Give me 4G LTE coverage in up to 99% of the United States. Give me a 5G network with ultra-fast speeds, ultra-low latency and massive capacity. Give me a multitude of data, talk and text wireless plan including mix & match, pre-paid and family plans. Give me an award-winning service provider. Give me, in other words, the superb quality service of Verizon wireless. Verizon is arguably the leading service provider of wireless phone services in the United States, and with Verizon compatible unlocked phones in the mix, the deal just keeps on getting better.
What is an unlocked phone, you may ask? An unlocked phone is a phone that is not tied to any specific carrier and you can use it on any compatible carrier. What this means for you is that, with this phone, you have the freedom to choose the service provider you want to work with. You are free to switch service providers whenever you are dissatisfied with your current provider, without penalties. You can easily and happily use your phone when you travel internationally. You can replace any lost, stolen or destroyed phone inexpensively. Unlocked phones can be bought in one of three ways: you can buy an unlocked phone directly from the phone manufacturer such as Apple or Samsung; through a phone carrier such as Verizon, who offer unlocked phones and from a third-party retailer such as Amazon.
Verizon uses the CDMA network so make sure you buy a device that works on this network. The good news, though, is that most phones are unlocked as well as universal, meaning they work on both GSM and CDMA networks. You may want to make sure your phone is compatible by checking on Verizon’s network. Despite an unlocked phone being more expensive when buying, it is cheaper in the long run since you choose the plan that works best on your budget.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR VERIZON WIRELESS
1. Gather all your details
You will need to put together some important information to facilitate the sign-up process including;
- Your name and address
- The account number on your bill
- Account password or pin
- Your phone’s ESN/IMEI number (if keeping your phone)
- Phone number (if keeping your number)
If you are signing up online, keep all this information handy for a smooth experience.
2. Keep your old number
As of 2003, the Federal Communications Commission requires carriers to implement Local Number Portability (LNP). Your current provider can therefore not prevent you from bringing your number when you make the switch to Verizon. Talk to a customer care representative at Verizon and ask them to help you facilitate keeping your number.
If you are a first-time subscriber though, this should not be a problem for you.
3. Bring your own phone
Verizon has a Bring Your Own Device program that allows you to bring your unlocked device and use it to subscribe to their services.
4. Activate your unlocked phone
Navigate to Verizon’s Bring Your Own Phone page where you’ll be prompted to choose a data plan. You will be charged a one-time activation fee of $30 for new or other devices. Now you can enjoy your unlocked cell phone! If you feel you cannot afford phone service and you qualify, sign up for Verizon lifeline phone service to get significant discounts on your service bills.
Lifeline program with Verizon
In America today, low-income and high cost should not be a barrier to getting phone services. The Federal government’s program, Lifeline, is in all sense of the word, truly a lifeline to many low-income families. This program offers qualifying customers monthly discounts of around $9.25 (the amount is even higher in California) for phone services and in some cases, you may get Verizon free government cell phones.
How do I qualify for Verizon Lifeline?
You can qualify for lifeline in one of two ways;
i) Income-based eligibility
You qualify for Lifeline if our total household income is at or below the 135% mark of the federal poverty guidelines.
ii) Participation in Federal assistance programs
You qualify for a free government cell phone if you or any member of your household participates in Federal assistance programs including but not limited to;
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Food stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- National School Lunch Program (NSL)
Although Lifeline is a product of the federal government, it is regulated by the respective state governments hence services and eligibility may vary slightly across the different states.
The 10 best verizon compatible unlocked phones
1) Samsung galaxy s20
The Samsung Galaxy S20 is the first true mainstream 5G phone giving you more internet power for everything you plan to do, easily accessible with Verizon internet for low-income families if you cannot afford it. The device has an internal memory of 128GB and, unfortunately, no option for expanding storage.
The battery uses an algorithm to optimize power from your usage habit, ensuring your phone’s power will last all day. And when your phone does go off, the Samsung S20 has a super-fast charge so you don’t stop moving.
The high-resolution camera with a 30X the zoom and bright night mode is a big plus for this phone. This is a thousand-dollar phone, though, and you have to pay the price for all these features. The good news is that the Galaxy S20 is part of the Verizon phone deals for existing customers to trade-in or get for free for a limited time.
PROS
- 120 Hz high refresh rate screen
- Great battery life
- Significant camera improvements from the S10
CONS
- Software updates are only guaranteed for 2 years
- Expensive
2) Samsung galaxy s10 plus
This is another flagship device from Samsung that was released on March 8th, 2019. It is a larger version of the S10 and a cheaper version of the S10e. The S10 has a large, edge to edge 6.4’’ display with the front camera’s laser cut in the device to provide a near bezel-less look.
The internal memory is 128GB with no option for expandable storage. With a pro-grade camera, ultrasonic in-display fingerprint ID and great battery life, this is a device well worth your time.
PROS
- Very fast performance
- Wireless power share
- Immersive infinity-O display
- High-resolution cameras
- Responsive in-screen fingerprint sensor
CONS
- Palms can make false touches on the highly sensitive screen
- Slippery design
3) Samsung galaxy note 10
Note 10s phablets have been leading the pack for big phones with tremendous storage. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is a smaller version of the note 10 plus (6.3”), making it attractive for an everyday user who doesn’t need the 6.8” screen size on the Note 10 plus but doesn’t want to compromise on the other amazing features.
