OnePlus’ Nord N20 5G is now available unlocked

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

The budget phone of the year is unlocked in the US. Until now, the only way to get a hold of the N20 5G was through T-Mobile, but now that it's an exclusive, that's no longer the case. The N20 5G is available for $299 from Amazon, Best Buy, or from the company's website.

The unlocked N20 cannot be used on 5G or 4G. AT&T customers will be able to connect to 4G only, which is a good deal since the carrier is taking a slower approach to expanding its 5G coverage. T-Mobile subscribers will be able to use 5G and 4G.

The unlocked N20 is the best option for AT&T customers who don't need 5G or someone on a T-Mobile mobile virtual network operator. If you can manage it, you may want to switch carriers and not buy your phone through your carrier.

You are in luck if any of the above describe your situation. The N20 is a great deal. It has a 6.4-inchOLED screen, which is contrast-rich, while almost all of its competitors have liquid crystal display screens. It also supports fast 33W wired charging and has an in-display fingerprint sensor that can be used for smooth unlocks.

New phones have been shipping with the current OS version for months now, but the N20 is not. The clock is running since the N20 won't get an update until sometime around the 13th of July.