Unlocked smartphones are great because they allow you to switch between different wireless carriers without having to buy a new phone. But, despite being able to get great deals on gently used unlocked smartphones, some people avoid buying them because they don’t want to worry about carrier compatibility. Swappa is here to help, and once you finish reading this guide, you understand everything you need to know about unlocked Samsung Galaxy S smartphones.
What is an unlocked Galaxy S smartphone?
By definition, unlocked means not locked. Or in the case of a mobile phone, unlocked means the phone is not locked to one specific wireless carrier. But the definition actually goes a bit deeper because smartphones can be factory unlocked or carrier unlocked.
- Factory unlocked means the phone is unlocked from the factory, and that it was never locked to one specific wireless carrier.
- Carrier unlocked means the phone was originally locked to one specific wireless carrier, and that carrier has unlocked it for use with other wireless carriers.
If you are planning to buy an unlocked smartphone, a factory unlocked model is the best option because it offers the widest range of carrier support.
Can an unlocked Galaxy S smartphone be used on any carrier?
Factory unlocked smartphones can be used with different wireless carriers, but they may not be fully supported by all wireless carriers. In most cases, this simply means choosing between an unlocked US smartphone, or an unlocked global (international) smartphone.
That might sound like an additional complication, but Samsung makes this easy, and you only need to look at the model number. You can find the model number on a Galaxy S smartphone by opening the Settings app and looking in the About Phone (or About Device) section.
If you’re looking for a factory unlocked Galaxy S smartphone for use with a US wireless carrier – you’ll want to look for a “U1” at the end of the model number. The “U1” portion of the model number signifies it is factory unlocked for the US market.
We’ll highlight the different model numbers for each specific Galaxy S smartphone a little later in this post.
US wireless carrier network band support
A factory unlocked “U1” Galaxy S smartphone is intended for use with US-based wireless carriers, but if you bought an unlocked global (international), or a carrier unlocked model – you will want to make sure the phone supports the network bands supported by your carrier.
US carrier 5G network bands
Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile | |||
Network Band | Frequency | Network Band | Frequency | Network Band | Frequency |
5G N2 | 1900 MHz | 5G N2 | 1900 MHz | 5G N41 | 2500 MHz |
5G N5 | 850 MHz | 5G N5 | 850 MHz | 5G N71 | 600 MHz |
5G N66 | 1700 MHz | 5G N66 | 1700 MHz | 5G N77 | 3700 MHz |
5G N77 | 3700 MHz | 5G N77 | 3700 MHz | 5G N260 | 39 GHz |
5G N260 | 39 GHz | 5G N260 | 39 GHz | 5G N261 | 28 GHz |
5G N261 | 28 GHz | 5G N261 | 28 GHz | 5G N262 | 47 GHz |
US carrier 4G LTE network bands
Verizon | AT&T | T-Mobile | |||
Network Band | Frequency | Network Band | Frequency | Network Band | Frequency |
LTT FDD Band 2 | 1900 MHz | LTT FDD Band 2 | 1900 MHz | LTT FDD Band 2 | 1900 MHz |
LTT FDD Band 4 | 1700/2100 MHz (AWS) | LTT FDD Band 4 | 1700/2100 MHz (AWS) | LTT FDD Band 4 | 1700/2100 MHz (AWS) |
LTT FDD Band 5 | 850 MHz | LTT FDD Band 5 | 850 MHz | LTT FDD Band 5 | 850 MHz |
LTT FDD Band 13 | 700 MHz | LTT FDD Band 12 | 700 MHz | LTT FDD Band 12 | 700 MHz |
LTT FDD Band 66 | 1700/2100 MHz (AWS) | LTT FDD Band 14 | 700 MHz | LTT FDD Band 66 | 1700/2100 MHz (AWS) |
LTT FDD Band 17 | 700 MHz | LTT FDD Band 71 | 600 MHz | ||
LTT FDD Band 29 | 700 MHz | ||||
LTT FDD Band 30 | 2300 MHz | ||||
LTT FDD Band 66 | 1700/2100 MHz (AWS) |
Tap the green button below for a more detailed look at the 4G and 5G bands supported by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
Unlocked Galaxy S22 carrier compatibility
The Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup was unveiled in February 2022 and includes the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. You can easily determine Galaxy S22 carrier compatibility by looking at the model number.
Galaxy S22
The base model number for the Galaxy S22 is SM-S901x, and there are eight variants in total, which are based on region.
