If you’ve been checking out the best phone deals with unlocked cell phone deals in mind, we’ve got them all neatly wrapped up here. Read on while we guide you through the best unlocked cell phone deals happening right now, along with an explanation as to why you want to grab this particular phone.
Today’s best unlocked cell phone deals
- Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max — $472, was $849
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G — $500, was $600
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra — $100 in Instant Credit, Max $640 in trade-in credit
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 — $200 in Instant Credit, Max $1,100 in trade-in credit
- Samsung Galaxy S22 — $725, was $850
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max — $736, was $1,030
- Microsoft Surface Duo 2 — $1,1<strong>00, was $1,600
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max — $472, was $849
Why Buy:
- Great camera
- Still very powerful
- Gorgeous looking
- Excellent night mode
Once one of the best iPhones out there, the Apple
Elsewhere, the Apple
Camera-wise, you get a triple 12MP Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G — $500, was $600
Why Buy:
- Fantastic camera
- Space zoom feature
- Awesome display
- Colorful design
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G packs a lot into a consistently great price, even before being discounted. A derivative of the original Galaxy S20, it looks great. It’s a little larger than the alternative but that’s because it uses a larger 6.5-inch display. While that display only offers 1080p resolutions, it’s still a Super AMOLED display so it looks great. A 120Hz refresh rate means that browsing or gaming feels silky smooth with a display that’s very responsive to touch too. Responsiveness is further helped by its processor. It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor so it can easily handle everything you throw at it even if it is a couple of years old now.
Elsewhere, there’s the truly fantastic camera. It has three camera sensors. These include one 12-megapixel standard sensor, one 8MP sensor with a telephoto lens, along with one 12MP sensor that has an ultra-wide lens. Photos look colorful, crisp, and all-around delightful however you take them. Even in low light, images look great. Even better, the telephoto lens offers 3x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom so you get a hybrid (or space zoom) 30x. While photos aren’t quite as crisp, Samsung’s software still does a good job of cleaning them up. Single-take A.I. is smart enough to capture multiple images and videos all at once, before finding the best one for your needs.
Elsewhere, a 4,500mAh battery gives you a good day or more of use, even when using it regularly. Samsung’s One UI is included amongst Android 10 and it works fairly well with ensuring there’s not too much bloatware. Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra — $100 in Instant Credit, Max $640 in trade-in credit
Why Buy:
- A true flagship phone
- Includes S Pen
- Versatile camera
- Fantastic display
A truly high-end phone, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra potentially does everything anyone could want from it. It’s highly capable in pretty much all ways, whether you want power for gaming, to be able to multitask easily, take beautiful photos, or even use it as a form of tablet thanks to its included S Pen stylus. It’s the kind of phone that will last you for years to come. Well designed, it’s more like the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra than the S21 Ultra. Tall and wide, it’s not the most comfortable of phones to hold but it’s ideally suited to be part phone, part tablet.
Inside that chunky build is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor which flies, whatever you plan on doing with it. Whether you’re gaming or juggling between different apps and windows, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra never seems to slow down.
And of course, there’s the camera. The Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 — $200 in Instant Credit, Max $1,100 in trade-in credit
Why Buy:
- Powerful hardware
- Gorgeous screens
- Better durability than other folding phones
- Great for multitasking
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is sufficiently innovative that it will remind you of what it was like getting your first cell phone. Folded up, it’s a tall and narrow candy bar-style phone with a 6.2-inch cover screen that deals with all the basics. Unfold it though, and it becomes a 7.6-inch main screen based phone that proves bigger than a Kindle Paperwhite and a fantastic combo of phone and tablet. Somehow, despite that size, it’s rarely an issue to reach across the whole screen with your thumb.
By opening it up, you get a fold in the middle but you’ll soon forget it’s there thanks to all the gorgeous screen real estate. Both displays offer a 120Hz refresh rate so action or browsing looks incredibly smooth. In the case of the main screen, it’s an AMOLED display that supports HDR10+ so colors look rich and saturated with some great deep blacks to gaze at, too. It’s ideal for gaming, watching movies, or simply working away in style. While other foldable phones are less durable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is pretty robust. It has IPX8 water resistance so it can deal with complete immersion in water. There’s also Gorilla Glass Victus on the cover screen so it stays safe.
