Folks buy unlocked phones for two main reasons: to escape the reigns of a two-year contract, and to save money. (Head to the end of this article for an explanation of unlocked phones.) At just $300, the (16GB) OnePlus One offers the most smartphone for your buck, period. No other device in this price range can compete with its smooth performance, cheap storage (the 64GB model costs only $50 more), 13MP camera, and on-screen gestures – double-tapping the display wakes the device, and it's the most useful smartphone feature I've ever enjoyed. Its 5.5-inch IPS display has incredibly natural colors, and Engadget says it's even easier on the eyes than Samsung's Galaxy S5. Additionally, it's one of the most comfortable phones I've ever held.

Another advantage to the OnePlus One is that almost every aspect of the phone can be tweaked and customized to your liking, thanks to CyanogenMod firmware. However, its Android-based operating system is young (and undergoing change), meaning it's more bug-prone than other handsets – for instance, I have to restart mine several times a week to overcome a recurring Wi-Fi connectivity issue. But considering how affordable it is, the worst thing about the One might be its somewhat limited availability. Fortunately, invites are no longer required to buy the thing, though there is a small (and rather odd) catch: Without an invitation, you can only make orders on Tuesdays.