- SM-S901U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-S901U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-S901B: International
- SM-S901B/DS: International Dual-SIM
- SM-S901W: Canada
- SM-S901N: Korea
- SM-S9010: China
- SM-S901E: Asia and Africa
Model number SM-S901U1 offers the widest range of US carrier support, which includes Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, as well as many of the MVNO carriers such as Mint Mobile, Visible, US Cellular, and others.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S22 for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-S901U1.
Galaxy S22+
Similar to the Galaxy S22, there are also eight variants of the Galaxy S22+. The base model number for the Galaxy S22+ is SM-S906x.
- SM-S906U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-S906U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-S906B: International
- SM-S906B/DS: International Dual-SIM
- SM-S906W: Canada
- SM-S906N: Korea
- SM-S9060: China
- SM-S906E: Asia and Africa
The SM-S906U1 model number is the factory unlocked version for the United States market, which means it has the widest range of carrier support. Model number SM-S906U1 will work with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. It will also work with many MVNO carriers, including Visible, US Cellular, Cricket Wireless, and Mint Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S22+ for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-S906U1.
Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a base model number of SM-S908x, and there are eight variants for different markets around the world.
- SM-S908U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-S908U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-S908B: International
- SM-S908B/DS: International Dual-SIM
- SM-S908W: Canada
- SM-S908N: Korea
- SM-S9080: China
- SM-S908E: Asia and Africa
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra model number SM-S908U1 is factory unlocked for the United States market. Simply put, the “U1” version is the model with the widest range of supported carriers in the US market. Galaxy S22 Ultra SM-S908U1 will work with the three major US carriers; Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Model number SM-S908U1 will also with lots of MVNO carriers, including Mint Mobile, Visible, and Cricket Wireless.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-S901U1.
Unlocked Galaxy S21 carrier compatibility
Samsung announced the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra in January 2021. The Galaxy S21 lineup also includes the Galaxy S21 FE, which was released a year later, in January 2022. Each of these models has several different variants, however, Samsung makes it easy to determine carrier compatibility based on the model number.
Galaxy S21
In total, there are seven variants of the Samsung Galaxy S21, and the base model number is SM-G991x. The last digit in the model number, signified here by the x, is unique to the region the model supports.
- SM-G991U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G991U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G991B: International
- SM-G991B/DS: International Dual-SIM
- SM-G991W: Canada
- SM-G991N: Korea
- SM-G9910: China
Model number SM-G991U1 is the factory unlocked model for the US market, which means it supports all three of the major US wireless carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Samsung Galaxy S21 SM-G991U1 also supports a wide range of MVNO carriers, such as Mint Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Visible, US Cellular, and others.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G991U1.
Galaxy S21+
Samsung released seven versions of the Galaxy S21+, and they each share a base model number of SM-G996x. The last digit changes based on the market the device supports, with the most popular for the US market being the SM-G996U1.
- SM-G996U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G996U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G996B: International
- SM-G996B/DS: International Dual-SIM
- SM-G996W: Canada
- SM-G996N: Korea
- SM-G9960: China
Samsung Galaxy S21+ with model number SM-G991U1 is the most popular for the US market because it is the factory unlocked model, which means it offers the widest range of carrier support. Model number SM-G991U1 supports the three main US carriers, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. It also supports lots of MVNO carriers, including Visible, Cricket Wireless, and Mint Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21+ for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G996U1.
Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a base model number of SM-G998x. The last digit, signified by the x, changes based on the region where the device was released. In total, Samsung released seven versions of the Galaxy S21 Ultra with the most popular for the US being marketing the “U1” variant.
- SM-G998U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G998U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G998B: International
- SM-G998B/DS: International Dual-SIM
- SM-G998W: Canada
- SM-G998N: Korea
- SM-G9980: China
Model number SM-G998U1 is the most popular for the US market because it is the factory unlocked model. This means the SM-G998U1 was unlocked from the factory, and never locked to one specific carrier. As a result, this model supports Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, as well as many MVNO carriers such as Visible, Cricket Wireless, and Mint Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G998U1.
Galaxy S21 FE
Unlike the other three models in the Galaxy S21 lineup, the Galaxy S21 FE release includes six variants, instead of seven. The base model number for the Galaxy S21 FE is SM-G990x, and similar to the other models, the last digit varies based on the region where the phone was released. For example, the SM-G990U is the carrier model for the US market.
- SM-G990U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G990U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G990B: International
- SM-G990B/DS: International Dual-SIM
- SM-G990W: Canada
- SM-G990E: Asia and Africa
The U1 model, Galaxy S21 FE SM-G990U1 is the most popular in the United States. This is due to the U1 being the factory unlocked model. Essentially, factory unlocked means the device hasn’t been locked to a single wireless carrier. The SM-G990U1 Galaxy S21 FE supports the three major US wireless carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. It also supports a wide variety of MVNO carriers.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 FE for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G990U1.
