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De-Googled Android · Unplugged · United States
Unplugged UP Phone
On sale Sold to US buyers No Google
Ships with: UnpluggedOS
Touchscreen · 6.67" · 8 GB RAM · 256 GB · 4,300 mAh
Checked against the makers' own pages · Last reviewed October 15, 2026
The UP Phone is a privacy-focused Android phone from Unplugged, a US company. It runs UnpluggedOS (earlier called LibertOS), built on the Android Open Source Project without Google Mobile Services, and installs apps from Unplugged's own App Center. As of October 15, 2026 it costs $989 on unplugged.com with free US shipping. Unplugged says it works on AT&T, T-Mobile and their MVNOs but not on Verizon. [1][2][3][4]
- Price
- $989 (unplugged.com) [1]
- Availability
- On sale [1]
- Where it's sold
- Sold in the US, Canada and UK by Unplugged; not shipped to the EU [1]
- Google apps
- No Google Mobile Services; own compatibility layer [4]
- Apps
- Unplugged App Center only (internal, external and web apps) [4]
- Software updates
- Regular updates; no support period published [1]
- US networks
- AT&T, T-Mobile and their MVNOs; not Verizon [1]
On this page
Where it is sold and how to get one
Unplugged sells the UP Phone on its website. On October 15, 2026 it lists $989.00 with "Add to Cart." Unplugged ships to:
- United States: free standard shipping, 3-7 business days
- Canada: $35 flat rate, duties and taxes prepaid
- United Kingdom: $40 flat rate, VAT and duties collected at checkout
It says it is "not currently shipping to the European Union." Unplugged's press releases from August and September 2025 also list the phone on BestBuy.com at $989, with in-store pickup.
Unplugged offers a 30-day return window (a restocking fee may apply depending on condition) and a limited warranty against manufacturing defects. The phone comes without a SIM card or service plan; a free month of Patriot Mobile service is included for new Patriot Mobile customers. [1][3][6]
Specifications
| Display | 6.67-inch AMOLED, 1080 × 2400, Gorilla Glass [1] |
|---|---|
| Chip | MediaTek Dimensity 1200, octa-core [3][12] |
| RAM | 8 GB [1][3] |
| Storage | 256 GB; microSD up to 1 TB [1] |
| Battery | 4,300 mAh [1][12] |
| Charging | 33 W wired (USB-C 2.0), 15 W wireless [1][12] |
| Rear camera | 108 MP main, 8 MP wide, 5 MP macro [1] |
| Front camera | 32 MP (product page); the August 2025 press release says 13 MP [1][3] |
| Networks | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G (no band list published) [1] |
| SIM | 1 nano-SIM + 1 eSIM [1][8] |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC [12] |
| Water/dust rating | IP53 [1] |
| Fingerprint/face unlock | Fingerprint sensor in the power button; no face recognition [12][13] |
| Buttons | Power, volume, battery disconnect, customizable privacy button [1] |
Will it work in the US?
Yes, on two of the three national networks. Unplugged says the UP Phone works with AT&T, T-Mobile and MVNOs that use their networks (it lists Cricket, Consumer Cellular, Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, US Mobile, Patriot Mobile and many others). It "is not certified to operate on Verizon's Network or on their dependent MVNOs"; Unplugged says Verizon support is on its road map with no timeline. If an MVNO offers both a Verizon and an AT&T/T-Mobile network option, Unplugged says to pick the supported one.
Unplugged doesn't publish a band list on its product page; it says the phone supports 5G, 4G, 3G and 2G. In Canada it says the phone works on Rogers, Telus and Bell and their MVNOs.
The phone takes one nano-SIM and one eSIM, both active at once. For eSIM activation, Unplugged says to give your carrier the IMEI for SIM slot 2. [1][5][7][8]
Apps and Google
The UP Phone has no Google Play Store or Google Play Services. Unplugged says it is "not compatible with Google Mobile Services (GMS)" but includes "a compatibility layer developed by our team" to run more apps. "All applications must be downloaded from the App Center," which has three kinds of apps:
- Internal apps: tested and verified by Unplugged - External apps: from third-party providers; "these may have limited compatibility or require extra permissions" - WebApps: web versions that run inside the App Center
Unplugged warns that the App Center includes apps that may collect user data. Unplugged services such as the App Center, VPN, antivirus, Cloud Photos and Passwords need a UP Account.
Subscription: Unplugged's Getting Started guide (June 2026) says each UP Phone includes a one-year Premium subscription for your UP Account. In its August 2025 relaunch announcement, Unplugged said its privacy services (VPN, antivirus, messenger features and cloud photo storage) cost $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year, that every phone includes one year of full service, that "a basic tier is available without subscription fees," and that the phone "remains fully functional regardless of subscription status."
Messaging uses standard SMS; Unplugged recommends turning off iMessage and RCS on your old phone before moving your number. [3][4][5]
Software support
UnpluggedOS updates through the preinstalled Firmware app. Unplugged's product FAQ says "our software is regularly updated" but gives no number of years of support. In 2025 Unplugged said it had made the bootloader unlockable without voiding the warranty and published the phone's kernel source and parts of UnpluggedOS on GitHub. [1][2][5][9]
What's different
- Privacy tools built in: an on-device firewall that blocks third-party trackers and shows which apps tried, a background no-logs VPN, encrypted cloud storage, an antivirus app and a Privacy Center app for privacy settings. - In-App DMZ: Unplugged says this works inside apps to govern what data they send and which files they load. - Hardware buttons: a battery-disconnect button and a customizable privacy button. - IP53 dust and splash protection; microSD up to 1 TB. [1][3][5]
History
Unplugged says the UP Phone went into full production in May 2024, running LibertOS. In August 2025 the company relaunched it under new CEO Joe Weil with a refreshed operating system, now called UnpluggedOS, and a redesigned interface, and in September 2025 it announced the next wave of phones with software version 2.0.93. [2][3][6][10]
Questions people ask
Does the UP Phone work on Verizon?
No. Unplugged says it is not certified on Verizon or Verizon-based MVNOs; it works on AT&T, T-Mobile and their MVNOs. [1]
How much does the UP Phone cost?
$989 on unplugged.com as of Oct. 15, 2026, with free standard shipping in the US. [1]
Can the UP Phone run Google Play apps?
It has no Google Play Store or Google services. Apps come from Unplugged's App Center, which uses a compatibility layer; Unplugged says external apps may have limited compatibility. [4]
Sources (13)
- UP Phone | Privacy-First Smartphone with Kill-Switch, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Open Sourcing Unplugged Kernel and Antivirus, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Unplugged Relaunches UP Phone under New CEO with a Powerful Privacy System and All-New Experience, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Is the UP Phone De-Googled?, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Getting Started with Your UP Phone, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Unplugged Ships Next Wave of UP Phones, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Compatible Carriers, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- How to Activate an eSIM on the UP Phone, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Unplugged Doubles Down on Open Source, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- The Unplugged Phone: Inside LibertOS Operating System, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Unplugged UP Phone 256GB (Unlocked) Privacy Gray, Best Buy store listing. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Specifications, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Privacy You Can See | UP Phone Features – Independent Raxis, Unplugged. Checked October 15, 2026.