Unlocked Samsung phones SIM-free - the best prices in December 2021

Samsung phone deals
(Image credit: Future)

SIM-free unlocked Samsung phones are an excellent opportunity to get your hands on a top-end handset without being tied down, over-spending on costs and allowing you to choose the exact plan that goes with it.

Whether you're after Samsung's latest and greatest in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or a bargain handset, we've got all of the options gathered for you here.

Going for an unlocked Samsung phone is likely going to be the better option overall if you can spare more money upfront. And with older handsets, you are often able to find a considerably more affordable price.

Go for Samsung's most recent launch and you're likely to see the same price offered by every retailer, but even then it's likely going to be the cheapest way to get your hands on the device.

Currently our top pick goes to the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. Yes, it isn't the newest handset around but thanks to its lower price and the fact it still has expandable storage and a few other features we miss in the S21 collection, it takes the top spot.

For this guide, we've picked out TechRadar's favorite handsets from each of the manufacturer's three main families of phones. But if the phone you really want isn't listed, head to our Samsung phone deals page to compare more unlocked Samsung prices.

Read on to find all of the cheapest unlocked Samsung phones SIM-free with our complete breakdown below. Or use our SIM-free unlocked phones guide to see all of the best devices from Samsung, Apple, Google and more.

Samsung Galaxy S deals:

1. Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus

Samsung's best value 2020 handset

Weight: 186g | Dimensions: 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.7-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 3200 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery: 4500mAh | Rear camera: 12 + 64 + 12MP | Front camera: 10MP

120Hz refresh rate
Extremely high-definition screen
strong camera performance
Pretty pricey

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is no longer the newest option from Samsung with the Galaxy S21 Plus now here. However, we feel like the S20 Plus is actually the better option for most.

Due to the year it has under its belt, prices have fallen drastically in both the US and UK. And it has a super powerful screen, battery, processor and more keeping it going strong.

Samsung Galaxy S21 deals

(Image credit: Samsung)

2. Samsung Galaxy S21

A bargain price from Samsung's 2021 line-up

Screen size: 6.2-inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Rear camera: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP | Weight: 169g | OS: Android 11 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 4000mAh

Surprisingly affordable
Powerful new processor
Impressive camera set-up
Screen quality could be better

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the latest release from the Samsung brand. While a lot has changed in it compared to last year's S20, the biggest difference is the price. The S21 has a cheaper RRP compared to the S20 before and its in line with the cost of Apple's iPhone 12.

Samsung Galaxy S21 deals, despite their lower price, upgrade you to the latest processor from Samsung - the Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888. This branches out into improvements in the camera, battery life and more.

Samsung phone deals

(Image credit: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra)

3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung's best and most powerful yet

Screen size: 6.8-inches | Resolution: 1440 x 3200 | Rear camera: 108MP + 10MP + 10MP + 12MP | Weight: 227g | OS: Android 11 | RAM: 12/16GB | Storage: 128/256/512GB | Battery: 5000mAh

Samsung's most powerful phone yet
Giant battery and screen
Best camera zoom
Very expensive

Why is Samsung's best and most powerful phone not top of this list...the price. Fork out $1000/£1000+ and you can get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - one of the world's best smartphones.

It features a gigantic 5000mAh battery, a 6.8-inch 120Hz Quad HD display, Samsung's best camera performance yet and Samsung's new Exynos 2100 processor (or Snapdragon 888 in the US).

On top of all of that, it is compatible with the Galaxy S pen allowing it to act like the Samsung Note series - you do have to buy the pen separately though.

mint mobile phones best

(Image credit: Samsung)

4. Samsung Galaxy S20

Just like the S21 but with a few different features

Screen size: 6.2-inches | Resolution: 1440 x 3200 | Rear camera: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP | Weight: 163g | OS: Android 11 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery: 4000mAh

Rapidly falling price
5G-enabled
12-Hz refresh rate
Not Samsung's newest processor

Thanks to its age, the Samsung Galaxy S20 price is rapidly falling. It launched with a cost higher than the new S21 but currently, it is looking like the cheaper of the two choices.

