Exploring the Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning an Unlocked Smartphone

Smartphones are just essential technology in our daily lifestyle today; they connect us to the world, keep us organized, and serve as entertainment. There are two main choices for getting a mobile phone, a locked cell phone from your cellular company on one hand or an unlocked cell cellphone that offers you the maximum widespread capability to select what company provider you would like. When it comes to locked phones (phones that come with contracts and are essentially shackled, contractually speaking) versus unlocked phones well, the latter makes more sense overall: you have greater network choice and broader compatibility for your vacations or supplementary SIMs.

In this review the pros and cons of unlocked cell phones are discussed with particular attention as to why they appear to be getting even more popular, and what potential buyers ought to think about before making any switch. If you buy a new mobile phone and prefer usage freedom, get an unlocked smartphone instead.

What is an Unlocked Cell Phone?

Unlocking a cell phone simply means that the device is not restricted to any one carrier. When you buy a phone directly from your wireless carrier, it comes locked to the provider itself and can only be used with that company (unless an unlock fee is paid or the service contract expires). Unlocked phones, in contrast, can be used across different carriers to make it simpler for you if your needs change or if you plan on using another carrier while traveling overseas.

Because locked phones typically ship with carrier-specific apps and limitations, they’re not as flexible an option for some. This flexibility empowers customers to choose from multiple network providers and make the best choice based on their specific preferences whether that means a higher data plan, lower costs, or coverage in an area where they live.

The Pros of Unlocked Cell Phones

1. Carrier Freedom

With an unlocked phone, you can use any other network carrier to your liking. Not locked into a carrier: After leaving your current cell phone provider, you will be able to look around and check different networks that offer better service or prices in the region. That can be particularly useful for people who live in the country or less served areas since they could choose to switch to whichever carrier gets the best reception without having to purchase a new phone as well.

On the international portion of your trip, having an unlocked phone is a major pro. Rather than using your home phone with expensive roaming charges, you can simply swap to a nearby SIM card and experience regional calling/texting/data rates.

2. Cost Savings in the Long Run

While the cost of an unlocked phone might be higher than a locked contract initially, most people can justify this small premium given per-month savings in the long run. Having an unlocked phone allows you to select a lower-cost plan through prepaid or month-to-month options which tend to be cheaper than long-term contracts that come with locked phones.

Unlocked phones also save by allowing users to change plans as soon as new deals become available. Unlocked phones are allowed to switch carriers, penalty-free when a carrier starts providing a better rate or deal – whereas this same billing cannot be escaped by those whose phone is locked and whose contract has them pinned down.

3. Wider Choice of Phones

Well, an unlocked phone has its advantages: it allows you to choose from a greater number of models. Most premium unlocked phones are also available as locked devices. In contrast, for unlocked telephones, you are not at the mercy of what your carrier offers. International models some of which may not be available through U.S. carriers at all, make it possible for you to choose features and design aesthetics that the market here has passed by.

4. No Bloatware

Carrier-locked phones, for instance, are bundled with unavoidable apps and bloatware that exist on your device storage without being ever used in the first place. These are some of the bloatware. With an unlocked phone, you won’t be saddled with carrier-specific bloatware and you’ll have a cleaner device free of annoying preinstalled junk apps that can reduce your battery life.

The Cons of Unlocked Cell Phones

As great as unlocked phones are, they also have some drawbacks. If those don’t apply to you or aren’t deal-breakers, the benefits might outweigh these factors and make an unlocked phone a good choice.

1. Higher Upfront Cost

Unlike locked phones, unlocked phone tends to be more pricey when you buy them upfront. With locked phones, the cost of the device is usually subsidized by the carrier and included as part of your monthly contract costs to pay off that initial outlay. An unlocked phone will not be subsidized by the carrier, meaning you are paying the full price… That price may be too high for some users, especially since it doesn’t break down into the bite-sized monthly chunks you’re used to paying under contract.

2. Limited Financing Options

Most carriers will let you finance a locked phone and pay it off in monthly installments that are tacked onto your service bill. That could be the case for people looking to save money on a high-end phone up front That being said, unlocked phones usually have to be bought outright, which is expensive. Retailers can have flexible financing options on unlocked phones, but they may not be as omnipresent and each retailer has different finance programs.

3. Carrier-Specific Features May Be Unavailable

Certain features like Wi-Fi calling or visual voicemail are carrier-specific and may not be available at all, or work properly in an unlocked phone. These are typically only software enhancements exclusive to the network carriers and may not be fully supported on an unlocked device. If you use those features a lot or are depending on them to communicate with your kids/spouse/mistress/etc., then make sure they’ll still work along an unlocked phone hooked up to your chosen carrier.

4. Compatibility Issues

The caveat here is that unlocked phones are supposed to work on all carriers, but not every carrier accepts every unlocked phone. Some unlocked phones may not work on all of the carrier’s bands, so coverage and speed are limited. One more thing, although most unlocked phones can work on both GSM and CDMA networks (take Note 4 for example), it is always best to check if this Galaxy J7 model will be compatible with your current carrier or vice-versa especially when switching carriers or traveling abroad.

Final Thoughts: Is an Unlocked Cell Phone Right for You?

The pros of an unlocked cell phone can outweigh the cons for a lot of people. Switching between carriers, having no bloatware, and saving money on flexible plans are what make unlocked phones the choice for many informed consumers. There are other consequences of this though higher upfront costs and potential compatibility issues if any.

For the most part, if you want a truly unlocked phone and are willing to pay full price for it or be on an actual contract then buy an unlocked phone. A walled garden applies here too! Before the Expanded Shipment, Pros And Cons Of Unlocked Phones If you like flexibility, travel often or just want to avoid signing service agreements with a carrier for years at a time an unlocked cell phone might be the solution.