Unlocked Galaxy S20 carrier compatibility
The Galaxy S20 lineup consists of four devices, the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, Galaxy S20 Ultra, and the Galaxy S20 FE. The S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra were all released in March 2020, and the S20 FE was released in October 2020.
Galaxy S20
The Samsung Galaxy S20 has a base model number of SM-G981x with the last digit (the x) changing based on the region where the model was released. As an example, SM-G981U is the model intended for use with US wireless carriers.
- SM-G981U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G981U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G981B: International
- SM-G981F: International
- SM-G981W: Canada
- SM-G9810: China and Hong Kong
- SM-G981N: Korea
Samsung Galaxy S20 with model number SM-G981U1 is the best choice for those in the US market because it is the factory unlocked model and supports all of the major US carriers. In addition to the support for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, Galaxy S20 SM-G981U1 also supports many of the MVNO carriers that use the networks of the main three carriers. Some of the supported MVNO carriers include Mint Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and Visible.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S20 for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G981U1.
Galaxy S20+
Model number SM-G986x is the base model number for the Samsung Galaxy S20+. The last digit, the x, varies based on the market where the phone was released. Samsung offered seven different variants of the Galaxy S20+ with the most popular for the US market is the factory unlocked SM-G986U1.
- SM-G986U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G986U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G986B: International
- SM-G986F: International
- SM-G986W: Canada
- SM-G9860: China and Hong Kong
- SM-G986N: Korea
The Samsung Galaxy S20 with model numbers SM-G986U1 or SM-G986U is the most commonly found in the US market. The “U” variant is the carrier version, and the “U1” variant is the factory unlocked version. Essentially, this means the “U” version was originally locked for use with a single carrier, and the “U1 version was never locked for use with a single carrier. In most cases, the SM-G986U1 is the best option for those in the United States. Samsung Galaxy S20+ SM-G986U1 supports Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, along with numerous MVNO carriers including Visible, Cricket Wireless, and Mint Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S20+ for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G986U1.
Galaxy S20 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra has a base model number of SM-G988x, and it was released in several markets, each with its own specific model number. As an example, the factory unlocked Galaxy S20 Ultra for the US market is the SM-G988U1.
- SM-G988U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G988U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G988B: International
- SM-G988W: Canada
- SM-G9880: China and Hong Kong
- SM-G988N: Korea
If you are buying a Galaxy S20 Ultra for use in the US and want the freedom to switch between carriers, the SM-G988U1 would be the best choice. The “U1” signifies it is a factory unlocked model, whereas the “U” at the end of the other US model signifies it is the carrier version. The SM-G988U can be carrier unlocked, but it arrives locked for use with a single carrier, whether that is Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or one of the MVNO carriers.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G988U1.
Galaxy S20 FE
The FE in the Galaxy S20 name stands for Fan Edition, and it is a lower-priced alternative to the regular Galaxy S20. But while the Galaxy S20 FE is a lower-priced option, it has many similarities to the Galaxy S20 in terms of the model number. Samsung released six variants of the Galaxy S20 FE, which are all based on the region where they were available.
- SM-G781U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G781U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G781B: International
- SM-G781W: Canada
- SM-G7810: China and Hong Kong
- SM-G781N: Korea
The most popular Galaxy S20 FE for the US market is the SM-G781U1 because it is factory unlocked. Being factory unlocked, the SM-G781U1 was not tied to a single wireless carrier when it was new, which allows the user the flexibility to choose between different carriers without having to buy a new phone. Carrier support for the SM-G781U1 includes Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The “U1” model also supports numerous MVNO carriers such as Visible, Cricket Wireless, and T-Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S20 FE for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G781U1.
Unlocked Galaxy S10 carrier compatibility
The main Galaxy S10 lineup includes the Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy S10+, which were first announced in February 2019. Samsung also released the Galaxy S10e and the Galaxy S10 Lite. The “e” was a smaller version of the S10, and the “Lite” was a lower-priced mid-range version.
Galaxy S10
Samsung released the Galaxy S10 with a base model number of SM-G973x. The Galaxy S10 was available in several variants, which were based on region. For example, the SM-G973U is the carrier version for the United States.
