How We Research
Every guide on NeighborlyNod starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our unlocked phone guides, that means your carrier, your budget and how you use a phone every day.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with the carrier and the buyer
An unlocked phone can still fail on one network, and the right phone for a parent isn't always the right phone for you. So we begin with who the phone is for and which network it needs to work on.
We list the network bands and features the maker publishes, such as VoLTE and eSIM support. We always tell you to check the phone against your carrier's own compatibility tool before you buy.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at screen size, battery capacity, storage, camera, charging speed and how many years of software updates the maker promises. For seniors and parents we also note text size options and how simple the set-up is.
Samsung, Motorola and Google describe their phones in their own words, so we name the brand for every claim. We also note the warranty terms the maker lists.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using a phone. We look for patterns, like weak signal, slow performance, short battery life, activation trouble or a screen that scratches.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A phone that's great for one buyer may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We only link new US-model phones
Phone lines change fast, and some listings are not what they seem. We only link new phones made for the US market, sold and shipped by Amazon or the brand.
We leave out Renewed and refurbished phones, and imports labeled "International Model" or "Latin America Version." When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have used every phone we cover.
We can't promise that any phone will work on your carrier or in your area. Coverage, plans and activation rules belong to the carrier, so check with them first.
We make no promises about battery life, call quality or how long a phone will last, and when a maker makes a claim, we label it as the maker's claim.