And despite being older, it's actually an upgrade in certain categories. It has a better screen than the S21, a MicroSD slot, the same battery size and the same screen size. However, it does have an older design, weaker camera, an older processor and a few other specs feel dated.

(Image credit: Samsung)

5. Samsung Galaxy S9

An older Samsung device with a far cheaper price tag

Weight: 163g | Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2960 | CPU: Snapdragon 845 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 8MP

Super affordable
Swift biometric security
A powerful phone despite its age
An older device in Samsung's line up

Yes, it is by no means the newest device from Samsung but the Galaxy S9 provides an exceptionally affordable price for those who don't care about being on the most up to date device.

You fall back to 2018 but luckily Samsung was ahead of its time! You're getting a high-end display, a 3000mAh battery and a surprisingly competent camera array. All-in-all, if you're looking for Samsung on a budget, this is a good way to go.

Samsung Galaxy S10

6. Samsung Galaxy S10

It's a few devices old...but its still excellent

Weight: 157g | Dimensions: 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 3040 | CPU: Exynos 9820 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB/512GB | Battery: 3400mAh | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 16MP | Front camera: 10MP

Affordable price tag
Good camera set-up
High quality display
Weaker specs compared to S20/S21

The Samsung Galaxy S10 will be a brilliant choice thanks to two factors. Because of its age, much like the S9 it has seen a significant reduction in its price, now looking more affordable than ever.

However, the Samsung Galaxy S10 was arguably one of Samsung's biggest jump ups ever, brining in new camera tech, an almost bezzle-less display and a bunch of other features. 

With all of that combined, the handset feels pretty high-tech despite being older and will still perform perfectly, take great photos and allow you to watch videos in high-definition.

Samsung Galaxy A deals:

(Image credit: Samsung)

1. Samsung Galaxy A71

Samsung without the overwhelming price

Screen size: 6.7-inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Rear camera: 32MP + 8MP + 5MP | Weight: 183g | OS: Android 9 (Pie) | RAM: 6/8GB | Storage: 128GB | External storage: microSD | Battery: 4500mAh

Sleek design and screen
Affordable price tag
Large battery
Cameras aren't brilliant

Out of all of the Samsung A series, the Galaxy A71 feels like it will be the best choice for most people. While it is more expensive than other options, it is the perfect blend of affordability and specs.

It has a good collection of camera lenses, allowing you to get some great shots on a budget, the battery is large, the screen is good for its price and there is some good budget processing power going on as well.

Really, the Samsung Galaxy A71 thrives thanks to its position in-between budget handsets and flagship phones.

Samsung Galaxy A51

(Image credit: Samsung)

2. Samsung Galaxy A51

An affordable yet stylish Samsung phone

Screen size: 6.5-inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Rear camera: 48MP + 12MP + 5MP + 5MP | Weight: 172g | OS: Android 10 | RAM: 4/8GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB | External storage: Yes, microSD | Battery: 4000mAh

Bold OLED screen
Super affordable price
Has a headphone jack
Not the fastest phone
Fingerprint scanner can be poor

The Samsung Galaxy A51 is simply a cheaper version of the Galaxy A71 above. The design is similar, the features aren't far off, you're just taking a bit of a reduction in specs to get the costs down.

It's not the fastest handset out there but it does have a bold OLED display and a surprising feature these days - a headphone jack!

Samsung Galaxy A41 deals

2. Samsung Galaxy A41

Samsung without the overwhelming price

Screen size: 6.1-inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 5MP | Weight: 152g | OS: Android 10 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 152GB | External storage: microSD | Battery: 3500mAh

Lightweight and compact
Cheap
Solid camera output
Weak processor

The Samsung Galaxy A41 is all about affordability, bringing a lot of the specs down in exchange for a lowered cost. It isn't going to win any awards for its features but for the price, it's a tempting package for many.