As a multitasking powerhouse, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has all the right features so you can get more done. You can have multiple apps open before running them side by side in split view, or opt to run up to three in resizable windows. It’s a great way of ensuring you can get more done without having to dig out your laptop or tablet. Gorgeous and immensely practical, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 even manages to throw in some useful cameras with three 12MP lenses that offer great photos and crisp imagery. It’s a delight to use through and through.
Samsung Galaxy S22 — $725, was $850
Why Buy:
- Great camera
- Adaptive screen
- Fast performance
- Sturdy build
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the go-to
Elsewhere, the Samsung
As with other S22 phones, the Samsung
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max — $736, was $1,030
Why Buy:
- Beautiful display
- Great performance
- Excellent camera
- Long battery life
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max might not be the newest iPhone any more but it’s still a remarkably great phone to own. One of the first things you’ll notice about it is its gorgeous display. It has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display that means everything you look at appears truly gorgeous. The OLED panel ensures that all images are bright, crisp, and colorful, no matter if you’re using it indoors or outdoors. Its size means that this is a fairly bulky phone but that’s a price worth paying when you get this good looking a screen. The phone also utilizes a Ceramic Shield so it’s much tougher than any smartphone glass so it’s more durable and able to take the odd knock better, too.
Underneath that cool exterior, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max uses the A14 bionic chip. It might not be the newest any more but through using iOS 15, its performance is still fantastic. You won’t have any problem switching between apps or playing games here. Camera-wise, it has a camera system including 12MP ultra wide, wide, and telephoto lenses. 5x optical zoom helps with establishing range, while software features like a potent night mode, smart
At times cumbersome, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max makes up for that with sheer class. It also has a great battery life despite being fairly powerful, lasting all day without a problem. Recharging is pretty speed too providing you use the right charger. A little more like taking a tablet out with you, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is a hefty beast but one that’s perfect for working or gaming at the best of your abilities while you’re on the move.
Microsoft Surface Duo 2 — $1,100, was $1,600
Why Buy:
- Fast performance
- Part tablet, part phone
- Strong cameras
- Great for multitasking
The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 is quite a turnaround for a concept that didn’t quite work the first time around. A genuinely good device for multitasking, the Microsoft
It’s expertly designed to be great for multitasking. Not least because of its software. Apps offer drag and drop support so you can move images, text or even files between them, making it a breeze to get things done. Many apps are designed to automatically span across both screens too so you get more room to get things done. Even when gaming, the action is pretty smooth.
Elsewhere, the Microsoft
When are the best unlocked cell phone deals?
The best deals happen when you need a new phone the most. That might mean buying right now. If your current phone has just died or you’re desperate for an upgrade, we won’t blame you if you buy a new unlocked cell phone right now. Deals are still looking pretty sweet and you’re sure to be delighted with your acquisition. After all, no one wants to have to wait too long to enjoy a new purchase, right? However, if you are able to wait it out, there are traditionally better times of year to enjoy a great bargain.
The next big sales event is Amazon’s Prime Day. It runs each July as part of Amazon’s celebration of its founding in the same month back in the 1990s. In the past few years, it’s been an incredibly big success but it is technically limited to Prime members only which can restrict your options. Fortunately, many other retailers have got in on the act and also offer sales around the same time of year. It can be worth holding out until then to find a great unlocked cell phone deal. Amazon frequently discounts popular technology including cell phones meaning you may see deep discounts on a much respected phone brand or two.
Alternatively, if you can be even more patient then you can’t beat Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The events don’t happen until after Thanksgiving so you have a long wait ahead of you but they’re pretty great. Always the traditional highlight of the sales calendar, we’re expecting to see some big discounts on the most popular unlocked cell phones out there. The sales season will cover all retailers and should be fantastic. However, you’ll need to wait a while to see what’s out there. Worst, your finances may be tighter this close to the holidays as you find yourself needing to pay for other items like gifts or vacations.
Ultimately, the best unlocked cell phone deals need to be at the same time as you can afford them. If that’s right now, then go for it. You’ll still get a great new phone at an excellent price.
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