The 20 Best Unlocked Smartphones

Truth be told,

we’re all tired of switching networks and being tied down to two-year contracts

just to own the hottest smartphones. We know you are, too, even though a bunch of you just signed away another couple years of your life to own the new Verizon iPhone. For those seeking

a handset with no strings attached, let us introduce you to the

unlocked market—one that features a variety of smartphones with no

contract obligations that run on any network with SIM card support. Before

you run off and re-up your contract, come take a look at The
20 Best Unlocked Smartphones.

You just might find what you’re looking for.

Key features: 3.2-inch TFT

touchscreen, 434 MHz ARM 11 processor, Symbian OS v9.4, QWERTY keyboard, wi-fi, 8GB memory, and 5MP camera

Complex says: A vast improvement over its predecessor, the Mini

sports a smaller and solid build structure, along with an improved UI and great

voice-guided navigation courtesy of Ovi Maps. The slide-out QWERTY keyboard is

a plus and the robust media features provide enough entertainment value to keep

users busy.

Click here to Buy It Now at N1 Wireless, 420

Key features: 3.5-inch TFT screen, 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, Symbian OS v9.4, 3G/wi-fi, and 12MP camera

Complex says: Sony’s infamous for creating luxury smartphones with kickass

media functionality. And the Satio is no exception. For starters, the phone sports

a 12.1 MP camera with video recording and advanced editing options. The built-in media

player bears the classic Walkman theme and the Webkit browser even supports

Flash-enabled content. Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, QuickOffice Suite, and a Facebook

app help balance out the media-friendly device.

Click here to Buy It Now at N1 Wireless, $410

Key features: 2.36-inch TFT LCD screen, 6600 MHz ARM 11 processor, Symbian OS 9.3, QWERTY keyboard, and 5MP camera

Complex says: It's no Droid Pro or BlackBerry Bold. But anyone in the market for an inexpensive business phone with great messaging capabilities should look into the E72. The accompanying QWERTY keyboard is up to par with some of the most recent BlackBerry models, while the phone's stellar call quality has been referred to as "landline-like." Include the ability to edit Microsoft Office documents at your fingertips and you have a smartphone catered to the businessman.

Click here to Buy It Now at IOUDeal, $250

Key features: 2.8-TFT resistive touchscreen, 528 MHz ARM 11 processor, Android 1.6 OS, and 3G/wi-fi.

Complex says: The Tattoo's button layout places all the phone’s primary

functions at the front and the easy-to-use directional pad makes navigation

simple. HTC Sense presents an eye-catching and personalized interface that can

be upgraded with Android widgets and shortcuts. Call quality is also

high-ranked and the spacious virtual keyboard makes selecting contacts and dialing numbers less strenuous.

Click here to Buy It Now at Amazon, $250

Key features: 3.2 TFT capacitive touchscreen, 528 MHz ARM 11 processor, Android 1.5 OS, 3G/wi-fi,

and 5MP camera

Complex says: Its customizable interface is pretty in-depth as users can configure

themes to appear on any of the seven homescreens during specific days of the

week. A Twitter and e-mail widget is also pre-installed, allowing you to stream

live tweets and browse emails simultaneously. The Android-powered device also

offers an Eclair OS (2.1) upgrade, giving the Hero a more modern-day feel.

Click here to
Buy It Now at Amazon, $405

Key features: 3.2-inch TFT capacitive LCD screen, 528 MHz ARM 11 processor, Android Froyo OS, hotspot capability, and 5MP

camera.

Complex says: Thanks to the Froyo upgrade, the Wildfire takes full advantage of HTC's Sense UI. Apps and media files run smooth, and the pivotal selector button features a built-in sensor that reads finger

movements, serving as a great alternative to the responsive touchscreen.

There’s also an App Sharing app that lets users send links of their favorite

applications to others via Twitter, text message, or e-mail. And with speculation of a Gingerbread

update waiting in the wings, HTC's sleek handset definitely shows it has a long shelf life.