It's lightweight, has a solid camera performance and a suprisingly decent battery and screen all things considered.

Samsung Galaxy A20e deals

2. Samsung Galaxy A20e

Samsung for those on a tight budget

Screen size: 5.8-inches | Resolution: 720 x 1560 | Rear camera: 13MP + 5MP | Weight: 141g | OS: Android 10 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB | External storage: microSD | Battery: 3000mAh

Very low price
Solid speakers
Strong camera for price
Weak battery
Low quality display

This really is the phone for those who like Samsung but want to pay the minimal price. It comes in way below other Samsung handsets and while the battery and display are nothing to shout about, it does have a pretty solid speaker setup and a camera performance that is suprising!

Samsung Galaxy Note deals:

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The best Samsung Note device yet

Screen size: 6.9-inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Rear camera: 108MP + 12MP + 12MP | Weight: 208g | OS: Android10 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | External storage: microSD | Battery: 4500mAh

Samsung's most powerful Note 
Excellent camera zoom
Upgraded S pen functionality
Big price tag

This is the best Samsung Note device out there and next to the Samsung S21 Ultra, one of Samsung's most powerful handsets yet. However, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is also one of the most expensive options.

It has a high-powered camera set-up with excellent zoom functions, the S Pen with a host of upgraded features, a powerful processor, large battery, high-definition display and much more.

Note 20

(Image credit: Future)

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 20

A cheaper alternative to the Note 20 Ultra

Screen size: 6.7-inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Rear camera: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP | Weight: 192g | OS: Android 10 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | External storage: No | Battery: 4300mAh

More affordable than the Ultra
Strong performance
Versatile camera
Expensive for the specs
Only has a 60Hz refresh rate

This is the more affordable version of the Note 20 Ultra, offering a similar design and much of the same functionality...without the £1000/$1000+ price tag!

However, while it still has the same S pen and an overall strong performance, it is lacking in certain areas. There's no 60Hz refresh rate and we would have hoped for a better display!

Samsung Note 10

3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10

An older but still excellent handset

Screen size: 6.3-inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2280 | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 16MP | Weight: 168g | OS: Android 10 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | External storage: microSD | Battery: 3500mAh

More affordable for a Note device
Good one handed size
Great video camera
Only a Full HD display
battery life could be better

Go back to the older series of Note handsets and you could save a decent amount of cash. Due to its age, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 has come way down in price while still supplying you with the Note's tall screen and S pen functionality.

It fits well into one hand and has an excellent video camera. However, it does only have a Full HD display.

SIM-free unlocked Samsung phones: FAQ

What does SIM-free and unlocked mean?

Quite simply, this means a phone that doesn't have a connected plan, you are simply buying the handset alone. You then have the choice to put in your own SIM from your choice of provider.

This can often be the cheapest way to get a new handset with most networks and carriers charging higher fees for phone contracts.

Is this the cheapest way to get a newly released phone?

Unless a retailer comes out with an exceptional pre-order offer, when it comes to buying newly released phones, going SIM-free or unlocked will be the cheapest way to do it.

This allows you to track down a cheap SIM which can be combined for an overall affordable cost. Compared to buying a contract, this is the cheapest option by a long way.

How does Samsung compare to Apple?

The two biggest brands in both the UK and US, if you're trying to decide between Apple and Samsung, it might be hard to choose which of the two brands is right for you.

You can use our SIM-free unlocked phones guide to see all of the cheapest prices from Apple as well as Samsung in one place. Both brands feature similar specs and prices with a collection of different options.

However, Samsung does cover the budget market with a lot more depth, offering the A series where Apple only has the iPhone SE. In terms of mid-range and flagship phones though, both brands sit on pretty level grounds.

Alex Hughes

Alex is a journalist who has written extensively about all things broadband, SIMs and phone contracts, as well as scouring the internet to land you the best prices on the very latest in gadgets and tech. Whether that be with the latest iPhones and Android handsets, breaking down how broadband works or revealing the cheapest SIM plans, he's in the know, and will help you land a bargain.