The most popular unlocked phones usually go hand in hand with the most popular phones in general; since people usually find a favorite brand or phone, then wish for more freedom. Unlocked phones can often be purchased directly from the manufacturer in their retail stores or on their websites. Alternatively, they can be purchased from consumer-to-consumer websites like eBay.
Types of Unlocked Phones
From Samsung to HTC, there are many brands of mobile phones, and some are far more popular than others. Each phone has an operating system, such as the Apple iOS or Ice Cream Sandwich. The operating systems are often based on desktop computer operating systems.
Operating System | Developer |
|---|---|
Windows Mobile
|
Microsoft
|
Apple iOS
|
Apple
|
Android
|
Google
|
Blackberry OS
|
Research in Motion
|
In the end, choosing an operating system comes down to what phone a buyer is most comfortable owning and using
Popular Phone Brands
The most popular phone brands are some of the oldest electronic device manufacturers. In fact, some have been operating for decades. The ones at the forefront have learned to roll with the ever-changing desires of today’s consumers. These makers include Samsung, Apple, Blackberry, and HTC.
Samsung
Samsung Electronics is one of the most successful electronics and information-technology companies, mostly known for their smartphones and tablets. In 2012, the company became the largest cell phone manufacturer in the world. Their phones are often highly anticipated and frequently garner largely positive reviews.
Apple
Though founded in the late 1970s, Apple didn’t unveil its first generation iPhone until 2007. Since then, Apple has released slimmer and faster phones with even more storage space. Each new phone is extensively reported on and often leaked to the public before its big release. Despite some disappointment about the largely unchanged appearance of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S from the iPhone 3, the phones were a huge hit.
Blackberry
Blackberry is the sixth most popular device maker. The manufacturer doesn’t have nearly as much market share as Samsung or Apple. Their phones aren’t known for large screens or having thousands of apps. However, battery life, durability, and the style of the phones help retain their popularity.
HTC
Headquartered in Taiwan, HTC Corporation was founded in 1997. The company manufactures both Android and Windows phones, in addition to tablets and other electronic devices. Their products are generally marketed by T-Mobile.
Best Unlocked Phones
The latest phones aren’t always considered the best, despite having the latest features and technology. Some phones are complete flops and receive harsh criticism from consumers. The top phones generally have few software issues, reliable hardware, and an easy-to-use interface. The following list represents eight of the most popular unlocked phones on the market.
1. Samsung Galaxy S III
Featuring a 4.8-inch screen and S-Voice, a Siri-like personal assistant, the Samsung Galaxy S III is one of the best selling smartphones, as of 2012. It’s compared frequently to Apple’s iPhone 4, since it has similar features and capabilities.
As usual, though, there’s a huge divide between Apple fans and Android fans, and many people either love or hate the Samsung Galaxy S III. Still, this phone is partially responsible for aiding in Android’s gradual increase in smartphone market share.
2. Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Released in November of 2011, the Galaxy Nexus was the first phone to have Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. In addition, as a flagship phone, it’s one of the first to receive updates. The Galaxy Nexus is praised for its speech-to-text capabilities, also known as voice typing, as well as Face Unlock, tabbed web browsing, and the built-in photo editor.
3. Apple iPhone 4
The Apple iPhone is the most popular smartphone device in the United States. Its unlocked version can be purchased directly through the manufacturer’s website. It has a 5-megapixel camera with the capability of shooting high definition video. Like the Samsung Galaxy S III, the Apple iPhone has a personal assistant application that answers questions, sets alarms, and much more, by just talking to it.
Though buyers should consider all features of a phone before buying it, buying a phone because of its popularity has its advantages. As one of the most popular smartphones in countries around the world, the iPhone has thousands of accessories, from custom cases to iPhone armbands to hold the phone in place while exercising. Its app market is bustling, with most high profile apps making their first appearance in the App Store rather than Google Play.
4. Apple iPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S is a lot like the iPhone 4, but with a better camera, more potential storage space, and a dual-core processor. Basically, it should run a bit faster than the iPhone 4 and have more space for the higher quality photos it captures. Due to these improvements, it’s also considerably more expensive than the iPhone 4.
