Are you shopping for smartphones but ones that you can carry out of a country and use with any network? Often, the best deals offered by network providers in countries like US are phones that are locked in with the network. As a result, one is restricted to use a particular service for a certain number of years in order to avail of a certain network plan. If you are looking to purchase a smartphone that is unlocked worldwide, here are five phone reviews given which can be considered as cheap unlocked smartphones and used with different networks and cellular services.
In country like United States most people buy their phone in contract of any wireless network provider. Well you does get benefit of it from your contractor when you are in United States but when you leave the country your phone becomes totally useless. So if you are kind of person who has to travel different countries then you should buy an unlocked smartphone for yourselves. Thanks to technology, smartphones are no more costly as they use to be. You can now buy best unlocked smartphone for price as low as $100! Here I have got list of best cheap no-contract unlocked smartphones which you can refer to get yourself a new smartphone…
Best Cheap Unlocked Smartphones – Top 5 Picks
1) Samsung Galaxy S6 –
This is a smartphone of the Samsung Galaxy range that comes with 32 GB data capacity. It supports almost all bands of 4G so you can enjoy fast internet access in all countries. It is a top notch phone and it has Samsung’s own octa-core chipset. These are some of the headlining features of the phone which is sold as an unlocked phone in many outlets. It is a pricey model in the market, ranging in 800 dollars but it comes cheap in the unlocked version below five hundred dollars.
The phone has superior features like an AMOLED touchscreen with fingerprint sensor and a protective gorilla glass covering. The phone runs Android 5.0.2 version and obviously it can be updated to latest Android Marshmallow. The phone is fitted with a 16 megapixel camera, allowing high quality photos and videos to be taken. There is Auto HDR capabilities as well as optical image stabilization as well. It’s 5 MP front camera plays fairly with your selfies. It has 3 GB of RAM which ensures buttery smooth performance with all types of tasks. With Mali T760 graphics you get a phone that offers superior performance than most phones. All you need to remember is that, the unlocked phone comes without guarantee and hence, one needs to make the purchase on their own risk. Reviews say that there were no problems with this phone hence it is a top notch cheap unlocked smartphone you can get at price lesser than $500!
Specifications –
| OS | Android OS v5.0.2 Lollipop (Marshmallow Upgrade Available) |
| RAM | 3 GB RAM |
| CPU | Samsung Exynos 7420 Octa core processor |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP8 |
| DISPLAY | 5.1 Inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with 577 ppi pixel density |
| CAMERA | Primary Camera – 16 MP autofocus with LED Flash and Optical Image StabilizationSecondary Camera – 5 MP |
| MEMORY | 32 GB, Non Expandable |
| SIM | Nano SIM |
| BATTERY | Non-removable Li-ion 2550 mAh battery |
| WEIGHT | 4.87 oz |
| OTHER | NFC, Finger print Scanner, Unlocked |
Price – $477.99
2) BLU Pure XL –
Among the different options you have among cheap unlocked smartphones, this is a phone that comes loaded with features, even in the unlocked version. It has 4G LTE technology. The memory specifications are 64 GB for storage and 3 GB of RAM. You can also opt for the gold version which looks elegant. It comes in a budget range of $350 and it is a sturdy phone to opt for. The screen is six inches wide with quad HD super AMOLED display technology. The visual experience is great as compared to Corning Gorilla Glass or HD. The phone has 2 GHz octa core processor which runs Android Lollipop on this phone without any hiccups.
The camera of the phone is 24 MP with f/2.3 sensor, sapphire lens and real time HDR capability. There is a face detection autofocus technology fitted in the camera along with an 8 MP auto-focus with wide angle front camera. The phone works with GSM networks and also supports 4G LTE. With Finger print sensor and NFC this phone is surely the best cheap unlocked smartphone you can buy right now.
Specifications –
| OS | Android OS v5.1 Lollipop |
| RAM | 3 GB RAM |
| CPU | Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 Processor |
| GPU | PowerVR G6200 |
| DISPLAY | 6.0 Inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with 490 ppi pixel density |
| CAMERA | Primary Camera – 24 MP autofocus with dual LED Flash and OISSecondary Camera – 8 MP autofocus |
| MEMORY | 64 GB, Expandable up to extra 64 GB via micro SD card |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| BATTERY | Non-removable Li-ion 3500 mAh battery |
| WEIGHT | 7.30 oz |
| OTHER | NFC, Finger print Scanner, 4G LTE, Unlocked phone |
Price – $349.00
3) Motorola Nexus 6 –
This is unlocked phone which comes with 64 GB storage capacity at $399. If you are a fan of the Google Nexus range, this is a phone that is unlocked and comes with a warranty as well. Indeed, this is an unlocked version of a pricey phone that will offer you bigger aspects of everything. The phone comes with a six inch screen. There are stereo speakers which are dual and front facing. The phone is known to have longer battery life than other models. That is due to the 3220 mash battery which has turbo charging capability. The phone is equipped with Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system which can be upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow as soon as you turn on the phone. For those who are looking for a stylish phone that has superior Google related features will surely love the Nexus. It is a phone range that is wonderful to look at and has robust features to offer. You can look up reviews of the phone on other forums and websites in order to understand the different features of the phone as well as understand what have been the experiences of the different customers. These are ways to research and find out about a phone at the time of deciding on a purchase. Overall Motorola’s Nexus 6 is the best cheap unlocked android phone with high performance hardware, good looking design and promise of timely future Android updates.
