Unlocked Phones: Everything You Need to Know

by Reza Khaknegar

With everything that we need in our fast-paced life, smartphones are a part of it. Pretty ubiquitous, smartphones are the one thing that everyone has, and most people stay connected to their phones from day to night without blinking! But have you ever wondered why? Because it carries your whole world in one place. You might have bought many phones right from the beginning, and if you have tried to switch carriers, you must have heard of the unlocked phones. But what are unlocked phones exactly? To answer this question and many others that you need to know if you are planning to buy one, we are here to make sure that you get the one that will work decently.

Unlocked Phones: What are these?

In short, unlocked phones are the ones that are not tied to a particular service provider. Unlocked phones are the ones that will work on more than one service provider (such as Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint). It means that you can choose the network carrier that you want. You only need to swap the SIM cards, and you are all done to move from one network carrier to another. Whether you are someone who wants to part his business and personal life or the one who needs to keep two SIM cards for network reliability, buying an unlocked phone is a smart choice!

GSM and CDMA Compatibility

Understanding the GSM or CDMA compatibility is the most beneficial thing to know before buying an unlocked phone. As both are not interchangeable and will work only with selected network carriers, make sure you pay special attention and choose the one according to your preferences. Though some newer phones may support both, before making a decision, it is advised to do a bit more research to see if it is compatible.

  • CDMA
    CDMA phones don't have a SIM card slot. If you are choosing a CDMA phone, you must know that the information about the carrier is stored on the phone and the same is reprogrammed if you wish to use a different CDMA network. Also, you cannot use the CDMA phones with a GSM network such as Sprint or Verizon.

 

  • GSM
    GSM is the most standard of networks that are used across the world, including Europe and Asia. In the United States, only AT&T and T-Mobile use the GSM network. These phones are most preferred for international use because they offer the easiest and convenient way to swap the carriers by only changing the SIM from a local GSM carrier to get service.

Unlocked Phones: Advantages and Disadvantages

Every good thing has some advantages and disadvantages of its own and so do unlocked phones. Where the unlocked phones give you the freedom to do whatever you want with your phone, they also have no support from carriers.

Advantages:

  • Frequent and fast software updates
  • Using international SIM cards is easy
  • No penalty of switching carriers
  • Higher resale value
  • Unlocked phones don’t come with unwanted apps

Disadvantages:

  • Do not support particular network bands
  • Unlocked phones are expensive
  • It’s not easy to get help if the phone breaks down
  • Device is paid in full
  • No promotional discounts

Further More
When it comes to a smartphone, people can have different preferences depending on how often they travel internationally or whether or not they are sticking to a budget. Some prefer locked phones, however, those who don't like to stay in boundaries prefer unlocked phones. If you travel a lot for business or vacations, an unlocked phone will be an ideal pick as it gives you the freedom of selecting any local network without any restrictions, on the other hand, it is not the case with locked phones. So, the next time you want to buy a new phone or want to switch carriers as swiftly as you switch your clothes, remember the key points mentioned above to make the right choice!

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