Best Unlocked Phone 2026: Award-Winning Carrier-Free Picks
Unlocked phones give you flexibility — switch carriers anytime, travel internationally with local SIMs, sell more easily. In 2026, every major flagship is sold unlocked direct from manufacturers. Here are the picks anchored to MKBHD's Smartphone Awards.
Updated · 5 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones sold unlocked direct from manufacturers and supported on all three major US carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile). Award context from MKBHD's recent Smartphone Awards.
- #1
Won Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Apple sells unlocked direct via apple.com — works on all three major US carriers and most international networks.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year
- Works on all major US carriers + most internationals
- Apple direct sale
Cons
- No carrier financing benefits
- Pay full price upfront
- #2
Best unlocked Android — runner-up Phone of the Year 2025
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Runner-up Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Samsung sells unlocked direct via samsung.com — fully compatible with all US carriers.
Pros
- Runner-up Phone of the Year 2025
- Works on all US carriers
- S Pen and 5x periscope
Cons
- $1,299 starting price
- No carrier financing benefits
- #3
Won Most Improved at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Google sells unlocked via Google Store — works on all major carriers with native Pixel UI and seven years of updates.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Most Improved
- Cleanest Android, no carrier bloat
- Seven years of updates
Cons
- Tensor G4 trails Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Battery merely average
- #4
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Now $599–$699 unlocked — full Apple Intelligence support and 5+ years of iOS updates remaining.
Pros
- Won 2024 Best Small Phone
- Now $599–$699 unlocked
- Apple Intelligence supported
Cons
- 60Hz display
- No telephoto
- #5
Runner-up Best Value at MKBHD's 2024 awards. $499 unlocked from Google Store — seven years of updates and Google's full computational photography pipeline.
Pros
- Runner-up Best Value 2024
- Seven years of updates
- $499 unlocked
Cons
- Plastic frame
- Tensor G3 isn't fast
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best unlocked phone in 2026?
iPhone 17 (MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year) for iOS, Galaxy S25 Ultra (runner-up) for Android. Both work on all major US carriers and most international networks.
Are unlocked phones worth it over carrier-locked?
Yes for most buyers — switching carriers is easier, international travel is cheaper, resale value is higher. Carrier financing remains the main draw of locked phones.
Will an unlocked phone work on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile?
Yes for all major flagships sold direct from manufacturers in 2026 (Apple, Samsung, Google). Always confirm the model number is the US-region variant.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.