5. Blackberry Bold
The Blackberry 9250 Bold is a less expensive phone with a smaller screen than most Apple and Android phones. This Blackberry is similar to the older style of phones that lack a full-sized screen. In general, it’s bulkier and doesn’t have the capability of the more advanced smartphones. It has mixed reviews from buyers, but it remains one of the most popular unlocked phones that isn’t manufactured by Apple or Samsung.
6. Blackberry Curve
Featuring a 5-megapixel camera, the Blackberry Curve is the second most popular Blackberry phone on the market. It has a curved body, hence its name, and is lighter than most Blackberry models.
7. HTC Evo 4G
The HTC Evo is considered a trendsetter among Android smartphones. It was one of the first Android phones with a large display. It has both a front and rear camera, which are 1.3 and 8 megapixels, respectively.
8. HTC Inspire 4G
Codenamed "Stallion," the HTC Inspire was also at the forefront in the world of smartphones. The Inspire was AT&T Wireless’ first phone marketed as 4G. It has an extra large screen, slim build, and an unrivaled camera.
Service Providers Usable with Unlocked Phones
Unlocked phones can only be used with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks. GSM phones have a removable subscriber identity module (SIM) card. Basically, as long as a phone has a SIM card, it can be unlocked and used on different carrier networks. Unfortunately, GSM service providers can be few and far between, depending on the user’s location. In the United States, for example, AT&T is the most well-known and widespread GSM carrier. An unlocked iPhone or Android phone won’t work with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) carriers like Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
Differences Between Locked and Unlocked Phones
Besides having more control over what company to purchase service from, there are few differences between locked and unlocked phones. Having a locked phone generally means being stuck in a contract with a service provider, a contract that typically lasts for two years. This a way to make up for losing potential profit, since phones purchased with a contract are usually sold for much less than unlocked phones. Having a contract can also mean getting discounts on new phones a year or two after signing it. For many people, this is advantageous enough to stay in a contract rather than buy an unlocked phone.
Sometimes, unlocking is confused with jailbreaking. Jailbroken phones have edited software that allows the operation of unapproved applications. Unapproved applications might not be safe to run, similar to how downloading random software onto a laptop isn’t a safe practice due to the risk of malware. While jailbreaking a phone isn’t illegal, it can void the warranty on a phone.
Buying an Unlocked Phone on eBay
To buy an unlocked phone on eBay, go to the main website, and then click on Electronics . Click on Cell Phones and Accessories, and then Cell Phones and Smartphones. Scroll down to the Carrier category and check "Unlocked" to only view the unlocked phones. You can also sort the phones by those with free shipping, certain operating systems, location, and much more.
Try to find a seller with a long history of positive feedback. These are people who have repeatedly proven themselves reliable in the eyes of other buyers. Once your transaction is completed, you too can leave feedback about your experience with the seller, whether it’s positive, negative, or neutral.
Buying Used Unlocked Phones on eBay
The resale value of a smartphone drops drastically during its first six months to a year. For people operating on a small budget, this timeframe is ideal for buying a phone. It’s still relatively new, but it’s also about half the original price or less, depending on its condition.
When buying an unlocked phone on eBay, ensure it’s the version you’re looking for by carefully reading the description and looking at the pictures in the listing. If you have questions about the product, use the "Ask a Question" feature to communicate with the seller.
Conclusion
The most popular unlocked phones usually have a large screen, a camera with 5 to 8 megapixels, and run on one of the Apple or Android operating systems. There are few hard rules regarding phone popularity, although most popular phones have a small screen or a Windows operating system. This largely depends on what features are trending and the location being surveyed. As with laptops and digital cameras, a decade from now, the most popular phones of today will be considered irrelevant.
When buying an unlocked phone, buyers should be aware that they might be limited to a certain carrier. In addition, purchasing the phone from a reputable seller with a lenient return policy might be useful when fixing mistakes, such as receiving a locked phone instead of an unlocked one.
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