Click here to Buy It Now at Amazon, $296

Key features: 3.5-inch WVGA screen, 600MHz Arm Cortex A8 processor, Maemo 5 OS, QWERTY keyboard, 32GB memory, and 5MP

camera

Complex says: The N900 introduces a brand new homescreen experience courtesy of its Linux-based OS, which showcases a

four-loop swipe panel and an attractive multitasking dashboard that pulls the most recent messages and updates from your social networks. Another key feature is the ability to customize and place bookmarks, contacts, and widgets at exact locations on the screen. Top it off with a surprisingly fast processor and impressive web browser, Nokia proves it doesn't need a popular OS to create a good handset.

Click
here to Buy It Now at Amazon, $350

Key features: 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, Froyo OS, 3G/wi-fi, and 5MP camera

Complex says: Google's first smartphone comes

equipped with a speedy processor, enhanced voice capability, a stellar noise-cancellation system, and a stunning touchscreen that produces a 800x480 resolution. Along with contact and e-mail synchronization, it also gets the

Google treatment incorporating trademark apps like Google Talk, Google Voice,

and Google Goggles into the mix. An Android 2.2 update and niche features like speech-to-text give the Nexus One an edge over other devices.

Click here to
Buy It Now at Amazon, $515

Key features: 3.5-inch TFT capacitive screen, 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Android Froyo OS, QWERTY keyboard, hotspot capability, and 5MP camera

Complex says: Many wouldn’t expect much from an Acer smarthphone, but with a sharp

3.5-inch multitouch screen, contact synchronization, and Google’s Android operating system running the show, the Liquid functions and runs just as smooth

as a mini PC. It features a well-organized messaging application that keeps track of

discussions through communication threads. In addition, it offers pre-loaded apps like the

NemoPlayer media player that supports audio, video playback, photo slide shows,

and live streaming of YouTube videos. Smooth.

Click
here to Buy It Now at Sam Stores, $510

Key features: 2.8 TFT resistive touchscreen, 528 MHz ARM 11 processor, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, 3G/wi-fi, and 3.15MP camera

Complex says: The Touch2 has always been labeled an entry-level device. But that

doesn’t mean it’s unsuitable for the devoted mobilephile. Facile email

integration, spontaneous touchscreen functionality, a speedy processor, and a

Windows Media Player that supports nearly every music and video format—sounds

like great welcoming features to us. Yes it runs on a dated Windows Mobile OS,

but its TouchFLO interface offers a stylish and customizable setup

that attempts to keep mobile interaction fresh.

Click Here to Buy It Now at Amazon,
$370

Key features: 3.8 S-LCD screen, 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Windows

Phone 7 OS, 3G/wi-fi, and 5MP camera

Complex says: Bearing a striking resemblance to the other Windows Phone 7 devices, the Trophy tackles Microsoft's new mobile OS and offers user-friendly apps and Zune integration. It also comes with a top-notch e-mail client and organizer features. And

the addition of the Office Hub lets you create and edit Office documents on the

go. This what you call a prize phone.

Click
here to Buy It Now at Newegg, $540

Key features: 2.55-inch TFT capacitive

touchscreen, 600 MHz ARM 11 processor, Android 2.1 OS, QWERTY keyboard, and 5MP camera

Complex says: Sony's Android phone does an awesome job of balancing media and social networking features. The popular Timespace UI links all Twitter, Facebook,

and SMS messages together in a single thread, while the

scene-stealing Infinite Button pulls relatable content, like YouTube videos and bibliographies, from the web for whatever song is currently playing in your media player. Plus you have five customizable homescreens where you can create and save bookmarks.

Click
here to Buy It Now at Amazon, $242

Key features: 4.1-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, Windows Phone 7 OS, QWERTY

keyboard, 3G/wi-fi, and 5MP camera.

Complex says: Spearheaded by its sharp AMOLED touchscreen and chrome-strip body frame, the Venue Pro's on-screen keyboard has been praised as one of the best on the market and its web browser is being pushed as the fastest of any Windows Phone

7 device. In addition, pre-loaded apps like the Pageonce Finance let users view their personal

finances, while the Family Room app lets you share notes and a calendar with others. Dude, you may now actually want a Dell.

Click here to Buy It Now at Dell, $450

Key features: 3.7-inch

WVGA S-LCD display, 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Windows Phone 7 OS, 3G/wi-fi,

8MP camera, and 8GB memory

Complex says: HTC’s latest offering is one of its best-looking handets with a sleek aluminum body frame and soft-touch rubber grip. The Mozart belts out a

few high notes with its software with Xbox Live integration and the

People hub providing updates for all social networking accounts. Jaw-dropping animations, a responsive touchscreen,

and great call quality place it among HTC's most wanted smartphones. That alone is a difficult feat to accomplish.

