Tired of the restrictive carrier payment plans that often come with new cell phones? The top unlocked phones we've tested aren't tied to a carrier, offer you more freedom to roam, and carry less ...

Is my phone unlocked? If you've bought or received a phone & can't use it with a certain network, it may not be. Find out how to unlock a phone, including iPhones & Samsung devices, in our guide.

If you're buying a new phone, consider the advantages of an unlocked phone against those of one on a contract.

Available at Walmart, MobileX helps you maximize the flexibility and savings that come with an unlocked phone.

The best unlocked phones give you the freedom to choose your carrier without being bogged down by payment plans.

“Unlocked phone adoption began growing in the last 18 months or so,” NPD analyst Brad Akyuz wrote in an e-mail. He credited increased online phone shopping (NPD’s tracking of purchases found ...

Unlocked phones vs. locked phones: Why you should care In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon breaks down what you need to know about the carrier practice of locking phones.

If you plopped down $200 or so for a phone, and are paying the rest off monthly, your phone will need to be paid in full before you can unlock it.

If you're in the market for an iPhone but don't necessarily want to pick up a brand new unit locked to a carrier, Best Buy now offers an alternative.