7 Best Phones You Can’t Buy in the US: A Roundup
Wired has compiled a list of seven outstanding smartphones that are not officially available in the US market, including foldable models and devices with unique camera systems.
Tech publication Wired has rounded up seven smartphones that are available internationally but cannot be officially purchased in the United States. The list includes flagship foldables, innovative designs, and cameras tailored for photography enthusiasts.
Foldable Flagships
The Oppo Find N6 ($1,959) is a slim and light folding phone with an 8.12-inch display. While a crease is still noticeable, it is imperceptible when the screen is on. It features a 200 MP main camera, a 50 MP telephoto, and a 50 MP ultrawide. Performance is excellent with all-day battery life. However, the phone will not be officially released in the West and must be imported.
Innovative Design and Cameras
The Infinix Note 60 Ultra ($750) was designed with Pininfarina, known for iconic Ferrari and Maserati cars. It has a distinct curved glass section over the camera module that houses a small matrix display. The box includes a car-shaped wireless charger. Specs are solid except for the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultimate chipset, which is not truly “Ultra.” Availability is very limited.
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max ($1,033) stands out with a second smaller screen on the back that encircles the camera lenses. This auxiliary display can be used for selfie preview, music controls, custom themes, and even virtual pets. A retro gaming case allows playing Angry Birds on it. Both the Pro Max and Pro have not been officially released outside of China.
For Photography Fans
The Oppo Find X9 Pro (£1,099) features a 200 MP telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom. The detachable Hasselblad Teleconverter Kit adds another 3.28X zoom. All four cameras support 4K video at 60 fps with HDR. The 7,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery lasts up to two days.
Budget and Mid-Range Options
The Xiaomi Poco F8 Ultra (£749) offers a denim finish, Bose-tuned speakers, a 6.9-inch display, and a 6,500 mAh battery. It runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with generous RAM and storage, and has three 50 MP lenses. The smaller F8 Pro (£549) is an even better bargain.
Honor Magic 7 Pro ($990) is a 2025 flagship with a triple camera, 6.8-inch screen, IP68/IP69 rating, and seven years of Android updates. Downsides include a large front camera cutout and sometimes heavy-handed processing, with the ultrawide lagging behind the other lenses.
Honor 400 Pro ($715) packs a 200 MP main shooter, 50 MP telephoto, 12 MP ultrawide, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, IP68/69, 5,300 mAh battery, and up to six years of Android updates.
Models to Avoid
Wired suggests avoiding the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite due to poor camera and bloatware, Nubia Z80 Ultra for weak software and only three years of security updates, Oppo Reno 13 Pro 5G as overpriced compared to its predecessor, Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 because of a pronounced crease and Chinese software issues, and Realme GT7 Pro for its 8 MP ultrawide and lack of wireless charging.
Overall, these phones offer compelling alternatives but require importing and some compromises.
