Buy Phone Only
The vast majority of phone owners still buy phones from a carrier, but there's a lot more freedom and interest in no-contract and unlocked phones. This is good news for all of us because we now have more options than what you can get only in your carrier store. Some of which are quite affordable.
buy phone only
An unlocked phone is one that isn't tied, or "locked" to a single carrier. That means you can pop in a SIM card for AT&T, for instance, swap it out for a T-Mobile SIM, and it'll still work. There's no artificial barrier that keeps you from using the phone on any other network simply because the carrier wants to forcibly keep you (and your phone) as a customer.
But. That doesn't mean that every unlocked phone you can buy is free and clear to use on any carrier, especially if you're buying a global handset that wasn't intended to work in the US (like if it's sold in Europe and Asia, and you buy it on Craigslist or eBay). You'll still need to check to make sure that your preferred network is compatible with your phone (look into the phone's connectivity and band support).
For an overly simplistic example, if the carrier only uses band X and the phone only uses band Y, the phone isn't going to work with that carrier (you'd still be able to use it over Wi-Fi, of course). Depending on the technology, some unlocked phones you can buy will only work with AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. Others will work with all of the Big Four and their prepaid branches -- for example Boost and Virgin Mobile for Sprint, Cricket Wireless for AT&T, and MetroPCS for T-Mobile.
They can be, but there's a distinction. A no-contract phone is one that doesn't require you to sign a carrier agreement in order to buy and use it, so when the phone's paid off, it's yours. Most carriers now sell a no-contract option, either with our without a payment plan. When it's paid off, you can also ask the carrier to unlock it for you, so you can (potentially) use it with another phone network.
While most unlocked phones are also no-contract, it's common enough that one carrier will sell the phone exclusively (not other carrier store stocks it), but you're often able to buy the phone from the manufacturer as well.
For example, if you buy the Motorola Moto Z2 Play from Verizon, you won't be able to use it on any carrier you want. But if you buy the unlocked version of that same phone from Motorola, it will work with all US carriers.
If you want to buy a Pixel through a network, Verizon has the carrier exclusive ($650). But if you're the more adventurous type, you can also go to Google's website or Best Buy to get either Android phone on its own or with Google's Project Fi SIM. (Project Fi uses available spectrum from T-Mobile, Sprint and local Wi-Fi.) You aren't tied to Fi either.
Although it's behind with Android 6.0, it's easy to use one-handed and is overall a comfortable phone. The next-gen version, the Honor 9, has just been announced for China, but we aren't sure when and if we'll see it come to the US.
All compatible phones get reliable coverage, privacy and security features that protect your personal information, and family features that help your family stay safer on their phones and build healthy digital habits. Only phones designed for Fi are built with network-switching technology. Unlocked phones compatible with T-Mobile's 5G network will have access to 5G on Fi.
Fi is in beta for iPhone. Bringing your iPhone to Fi requires some extra setup, like changing a few of your Settings. We'll walk you through it step-by-step, and our support team is always available if you need help. Currently, iPhone does not have network-switching technology, but you'll still get great coverage, including 5G for supported phones. Learn more
Fi works on most phones, but we always recommend checking your phone's compatibility before joining Fi. If your unlocked phone is compatible with T-Mobile's 5G network, you'll have access to 5G on Fi.
Receive up to $504 promo credit ($180 w/Welcome Unlimited, $360 w/ 5G Start, or $504 w/5G Do More, 5G Play More, 5G Get More or One Unlimited for iPhone plan (Welcome Unlimited and One Unlimited for iPhone plans can't be mixed w/other Unlimited plans; all lines on the account req'd on respective plans)) when you add a new smartphone line with your own 4G/5G smartphone on an eligible postpaid plan between 2/10/23 and 4/5/23. Promo credit applied over 36 months; promo credits end if eligibility requirements are no longer met.
If you're in the market for a new smartphone, you'll almost certainly come across the term "unlocked phone." What exactly is an unlocked phone, and how can you tell if it's unlocked? Do you even want an unlocked phone, and if so, is it secure to use? We provide answers to all of your burning questions.
A smartphone that has been unlocked can be used with any cell phone carrier. Some phones aren't unlocked, meaning they can only be used with one carrier. That is not the case with an unlocked phone. However, a phone's network compatibility is only relevant for mobile phone carriers, not wireless networks like WiFi. Any phone, whether unlocked or locked, can connect to a WiFi network as long as that WiFi is operational.
When traveling, it makes international SIM cards simple to use. Phones that have been unlocked are free to connect to any network in the globe. The instructions for changing SIM cards for your phone model will be available from most providers.
Installing a SIM card is much easier if your phone is unlocked. Unlike locked phones, which are limited to using the network carrier's SIM card, unlocked phones give you the freedom to choose your carrier. It's very simple to put a fresh SIM card in a new unlocked phone device. You can choose a SIM card from any carrier and set it up once you've chosen the proper phone model based on the cellular network frequency specs. If you're transferring an old SIM card from another phone and want to transfer SIM data, you'll need to back up the data from the previous phone first before removing the SIM. You may do this by going to your SIM settings folder and selecting "export files to SIM card."
When you have an unlocked phone, you can use any SIM card. Prior to the invention of 4G LTE, networks were split between GSM and CDMA operators. Now, since the introduction of 4G LTE phones, new iPhones and Android devices are compatible with both GSM and CDMA networks. This means we no longer have to worry about whether our phone is GSM or CDMA or whether it will accept a SIM card. Basically, every unlocked iPhone after the iPhone 5 and any unlocked Android phone released after 2013 should be SIM card compatible.
Further, a locked phone contains a software code that prevents it from being used on another network. An unlocked phone either does not have the software lock or has been able to obtain a code to unlock the program. Once a smartphone is unlocked, you can remove the SIM card and replace it with a different SIM card to continue using it.
With an unlocked phone, One advantage is that you have the freedom to choose the plan and pricing that best suits your needs. Some carriers lock you into plans at a higher price point in order to obtain a discount on a locked phone. With an unlocked phone, you will often have more freedom to add or remove services as well as switch between plans to suit your needs.
Another advantage of an unlocked phone is that it's not bound by a contract. You are not required to stay with a single carrier for more than two years or to adhere to your contract's restrictions and data allotments.
For the international traveler, another pro of owning an unlocked phone is that you may use your unlocked phone easily in other countries. By simply buying a SIM card and plan for an international provider during a trip, one may obtain service often at lower prices than the major US providers offer for international roaming. it is in high demand, especially among international visitors who simply need to purchase a foreign GSM SIM card, so you may get a good price for it if you decide to sell it.
Carriers will allow you to use unlocked phones, but they may not be able to provide as much help in the event that something goes wrong. You may be on your own if your phone stops working, the network goes down, or you have any other technical troubles. The manufacturer has a support team, but their expertise of carrier network technology is confined to their products.
Unless you pay using a credit card, unlocked phones must be paid in full. The problem is that you need to pay for the phone right away, and we all know how pricey these devices can be. It's not pleasant to see your bank account plummet by over $1,000 after purchasing a high-end smartphone. Even low-cost phones can be inconvenient at times.
By now, you should have a better idea of what "unlocked" means in the context of phones. Remember, even if you have paid off your phone and fulfilled your contact duties, the phone is yours to keep, and you should be able to swap at any time. Ultimately, the choice of a locked versus an unlocked phone is yours, and hopefully, our guide will help you navigate finding your next phone.
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