The Best Unlocked Smartphone Deals for June 2023

If you’re not enrolled in a program that lets you get a new phone every year through your carrier, you may suffer from sticker shock when it’s time to upgrade. New flagship phones drop every year, and they might offer faster processors and different features—but should you spend $1,000 on a phone if yours is still plugging along? That’s the benefit of unlocked phones: They’re not tied to a carrier, so they offer more freedom and less bloatware. They also receive some serious price cuts through the year, which can save you money.

Whether you’re an iPhone fanatic or an Android aficionado, an unlocked smartphone is out there for you. And there’s a good chance you can find a deal on something you’ll want to use. If you’re looking for your first unlocked phone, or if you’ve been carrier-agnostic for years, you still have a few basic decisions to make regarding your next phone purchase. 

The first major decision to make is iOS versus Android. If you’re Apple all the way, your decision is somewhat easy, but there’s no shortage of excellent Android phones. Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel are the two biggest players in that market, but phone makers such as Motorola and OnePlus also produce highly rated devices.

Once you decide on your mobile OS, there are a few other variables to consider, including storage capacity, battery life, and camera quality. Most phones do pretty well in all of these nowadays categories, but if you want a phone that’ll go for days without a charge, that might not be the same phone with the most powerful camera onboard. 

Finally, price is always a huge consideration. Going into $1,000-plus territory for a phone can be tempting, but a number of models on the market give you great performance for around $500 (or less). Saving a few bucks on any of these phones is even more satisfying, since you’ll likely be carrying it around for years. Here are the best deals we’ve found:

Google Pixel 7a Unlocked Phone

((Credit: Eric Zeman))

The Google Pixel 7a is the latest entry in Google’s smartphone line. It runs on the Android 13 operating system and uses the same powerful Google Tensor G2 processor that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro do, making it a great value. Measuring 6.0 by 2.8 by 0.4 inches and weighing 6.8 ounces, this compact device has a 6.1-inch OLED screen with 2,400-by-1,080 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate, which improves on the Pixel 6a’s 60Hz refresh rate. Social-media influencers and amateur foodies alike will be happy to know that the Pixel line continues to be a leader in camera quality. As an added bonus, you get a $50 Amazon gift card with your purchase.

iPhone 13 Unlocked Phone

((Credit: Molly Flores))

Long battery life and fast performance makes the iPhone 13 a clear winner. It uses Apple iOS 15 and the Apple A15 Bionic CPU with next-generation Neural Engine. Its gorgeous 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 2,532-by-1,170 resolution looks great whether you’re chatting via FaceTime or watching a Netflix show. Both the front-facing and rear-facing cameras are 12 megapixels; you’ll want to snap photos and selfies galore.

OnePlus 10T Unlocked Phone

((Credit: Sascha Segan))

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 mobile platform, the OnePlus 10T delivers fantastic performance whether you’re making a call, sending a message, surfing the web, or playing a game. The 50-megapixel triple camera system offers superb image clarity, and you can save your photos and videos in up to 256GB of storage. The 6.7-inch screen supports HDR10+ and has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate to make the most of the Full HD resolution.

Google Pixel 6a Unlocked Phone

((Credit: Dave LeClair))

The Google Pixel 6a may not be brand spanking new, but if you’re in the market for a midrange Android phone, it’s a strong value and a PCMag Editors’ Choice winner. With a vibrant OLED display and a decent camera, this phone also has a Google Tensor CPU and runs the Android 12 operating system. Measuring 6.0 by 2.8 by 0.35 inches, the Pixel 6a’s distinct appearance sets it apart from other phones. But the lack of a microSD card slot might be a dealbreaker for some.