones and call customer service if an older version of the app is still installed.
