When it comes to choosing the best travel phone, it can get quite confusing and tiring. What if I travel overseas and my phone won't work? What are the most important specifications I should look for? What scary sounding acronyms GSM and CDMA stand for? These are the questions that pop in one's head when scrolling through abundant phone offers. Put it simply, GSM and CDMA are two mobile standards that function in different regions with GSM being the most popular around the world. For the sake of convenience, here you will find a helpful list of the best “unlocked” smartphones that work on GSM network and support all four (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) frequency bands.
If you're a rough traveller who needs a smartphone that is as brave as you are, CAT S41 will be your indispensable travel buddy. It's truly one of the best rugged smartphones out there. The phone endurance is confirmed by MIL SPEC 810G and IP68 standards for military industry equipment, meaning it can withstand extreme conditions. It will function properly after dropping it from 1.8 meters or being submerged at a depth of 2 meters. If you're a diving lover, with this digital tool you will be able to take pics or videos underwater for a whole hour. Also, you will be more than pleased by its 5000mAh battery that can last 38 hours talk time and 44 days of standby time. Besides, this battery can be used to charge other devices. While its design might not fit all tastes, it's rubberized body will make sure it will not slide from your fingers on a rocky road.
If you're on a budget or just don't want to spend too much for a travel phone, this one might be just what you're looking for. This brand is famous for producing high-level spec smartphones at affordable prices. Everyone knows how important it is to have a fast charging phone when on a trip. OnePlus 5T comes with a signature Dash Charger with which you will be able to charge your phone in half an hour. The phone has 6GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. So you can be sure that all amazing photos and videos taken with 16-megapixel camera will comfortably rest in your phone's memory throughout the whole trip. Besides, its thin design will make your pockets happy.
If you're a true Apple fan and used to iOS mobile operating system with no wish to change it, iPhone SE is a great choice for a world traveller. Firstly, it offers a great quality and price ratio compared to the newest Apple models. Secondly, it boasts of being the most powerful 4-inch phone ever and is perfect for those who prefer smaller screens. Thirdly, the phone is packed with a 12-megapixel iSight camera that will allow you to capture HDR crystal-clear shots and make 4K videos. Last but not least it comes with 16GB, 32Gb, 64GB, or 128GB storage space to suit all your needs.
If you don't like CAT's tough design, but still want I phone what has been IP68 rated, LG G6 is a stylish choice for you. The phone is dust resistant and can spend up to 30 minutes submerged in 1.5 metres of water. Its great looking 5.7-inch display is big but not too big to become a challenge for your clutch. Another great feature is dual 13-megapixels rear cameras. One is a standard-angle, and the other is a wide-angle lens camera which is perfect for group or landscape shots. Finally, its 3,300 mAh battery performs well enough not to give you unexpected power drain when you need it most.
This phone fully covers everything a traveller might need. Since nobody wants to be lost in a foreign city with flashing battery icon, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has impressive battery life with 36000 mAh capacity and fast charging capability. For what concerns the camera, this phone is a killer. 12MP camera with improved auto-focus allows you to take high quality and detailed pics in all conditions. So never again to be irritated by blurry low-light shots. This phone provides you with dual SIM slots so that you could freely use local SIM card with no worry about missing important calls on your original SIM. Also, this travel companion has IP68 rating to make sure it never lets you down even in unexpected water adventures.
Huawei Mate 10 is a flagship phone and another great choice for those who don't want to spoil their travel experiences with unwanted battery discharges or blurry pics. With its 4000 mAh battery you will be safe during the most intensive travel days. It comes with powerful Huawei's Kirin 970 processor that is a true joy, but camera specs catch one's eyes even faster. The phone is packed with dual Leica-branded cameras on the rear. If taking high-quality photos is a crucial aspect when choosing a phone, this one will do you real good. Also, if you aren't a fan of Apple's initiated killing of the headphone jack, this phone has a 3.5 mm port at your convenience.