Click here to Buy It Now at Amazon, $800

Key features: 4.3-inchcapacitive WVGA screen, 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, Windows Mobile 6.5

Professional OS, 3G/wi-fi, and 5MP camera

Complex says: With a screen that measures

up to the EVO 4G, the HD2 is one of the more visually appealing smartphones on the

unlocked market. Everything from messages to web videos look sharp in 480x800

resolution, while the onscreen keyboard and multitouch support come correct thanks in part to its large display. HTC Sense offers dope features that give the phone an up-to-date feel such as the tabbed toolbar that lets users launch and drag apps over 11 customizable tabs. And with leaked videos showing the device running on Windows Phone 7 OS, we're hoping the HD2 gets an upgrade in the near future.

Click
here to Buy It Now at Amazon, $500

Key features: 3.7-inch WVGA screen, 720 MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor,
Android 2.1 OS,

3G/wi-fi, HDMI port, 8GB memory, and 8MP camera

Complex says: The Milestone XT720 is

definitely what you would call a "features" phone. We’re talking about an 8MP

camera with a xenon flash, music player with on-the-fly playlist creation,

Quickoffice support, and a Phone Portal utility that manages your content from a phone to a PC via wi-fi or USB connection. It even sports an HDMI port and

plays several media files including MP3, AAC, WAV,

MPEG-4, and WAV. Need we say more?

Click here to
Buy It Now at J&R, $380

Key features: 4.3-inch SLCD screen, 1 GHz Scorpion processor, Froyo OS, hotspot capability, and 8MP

camera.

Complex says: Anyone in the market for a huge, feature-packed Android phone might find solace in the high-def version of the

HTC Desire. As if its visual output wasn't already groundbreaking, web pages look even more vibrant and text looks as a sharp as any eReader display due to its mammoth SLCD screen. Its 8MP autofocus camera presents a variety of digital effects and supports 720p HD recording and playback. With data security implementation,

improved graphics performance, and the addition of Dolby Mobile audio, HTC has given the term HD a new meaning: heavy duty.

Click
here to Buy It Now at Simply Electronics, $533

Key features: 3.5-inch AMOLED screen, 680 MHz ARM 11 processor, Symbian^3 OS, 16GB

memory, and 12MP camera

Complex says: This durable handset boasts an ARM 11 processor, a separate

Broadcom GPU, and a lot of internal memory to help push graphic performance to new

heights. A photo editor app accompanies the 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss

autofocus lens and xenon flash, and awards users with a variety of first-rate editing

features. Include an improved OS and scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, the N8 proves that the world's biggest phone maker can still rock with the best of 'em.

Click here to
Buy It Now at Nokia, $450

Key features: 3.7-inch S-LCD screen,
800 MHz Scorpion processor, Froyo

OS, QWERTY Keyboard, wi-fi hotspot capability, 1.5GB memory, and 5MP camera

Complex says: Known as the G2 in the states, the Desire Z is practically the same kick-ass smartphone except with an FM Radio and

other minor upgrades. The email client lets you download and view (offline) your message history

from popular email accounts, and the

improved HTC Sense UI works extremely fast to power up and shut down the device. Five seconds to be exact. Its additional QWERTY keyboard and attractive aluminum finish make the Desire Z the true fantasy phone.

Click
here to Buy It Now at ATGMS, $530

Key features: 4-inch Super

AMOLED display, 1GHz Hummingbird

processor, Gingerbread OS, hotspot capability, 3G/wi-fi, 16GB memory, and 5MP camera.

Complex says: Google’s

flagship phone is the only smartphone (for now) that runs on Android’s new Gingerbread OS, featuring

an improved virtual keyboard, copy and paste functionality, wi-fi hotspot capability, and

VoIP/SIP support. It’s also NFC-enabled and lets you exchange data wirelessly.

Dual cameras give users two options to snap photos and video chat, while the new

task manager lets you force quit apps when they become unresponsive. We never expected Gingerbread to taste this sweet.

Click here to
Buy It Now at Best Buy, $520