More and more people are looking for cell phones that are unlocked. This means that they can be used on any network, and not just on that of the service provider. To achieve this, two options generally exist. The first is to sign up to a contract, usually for a duration of 24 months, that comes with a phone included. The phone will then generally be unlocked, but it does mean that you are stuck with a contract for two years, so you may as well have a locked device. The second option is to purchase a device outright, without any contract attached to it. The downside of this option is that it is very expensive. So is it possible to unlock cheap cell phones and have the best of both worlds? Let's take a look.
How To Unlock Cheap Cell Phones
The reality of life is that there is no such thing as a free deal. Hence, if you want an unlocked cell phone, you will have to pay something. Unlocked cell phones tend to be the most expensive of them all, unfortunately. Hence, you need to know how to bring the cost down. The first option is to find cheap cell phones by going second hand. Someone else may have completed a two year contract and upgraded their phone, which means they can sell their old one. However, this does mean that you won't have the latest device. The second option is to purchase a cheaper make and model. If you are determined to have an iOS device, you won't be able to find anything new and cheap. Choosing Android, which is open source, however, means you can lower the cost of your device by choosing a lesser known manufacturer, or by dropping a number of specific features, like a HD screen or high megapixel camera. It is not a good idea, however, to purchase a cheap locked phone and have it unlocked. This is often done by shady characters, voids your warranty, and may just brick your phone.
Why Should You Unlock Cheap Cell Phones
Since purchasing an unlocked phone is usually more expensive than any other type of cell phone, you may wonder why you should bother at all. There are actually some specific benefits to having an unlocked phone, however. The first is that they take any SIM card. As such, you can have multiple SIMs, or switch whenever a better deal is offered elsewhere (although this does mean changing your number each time). If you travel abroad a lot, you can use your device in different countries by simply buying a local SIM card, for instance.
Additionally, no contract will be attached to your cell phone, so you don't have to pay a company for a lengthy period of time. Rather, it will be yours to do with as you please. You will also have a larger variety of models to choose from. Many service providers only offer a set amount of makes and models of phones, which means that you are quite limited.