Specifications –
| OS | Android OS v5.1 Lollipop (Upgradeable to Android v6.0 Marshmallow) |
| RAM | 3 GB RAM |
| CPU | 2.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad core processor |
| GPU | Adreno 420 |
| DISPLAY | 5.96 Inch AMOLED display with 493 ppi pixel density |
| CAMERA | Primary Camera – 13 MP IMX 214 Image SensorSecondary Camera – 2 MP |
| MEMORY | 64 GB, Non-Expandable |
| SIM | Nano-SIM |
| BATTERY | Non-removable Li-ion 3220 mAh battery |
| WEIGHT | 6.49 oz |
| OTHER | Water Resistant, NFC |
Price – $399.99
4) Apple iPhone 5s –
For those who have stayed away from purchasing iPhones due to the locked service factor, they can opt for this phone model that is sold as a certified and refurbished model on Amazon. The cheap unlocked smartphones include this model as well where the refurbished tag brings down the price considerably. The phone comes refurbished from the factory and has no signs of wear or tear. There is a seller warranty of 90 days on the purchase. The factory unlocked phone is a GSM model which can be compatible with several GSM networks. The phone comes with iOS 7 which can be upgraded to latest iOS 9 and other future updates as well. The phone is also armed with 64 bit dual core 1.3 GHz processor which Apple calls as A7 chip. The phone comes with PowerVR G6430 graphics which delivers best gaming experience. The phone is fitted with an 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus capability and dual LED flash. You can take full HD videos and slo-mo videos at 120 fps. You can explore the wonders of FaceTime as well as other standard Apple features. The product looks and works like new which is the guarantee provided. The phones are inspected, upgraded and packaged to sell like new devices and hence, it is definitely one of the best choices amongst cheap unlocked smartphones.
Specifications –
| OS | iOS 7 (Upgradable to iOS 9) |
| RAM | 1 GB RAM |
| CPU | Apple A7 Chipset Dual Core 1.3 GHz Processor |
| GPU | PowerVR G6430 quad-core graphics |
| DISPLAY | 4.0 Inch LED Backlit (Retina) display with 326 ppi pixel density |
| CAMERA | Primary Camera – 8 MP auto-focus, dual LED FlashSecondary Camera – 1.2 MP |
| MEMORY | 16 GB, Non-Expandable |
| SIM | Nano-SIM |
| BATTERY | Non-removable Li-ion 1560 mAh battery |
| WEIGHT | 3.95 oz |
Price – $269.99
5) LG Nexus 5 –
This is another phone from the Nexus range of phones which is of 16 GB memory and it is 4G LTE enabled smartphone. It is a phone that comes in the unlocked version if you are looking at certified and refurbished models. The phone flaunts the quad core processor and 2 GB of RAM makes this phone perfect for all types of works including gaming and some serious multi-tasking. The phone comes with 8 MP rear camera with LED flash which is a great everyday shooter. The front facing camera is 1.3 megapixel which plays fair with selfies and video calls. Nexus 5 has 4.95 inch screen with True HD IPS display. The screen is multi touch screen and capacitive. It comes with a protective corning gorilla glass, making it perfect for those who are always on the move and are prone to dropping the phone often. The phone runs Android v4.4 version which can be upgraded further to v6.0. The Qualcomm chipset offer wonderful processing and graphics at such a cheap rate of $160. The product when sold as a certified and refurbished item, comes with a ninety day warranty. The product is shipped as new, with all necessary accessories and after basic testing, inspection and repackaging is done.
Specifications –
| OS | Android OS v5.0 Lollipop (Upgradeable to Android v6.0 Marshmallow) |
| RAM | 2 GB RAM |
| CPU | Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 Processor |
| GPU | Adreno 330 |
| DISPLAY | 4.95 Inch Tru HD IPS+ capacitive touchscreen with 445 ppi pixel density |
| CAMERA | Primary Camera – 8 MP autofocus, OIS, LED flashSecondary Camera – 1.3 MP |
| MEMORY | 16 GB |
| SIM | micro SIM |
| BATTERY | Non-removable Li-ion 2300 mAh battery |
| WEIGHT | 4.59 oz |
| OTHER | NFC, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Factory Unlocked Smartphon |
Price – $159.99
Have you ever wondered how it would be to opt for an unlocked phone? With refurbished premier phone models, it is definitely an option worth exploring among cheap unlocked smartphones. With limited guarantee provided on refurbished models that are re inspected, tested and packaged, it is best to encourage the purchase of these phones. It helps to recycle technology that is still valid and not outdated but the second hand tag brings down the price of these premiers phone models within an affordable range. For these reasons, the unlocked and refurbished phones can be worth a look, especially if you are tired of spending hundreds of dollars on a technology whose usability curve is shortened every year.
So which phone did you liked? I hope this phone buying guide helps you to buy best cheap unlocked smartphone for yourself within your limited budget. Tell me in comments if you have any questions regarding any phones listed above…
Brijesh Gohil is the founder of Tech Brij, A popular Tech Blog which is focused on Tech tips & Buying Guides. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google + & LinkedIn.