Những chiếc iPhone được mở khóa tốt nhất năm 2021

iPhone XR hiện là thiết bị lâu đời nhất của Apple vẫn được cung cấp như một phần của dòng sản phẩm iPhone hiện tại của công ty. Mặc dù không mạnh bằng các thiết bị cầm tay còn lại của Apple, nhưng iPhone XR có mức giá thấp hơn nhiều so với dòng iPhone 11 và 12.

iPhone XR có màn hình LCD 6,1 inch hiển thị và sử dụng chip A12 Bionic. While that falls behind what newer iPhones have, the A12 is still an excellent processor and will work perfectly for most people’s needs from a smartphone.

One of the best features of the iPhone XR is its battery. When it first launched in 2018, this model had one of the best batteries of any iPhone yet; thanks to its lack of 5G or any intensive drains on battery, you should be able to get through the day on a single charge.

You will find yourself slightly limited when it comes to the camera with the iPhone XR sporting just one rear lens, but that’s to be expected with a handset from a few years ago. And Apple does have some pretty powerful computational photography features to produce good photos, even with this older device.

Read our full iPhone XR review.

The iPhone 12 mini is another unique handset, offering a small-bodied smartphone with market-leading specs. In other words, this is the best small phone on the market right now.

In essence, the only noticeable differences between this model and the iPhone 12 are its size and price. The iPhone mini is the most affordable iPhone 12 handset and comes in at a size of 5.4-inches.

While that screen is going to be far too small for some, it is a great size for using your phone with a single hand. You also get 5G connectivity and a powerful A14 Bionic process — the same chip in the rest of the iPhone 12 lineup. Like the iPhone 12, an unlocked iPhone 12 mini costs $30 extra over the $699 version available from wireless carriers.

Read our full iPhone 12 mini review.

Like the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro sits comfortably in the middle of Apple’s latest line-up. You’ll pay a little bit more than you would with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, but you’ll get a powerful phone with the best features that only come with Apple’s Pro models.

That includes a triple camera set-up with a telephoto lens, even if the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers a slightly better zoom. The iPhone 12 Pro uses the same A14 processor as the rest of the range, works with 5G and features the same Dolby video technology found in the video camera of the Pro Max model.

However, while it is cheaper than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, you’ll still have to pay $999 for the iPhone 12. The phone is certainly worth it, but you find some of the best unlocked iPhones are available for much less.

Read our full iPhone 12 Pro review.

While the iPhone 11 is a powerful handset, the iPhone 11 Pro could be a worthwhile upgrade if you’re looking for something a bit more powerful. It shares a lot of similarities with the newer iPhone 12 Pro but will cost a bit less.

The iPhone 11 Pro uses the same A13 Bionic chip as the iPhone 11 while offering an OLED panel instead of an LCD screen. It’s also a more compact phone without being as cramped as the iPhone 12 mini.

The other crucial upgrade over the iPhone 11 is the addition of an extra lens. That’s particularly appealing if you like to zoom in, as the iPhone 11 Pro offers a telephoto lens.

The iPhone 11 Pro is no longer available through Apple, so to find an unlocked version, you’ll need to look to another retailer. (Apple has started selling refurbished iPhone 11 Pro models at its site if you don’t mind getting a used phone.)

Read our full iPhone 11 Pro review.

What actually is an unlocked iPhone?

You might be thinking to yourself, what we actually mean by”unlocked”iPhones. This simply means that your handset isn’t connected to any carrier yet, giving you the option of picking the carrier you prefer.

This could be a carrier you are already with or one you think would work well with the phone you have selected. Whether that is Verizon, Mint Mobile, T-Mobile or something else.

The benefits of this are the fact that you can completely choose who you end up with. And while you can in most cases simply go directly to a carrier and get a phone, choosing an unlocked model is often cheaper and gives you more choice. One exception to that rule — the unlocked iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 cost $30 more than the carrier-tied versions when you buy those phones through Apple.

How we test the best unlocked iPhones

With all of the iPhones on this list, we have made sure they have been put through multiple tests so we know where they rank. This not only involves us using each Apple phone for a set period of time but also running tests.

Our testing includes benchmarking using Geekbench 5 and 3DMark’s Wild Life benchmark, among other tests. We measure the accuracy of the colors on the display as well as how bright each screen can get. We run a customized battery test to see how long a phone can last continuously surfing the web, and then we time how long it takes for a phone to recharge.

To test the cameras, we compare the iPhones we’re reviewing with other phones in the same price range, looking at various photos to see which device takes the best images. Finally, we consider cost, availability and design in our reviews.