The inception of 5G wireless technology has changed the whole landscape of mobile technology. Thanks to the super-fast speed of 5G networks, people are now leaning towards buying SIM-free 5G phones. This is happening more often because these phones without a SIM card offer users more freedom and flexibility compared to phones tied to a specific carrier.
SIM-free phones are not restricted to any one network. This allows them to select their chosen carrier and data plan. With the rapid development of 5G technology, people who want to fully enjoy the higher internet speeds and low latency provided by 5G networks have started to favor SIM-free 5G phones.
For frequent travelers who must switch between networks while in motion, these gadgets are ideal. Also, SIM-free 5G phones frequently come unlocked, making it simpler for users to trade them in for a newer model or give them as gifts.
We have reviewed several SIM-free 5G phones and listed the best ones on the market. All the phones reviewed below are good; however, according to us, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best of all.
Table of Contents
What is 5G SIM free phone?
A 5G SIM free phone allows users to have no carrier restriction on their phones. This means your mobile set will not be locked to a particular carrier if you use a 5G SIM free phone. Any network – EE, Three, Vodafone, Talk Home Mobile, and O2 – can be used with a SIM-free mobile phone.
When you buy a carrier-unlocked phone, all you are paying for is the phone itself, giving you the freedom to select the network and phone plan that’s right for you.
Advantages of 5G SIM Free Phone
The advantage of a SIM-free phone is that since you are not bound by a lengthy contract or network, you may change your tariff or phone package whenever you want. Other advantages of 5G SIM free phones include:
- Save money in the long run.
- Perfect for traveling abroad.
- No contract or commitments.
- Free to choose.
- Zero upfront cost
Top 9 5G SIM Free Phones to Buy in 2024
1. iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with Apple’s upgraded A17 Pro processor and a 6.7-inch OLED display that has a 120 Hz refresh rate.
With a starting price of $1199, the phone includes a triple camera setup on the back, featuring a 48MP primary camera.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
4422 mAh
Hardware
A17 Pro
Display
6.7 inches 2796 * 1290 pixels
Storage
256GB, non expandable
Camera
48 MP (Triple Camera)
The Good
- 5x optical zoom
- 5G-ready
- USB-C
- Less weight
The Bad
- Action button performs 1 task.
- Slow charging.
- Very Expensive.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the high-end flagship phone launched by Apple, equipped with a high-resolution camera. One of the major changes that Apple made in this set is changing their lighting port to a USB-C port.
We loved this step by Apple because now you don’t have to spend extra money on buying separate Apple cables, as a regular cable you use for your Android phone should work on it now.
The phone’s triple-lens camera system is also a standout feature, with a 48MP main camera, 12MP UW camera, and 12MP 5x zoom. The camera is capable of taking stunning photos and videos, even in low-light conditions.
This new model is lighter than the preceding model and equipped with the latest Apple A17 processor, making it a performance beast.
2. Samsung s23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung S23 Ultra comes with a 6.8-inch OLED display that’s super smooth with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s got a snappy Octa-core processor, the Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm).
On the back, there’s a top-notch camera setup featuring a whopping 200MP main camera.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
6.7 inches 1290 * 1500
Hardware
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Display
6.8 inches 3088 * 1440 pixels
Storage
256GB, non expandable
Camera
200 MP (Quad Camera)
The Good
- Long-lasting battery
- Built-in S pen
- Enhanced display
- Can shoot HDR videos
The Bad
- The base model still only has 8GB RAM.
- No improvement in the charging speed.
- Very rare improvement in design.
What we loved most about this SIM-free 5G set, the Samsung S23 Ultra, is its mind-blowing 200-pixel camera and capability to capture photos even from a faraway distance. The cameras are even bigger than the S22 Ultra.
This is the fastest ever flagship from Samsung, as it is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, making the processing smooth and blazingly fast.
Another good thing about this phone is the long-lasting battery, as it contains a 5000 MAH battery. You can easily expect its battery to last more than six and a half hours on a screen.
If you are an Android lover, we think this is the best smartphone you can get on the market right now.
3. Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Google Pixel 8 Pro has a Google Tensor G3 processor and a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
It also features three cameras on the back and a big 5050mAh battery.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
5050 mAh
Hardware
Google Tensor G3 12GB RAM
Display
6.7 inches 2992 * 1344 pixels
Storage
128GB, non expandable
Camera
50 MP (Triple Camera)
The Good
- 5G ready
- 2400nit peak brightness
- 7 years software update
- Big battery (5050 mAh)
The Bad
- Performance throttling issues.
- Slow charging.
- Pricey.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is a high-end smartphone that comes with 5G technology. This phone has a powerful processor that can provide high performance and a great camera system that can capture high-quality photos and videos.
The Pixel 8 Pro also benefits from Google’s regular software updates and security patches, ensuring that the phone stays up-to-date and secure. However, the battery life may not be as long-lasting as some other phones in the market, and the price is significantly higher than most other 5G SIM-free phones.
Nevertheless, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is a top-tier phone that can offer a great experience for users who prioritize performance and camera capabilities.
4. OnePlus 12
OnePlus 12 5G
The OnePlus 12 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and a 6.82-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
The specifications also include a triple camera setup on the back with a 50MP primary sensor and a 5400mAh battery with an 100W charging speed.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
5400 mAh
Hardware
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Display
6.82 inches 1440 * 3168 pixels
Storage
256GB/ 512GB/ 1TB
Camera
50 MP (Triple Camera)
The Good
- Fast charging
- Wireless charging
- Superb display
- Long-lasting battery
The Bad
- Overheating issues
- Macro shooting is not satisfactory.
- Little expensive
Oneplus launched another flagship set for 2024 after the success of its preceding model. Oneplus 11. It was launched on December 5, 2023, in China; however, the global launch date is expected to be January 23, 2024. We really loved its refreshing new design with a top-notch camera.
By looks, it looks almost similar to its predecessor, the Oneplus 11, though the Oneplus 12 is slightly larger. That’s why you have to buy new phone cases if you are looking to upgrade.
Its battery can last longer with a capacity of 5400mAh, even bigger than the S23 Ultra’s battery.
You can have a great gaming experience with its high-end processor, the Snapdragon Gen 3. If you are looking for a good Android phone with a little less price, this is the set for you.
5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, which replacing the older Galaxy Z Fold 3, has a large 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display when unfolded in addition to a 6.2-inch outer display.
It packs a 4400mAh battery, a 50MP main camera for the triple camera setup on the back, and runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
4400 mAh
Hardware
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 128GB RAM
Display
7.6 inches 2176 * 1812 pixels
Storage
256GB, non expandable
Camera
50 MP (Triple Camera)
The Good
- Optimized for multi-tasking
- 5G-ready mobile device.
- Support wireless charging.
- Dual Display.
The Bad
- The fordable screen is not durable.
- Very Expensive
- Battery is undersized for such a big display
This revolutionary phone is well-known for its folding capabilities and outstanding camera setup. The astounding image-capture skills, paired with the elegant and futuristic design, foldable feature, multitasking capabilities, and productivity, make it the phone to have in 2024.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G features a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The amazing feature is a 4MP under-display camera as well as a 10MP cover camera.
With 30x space zoom for telephoto lens, the incorporation of modern functions such as OIS and VDIS improves the camera setup for producing great photographs at night or in low light. If you are looking to impress your friends with stunning images, this is the phone for you to have in 2024.
6. Motorola Razr 2023
Motorola Razr 2023
The upgraded 7th generation processor from Snapdragon and a 6.9″” FHD+ pOLED display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz are features of the Motorola Razr 2023.
A dual camera setup, featuring a 64MP primary camera, is located on the rear. This model is also known as Motorola Razr 40 Ultra.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
3800 mAh
Hardware
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 8/12GB RAM
Display
6.9 inches 1080 * 2640 pixels
Storage
256/512GB
Camera
12 MP (Dual Camera)
The Good
- Dust and water resistant
- Fair battery life
- Affordable
- Wireless charging
The Bad
- Average camera
- Older chipset
- Average performance
The Motorola Razr 2023 stands out as an affordable choice in the field of foldable phones, sharing characteristics with its more expensive brother, the Razr+.
