Best Unlocked Phone

Best overall Best for features Best with huge screen Best for less Best overall Google Pixel 2 See at Best Buy See at Google Store Google's new Pixel 2 gives you sleek and solid hardware, all of the requisite specs inside and runs simple and intuitive software at a breakneck pace. The hardware surely isn't flashy, but it's beautiful and efficient — and it's now IP67 water-resistant like we expect. The software features and Google's apps aren't numerous, but they're delightfully useful without being bothersome. And with three years of guaranteed updates, you don't have to worry about the future. The Pixel 2 has once again set the standard for Android cameras as well, with Google's "HDR+" processing buoyed by new camera hardware and even better processing. Photos are accurate with just a little extra punch of color, and can manage tough scenes with little issue. And with Android 8.1, a new "Pixel Visual Core" chipset will be enabled to give you even better photos, which is tantalizing. Bottom line: The best Android experience comes straight from Google with the Pixel 2. Great hardware and amazing software support an amazing camera that's only getting better. One more thing: Though Verizon will tout the Pixel 2 is "exclusive" to the carrier, know that you can buy the phone unlocked from a variety of sources and use it on your carrier of choice. Why the Google Pixel 2 is the best If you want the best possible Android experience, you go straight to the source: Google. The company has gotten serious about user experience and interface design, and it really shows with Android 8.0 Oreo on the Pixel 2. Everything is blazing fast, smooth, consistent and intuitive throughout the interface. It's a core competency that separates the Pixel 2 from the competition, and it's something that any smartphone user can appreciate. Google has gotten really good at user experience and interface design. And it's not just software customization that makes it happen — Google has included a Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB (optionally, 128GB) of storage to make sure your phone has plenty of room to run. A 2700mAh battery seems small (well, normally, it is), but it manages to get you a full day of use without worry. The little body also packs front-facing stereo speakers, which are a rarity in 2017. Further to that point, Google has sourced a quality 5-inch 1080p panel that looks good at the $649 price point. Oh, yes, it's just 5 inches. Despite its big top and bottom bezels, the Pixel 2 is quite comfortable to hold and reach to all four corners of the screen without the help of a second hand. The Pixel 2 doesn't focus on the number of features; it focuses on the impact of each one. If there's one knock on the Pixel 2, it's that it doesn't have the sheer volume of features in its hardware or software that some of the competition does. It doesn't have a headphone jack, wireless charging, or an SD card slot; and if you're used to having a bunch of specialized software features on your Samsung, LG or Huawei phone you won't find them here. But for most people, those are relatively small prices to pay to get a daily experience of using a phone that's fast, intuitive, smart and filled with a core set of features that can actually wow you. That's what you get from the Pixel 2. Best for features Samsung Galaxy S8 See at Best Buy See at Amazon See at Samsung The Galaxy S8 has slick hardware with tiny bezels that let it have a big screen in a small body, but inside it still offers everything you want: a high-end processor, lots of storage, an SD card slot, full waterproofing and a top-end camera. Though its software can be a little overwhelming, you can't argue that Samsung continues to pack in hundreds of features to a single phone, making sure there's something in here for everyone's needs. Samsung continues to take this approach of offering more more more with just a few compromises — and it continues to work. Bottom line: The Galaxy S8 gives you piles of features in a beautiful body, and is a great choice for a wide range of potential buyers. One more thing: You should consider the option of paying a little extra and get the larger Galaxy S8+ for a bit more screen and battery life. Best with a huge screen Samsung Galaxy Note 8 See at Best Buy See at Amazon See at Samsung Take everything that makes the Galaxy S8 great, and scale it up — that's what also makes the Galaxy Note 8 compelling. A very familiar glass-and-metal body is wrapped around a larger 6.3-inch display, but a panel that's even better in terms of brightness and colors. For this top-dollar phone you'll find top-end specs, great performance and super-capable software. Plus a new dual camera setup that offers you 2X zooming without losing resolution and a new "Live Focus" mode that mimics the background blur of a professional camera. None of the camera changes come at a cost of reduced primary camera quality, either. Then you get the S Pen, of course, offering fine input, drawing abilities and new productivity tricks you simply can't get from any other phone out there. The stylus isn't for everyone, but you'll find plenty of people who swear by its capabilities. Bottom line: For the biggest, most powerful and most capable phone Samsung makes, look no further. One more thing: Be ready to spend the big bucks — the Note 8 is far and away Samsung's most expensive phone ever at about $930. Best for less OnePlus 5T See at OnePlus Few other phones can match the OnePlus 5T's build quality and performance for just $500. Its new 2:1 display gives it a more modern feel than the OnePlus 5 from earlier this year, and the infamous jelly scrolling effect is no more. OxygenOS is one of our favorite takes on Android, leaving the stock software almost entirely unchanged while adding more customizability. The cameras on the 5T are capable of taking some great photos, and performance is no slouch thanks to the phone's Snapdragon 835 processor and between 6 and 8 gigabytes of RAM. If you can live without water resistance and wireless charging, this phone is an excellent choice that won't break the bank. Bottom-line: A great unlocked phone doesn't have to be expensive — the OnePlus 5T gives you a great experience for less than your typical flagship phone. One more thing: The OnePlus 5T also features new face unlock technology that, while less secure than Face ID on the [iPhone X], is simply the fastest implementation we've ever seen. Conclusion When you want an unlocked phone, our recommendation remains unchanged from our general "Best Android Phones" list: it's the Google Pixel 2. It offers an amazing software experience, a top-notch camera, great hardware and guaranteed software updates. Best overall Google Pixel 2 See at Best Buy See at Google Store Google's new Pixel 2 gives you sleek and solid hardware, all of the requisite specs inside and runs simple and intuitive software at a breakneck pace. The hardware surely isn't flashy, but it's beautiful and efficient — and it's now IP67 water-resistant like we expect. The software features and Google's apps aren't numerous, but they're delightfully useful without being bothersome. And with three years of guaranteed updates, you don't have to worry about the future. The Pixel 2 has once again set the standard for Android cameras as well, with Google's "HDR+" processing buoyed by new camera hardware and even better processing. Photos are accurate with just a little extra punch of color, and can manage tough scenes with little issue. And with Android 8.1, a new "Pixel Visual Core" chipset will be enabled to give you even better photos, which is tantalizing. Bottom line: The best Android experience comes straight from Google with the Pixel 2. Great hardware and amazing software support an amazing camera that's only getting better. One more thing: Though Verizon will tout the Pixel 2 is "exclusive" to the carrier, know that you can buy the phone unlocked from a variety of sources and use it on your carrier of choice. Updated December 2017: The list has been completely overhauled with the release of the Pixel 2, which takes our top spot. The Note 8 also joins the list, next to the Galaxy S8, which remains. The OnePlus 5T has overtaken the Moto X4 as an affordable unlocked option.

source: https://www.androidcentral.com/best-unlocked-phone
date: Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:00:00 +0000