- SM-G973U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G973U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G973F: Global
- SM-G973F/DS: Global Dual-SIM
- SM-G973W: Canada
- SM-G9730: China
The most popular Galaxy S10 models in the United States are the SM-G973U and the SM-G973U1. The “U” model is the carrier version, which means the S10 was originally tied to a single wireless carrier. The “U1” model is factory unlocked, which means it could be used with a wide variety of US carriers, including the main three: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The factory unlocked “U1” variant of the Galaxy S10 also supports many MVNO carriers such as Visible, Cricket Wireless, and Mint Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S10 for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G973U1.
Galaxy S10+
Similar to the Galaxy S10, Samsung also released several variants of the Galaxy S10+. The base model number for the Galaxy S10+ is SM-G975x. The “x” placeholder switches based on the region where the phone was released. For example, SM-G975U is the carrier version released in the United States.
- SM-G975U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G975U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G975F: Global
- SM-G975F/DS: Global Dual-SIM
- SM-G975W: Canada
- SM-G9750: China
Those in the United States would look towards the “U” or the “U1” though, the “U1” is perhaps the more popular model as that is the factory unlocked version. Basically, the “U1” isn’t locked to a single wireless carrier, and that means the user has the freedom to switch between carriers without having to buy a new phone. Alternatively, the “U” version is locked to a single carrier and can be carrier unlocked for use with other carriers.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S10+ for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G975U1.
Galaxy S10e
The Galaxy S10e had fewer variants as compared to other models in the Galaxy S10 lineup. Samsung released a model for the global market, along with models for the United States and Canada. The base model number for the Galaxy S10e is SM-G970x.
- SM-G970U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G970U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G970F: Global
- SM-G970F/DS: Global Dual-SIM
- SM-G970W: Canada
The most popular Galaxy S10e in the US market is the SM-G970U1 because it is the factory unlocked model. Essentially, factory unlocked means the phone is not locked to a single wireless provider. The SM-G970U1 supports Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, along with many MVNO carriers such as Visible, Cricket Wireless, and Mint Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S10e for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G970U1.
Galaxy S10 Lite
Samsung released the Galaxy S10 Lite later compared to other models in the Galaxy S10 lineup. The Galaxy S10 Lite also has fewer variants. The base model number for the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite is SM-G770x.
- SM-G770U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G770F/DS: Global (Global Dual-SIM)
- SM-G770F/DSM: Russia and India
The most commonly found Galaxy S10 Lite is the “U1” factory unlocked version, which carries the SM-G770U1 model number. This model is factory unlocked with support for all three of the main US wireless carriers, as well as many of the smaller MVNO carriers. Carrier support for the SM-G770U1 includes Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Visible, Cricket Wireless, Mint Mobile, and others.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G770U1.
Unlocked Galaxy S9 carrier compatibility
The Samsung Galaxy S9 lineup was smaller as compared to future generations, and included just two models – the Galaxy S9 and the larger-sized Galaxy S9+. Samsung introduced the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in March 2018.
Galaxy S9
The Galaxy S9 release included several variants, which were available based on region. The base model number for the Galaxy S9 is SM-G960x.
- SM-G960U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G960U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G960W: Canada
- SM-G960N: Korea
- SM-G960F: Europe and Global (Single-SIM)
- SM-G960F/DS: Europe and Global (Dual-SIM)
- SM-G960FD Duos: Asia
- SM-G9600: China and LATAM
- SM-G9600/DS: China and LATAM (Dual-SIM)
The most common Samsung Galaxy S9 for the US market is the SM-G960U1. The “U1” portion of the model number signifies this is the factory unlocked model, which means it was never locked to a single specific carrier. US carrier support for the SM-G960U1 includes Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile along with many MVNO carriers.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G960U1.
Galaxy S9+
Similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9, the Galaxy S9+ was also released in several variants, each of which was specific to a certain market. The base model number for the Samsung Galaxy S9+ is SM-G965x.
- SM-G965U: United States (carrier version)
- SM-G965U1: United States (factory unlocked version)
- SM-G965W: Canada
- SM-G965N: Korea
- SM-G965F: Europe and Global
- SM-G965FD Duos: Asia
- SM-G9650: China and LATAM
- SM-G9650/DS: China and LATAM (Dual-SIM)
If you are buying a Galaxy S9+ in the United States, the most commonly found models will include the SM-G965U and SM-G965U1. While these model numbers are similar – the “1” at the end of the model number adds an important distinction. The “U” is the carrier model and was originally locked to a single carrier. The “U1” is the factory unlocked model, which means it was never locked to a single carrier. The Samsung Galaxy S9+ with model number SM-G965U1 is compatible with all major US carriers including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
If you are buying a factory unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9+ for use with a US carrier you should look for model number SM-G965U1.