It costs $699.99 and has a brilliant 6.9-inch main display, a sleek design, and a unique flipping form factor. Despite its low price, the Razr makes several compromises, such as replacing the Razr+’s larger external screen with a smaller 1.5-inch notification panel and choosing an older, slower chipset.
While the internal display, excellent battery life, and appealing price make the Razr a worthwhile choice for those interested in flip phones on a budget, its shortcomings become apparent when compared to more well-rounded options like the Razr+ and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which are often available for a slightly higher but comparable price.
7. iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Pro Max
The iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with a better Bionic A16 processor from Apple and a 6.7-inch OLED display that’s super smooth with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
It’s got three cameras on the back, including a 48MP main one. It’s a solid choice with upgraded features.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
4323 mAh
Hardware
Apple A16 Bionic 6GB RAM
Display
6.7 inches 2796 * 1290 pixels
Storage
128GB, non expandable
Camera
48 MP (Triple Camera)
The Good
- Always-on display
- 5G-ready.
- Excellent screen-to-body ratio (88.4%).
- Support wireless charging.
The Bad
- Battery drain due to Always-on-display.
- Misses out on superfast charging
- Thicker and heavier
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is still among the top choices for the best SIM-free 5G phones in 2024. Though the phone is approximately a year old, it still has a strong presence among its competitors. This phone is designed for great performance and for great photos, whether you’re capturing wildlife, sports, or nature scenes.
This special iPhone has three cameras on the back. The main camera is 48MP, and there’s also a 12MP ultrawide camera. Plus, it has two telephoto lenses—one with a 2x zoom and another with a 3x zoom. According to Apple, this powerful phone can do 6x zoom with its optical zoom feature and an even bigger 15x zoom using digital zoom. So, you can get close-up shots without losing picture quality.
8. Google Pixel 6a 5G
Google Pixel 6A 5G
The upgraded Google Tensor chipset from Google and a 6.1-inch OLED display are features of the Google Pixel 6a.
A dual camera setup, featuring a 12.2MP primary camera, is located on the rear.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
4410 mAh
Hardware
Google Tensor 6GB RAM
Display
6.1 inches 2796 * 1290 pixels
Storage
128GB
Camera
12.2 MP (Dual Camera)
The Good
- Affordable
- 5G-ready
- Several years of software support
- Compact size
The Bad
- Slow charging life
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
- Low refresh speed
The Google Pixel 6a 5G is a mid-range smartphone that comes with 5G technology. This phone is equipped with a powerful camera system that can capture high-quality photos and videos.
The Pixel 6a 5G also benefits from Google’s regular software updates and security patches, which ensures that the phone stays up-to-date and secure. This SIM-free phone is compatible with any carrier that supports 5G technology.
While the phone may not have the most powerful processor or the highest display resolution, it is a solid choice for users who want a reliable phone with the great camera performance.
9. Motorola Moto G62
Motorola Moto G62
The Qualcomm SM4350-AC processor from Snapdragon and a 6.5-inch IPS display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz are features of the Motorola Moto G62.
A triple camera setup, featuring a 50MP primary camera, is located on the rear.
SPECIFICATIONS
Battery
5000 mAh
Hardware
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 4GB RAM
Display
6.4 inches 1080 * 2400 pixels
Storage
64/128GB
Camera
50 MP (Triple Camera)
The Good
- Affordable
- 5G-ready
- Decent 12ghz display
- Solid stereo speakers
The Bad
- Limited storage
- Worst battery life
- Slow charging
The Motorola Moto G62 5G is a budget-friendly 5G SIM-free phone that provides fast internet connectivity with compatible networks.
This phone has a large display and a decent camera system that can take good-quality photos and videos. However, the processor may not be as powerful as some other phones in the market, and the battery life may not be as long-lasting.
Nevertheless, the Motorola Moto G62 5G is a solid choice for users who want a budget-friendly 5G SIM-free phone.
Conclusion
With the advancement of cellular technology, coverage of the 5G network is spreading across the globe. Now everyone wants to get a SIM-free phone that supports the 5G network. We have tried to cover all the best sim-free 5G phones, but according to us, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the winner.