The phone’s massive 256GB storage is more than enough for anyone, except the select few with crazy storage needs. The S-Pen has always been a strong selling point for the galaxy phones and it’s no different here.
You can use your S-pen to remotely access your device. The triple camera array gives these phone wide angles of view with excellent photos. You have to pay a pretty penny, nearly $1000 for this device.
PROS
- Excellent camera quality
- Massive internal storage
- Comes with an S-pen
- Ultra-fast performance
CONS
- No SD card expansion
- No headphone-jack
4) Apple iphone 11 pro max
The Apple iPhone 11 pro max is a cutting -edge phone renowned for its amazing battery life. It lasted an impressive 40.5 hours on Consumer Reports battery test, which is a significant increase from other iPhones. The device has an A13 bionic chip which will guarantee you super-fast performance.
The iPhone 11 pro max has three rear cameras-wide, ultra-wide, and 2X-which will ensure you capture amazing clear and bright images. A disappointing feature is the base 64GB storage which is way minimal for a device like the iPhone 11 pro max, which sells for more than $1000.
PROS
- Fast responses
- Excellent camera quality
- Extremely long battery life
- More water-resistant than its predecessors
CONS
- Very little internal memory (64GB)
- Expensive
5) LG G8s
The LG G8s is an international model phone and does not have a US warranty. It is compatible with most of the GSM carriers such as AT&T and Sprint but cannot be used on CDMA carriers. This device has a 6.21” OLED display with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor which gives it good speeds.
It has an internal memory of 128GB which is sufficient for most smartphone users but can be expanded up to 1TB which is pretty awesome.
The three, triple rear-mounted cameras and dual front camera will ensure you capture all your moments in high resolution, with enough storage so you never need to erase. The LG G8s also has 3350mAh of battery which should carry you a long time in between charges.
PROS
- 128 GB internal storage
- Triple rear camera
- Great battery life
CONS
- Cannot be used on CDMA networks
6) Moto G7 play
The Moto G7 Play has a 5.7’’ display which is suitable for viewing, typing and swiping. It also has a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor which is suitable for a phone of this caliber. The phone’s 32GB storage is below average even for the average smartphone user with expandable storage up to 512GB with a dedicated slot. At $200, this device is okay for a budget-oriented buyer.
PROS
- Budget-friendly
- Expandable storage
- Sufficient screen size
CONS
- Its 2GB RAM may prove to be troublesome when multitasking
7) Moto Z4
The Motorola G-series has gained a reputation for offering great specs at affordable prices and the Moto G4 is no different. This device has a full HD 5.5’’ display which is much better than the other previous Motorola G series. The Moto G4 is available in two versions, 16GB and 32GB, and while it doesn’t seem like much, the memory is expandable to 256GB with an SD card.
PROS
- Great value for money
- Affordable
CONS
- Low internal memory
8) Samsung galaxy A50
The Samsung Galaxy A50 is a phone with the perfect combination of features and value. The 6.4-inch AMOLED display on this phone is super sharp, displaying smooth images and even without 4k video capability, it’s great for watching videos and playing normal games.
Though it lacks the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor of the S- series, it has a Samsung-designed Exynos 9610 which is also fast and with 64GB storage you’ll probably never need to erase any of your files.
PROS
- Great battery life of about 35 hours
- Beautiful 6.4’’ AMOLED display
- 64GB storage capability
- Affordable
CONS
- The camera is not as good as the others in the series
- Not very durable (you may want to invest in a protective cover for your device
9) Apple iphone x
The iPhone has been the defining factor of class since it was first launched in 2007. With its hefty price tag, a renewed iPhone may be the way to go if you can’t afford a new device.
Though the phone is not Apple certified, it is tested and inspected by Amazon-qualified suppliers and looks almost brand new with a minimum battery capacity of 80% though reviews from consumers pointed towards it being even better.
The 64GB internal memory may seem a bit small for a device such as this but is suitable enough for most people. It has a 5.8” all-screen OLED multi-touch display, 4k video recording, 7MP camera and is water and dust resistant.
You can get this renewed phone from Amazon at $420. A large put off is that it comes with only a charger and no headphones.
PROS
- Water and dust resistance
- 4K video recording
- The renewed phone goes for a more affordable price
CONS
- 64GB internal memory is average, even low, for a device such as this
10) iPhone 7 plus
The iPhone 7 plus looks almost exactly like the iPhone 6 series except for the home button, though Apple’s Taptic Engine has vibrations to make it feel real. The iPhone 7 plus has a battery life of 1960mAh, which is not great compared to other phones in the market.
The device has a four core A10 bionic chip which will guarantee the user speedy performance. Its best features yet are the 2 rear cameras-one telephoto and one wide angle with great optical zoom.
PROS
- Water resistance
- Great dual camera zoom
- Great display
CONS
- No headphone jack
Final Thoughts
Daniel Coleman once said, “Smartphones and social media expand our social universe. We can connect with others and collect information faster and easier than ever.” This statement is even more true for unlocked phones, with the choices and freedom they offer.
