After a decade of reviewing phones, I really miss metal backs

I’ve been reviewing Android phones for well over a decade now, and I’ve seen some huge leaps in performance, battery life, charging speeds, cameras, and more. There are a few things I miss about the classics, though, including microSD card slots and removable batteries. However, there’s something else I miss about older phones.

I’m really pining for handsets with metal backs, and I seriously wish we saw more devices taking this approach. Instead, today’s phones usually use glass or plastic. Here’s why a metal frame alone isn’t enough for me in 2026.

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