I want a flagship phone I can use without a case

I clearly remember the first time I held the HTC One M7 in my hand. The sleek aluminum case felt cool, like it had just come out of a refrigerator. It was a good weight so it felt like I had a device in hand that cost twice as much as it actually was. I had a lot of thoughts then, but the last thing that crossed my mind was to put the phone in a pocket. It was made of metal!

I had a similar feeling the first time I used a OnePlus One. This sandstone ridge was almost like a built-in suitcase. When you hold it down, you feel like it will stick to your hand even if you loosen it completely. I’ve never owned a case for my OnePlus One.

Eventually, however, these designs disappeared. As wireless charging became more prevalent, manufacturers had to forego metal structures and other alternative solutions. Apple went all-in on glass for the iPhone 4, and Android OEMs followed very quickly. In 2020 there will not be a single flagship smartphone from bonafide that does not contain a “glass sandwich” design.

Connected: The best Android phones you can buy right now

As many people reading this will agree, using a glass sandwich phone without some type of case is unfathomable. Even if you’re not afraid of dropping it and breaking the glass all over the place, the smoothness of the glass makes it uncomfortable to hold.

I really miss the days when I let my phone go naked and free.

Sophie’s choice

People who follow the smartphone industry religiously will be quick to point out that there are many 2020 devices without a glass back. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 has a plastic back, just like the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. The Google Pixel 4a and its 5G sibling also have plastic backs. The Google Pixel 5 even has an odd aluminum / plastic hybrid back that allows for wireless charging.

Connected: Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Which is Better?

However, you will find that most of these phones are mid-rangers. The Samsung phones are watered down versions of flagships. The Xiaomi BlackShark 3 series is the closest thing to a flagship package launched this year without a glass bottom. These phones have aluminum backs and high-end specifications. But guess what? They’re not officially available in the US (and have pretty mediocre camera systems).

In other words, I have a tough decision to make: do I want a flagship-quality smartphone that lives in a suitcase at all times, or do I want to live a case-less life with a watered down flagship?

To be honest, I think this decision sucks. I want my cake and should eat it too. I want a flagship quality phone that I can use without a pocket. Why is it so hard to find?

I have the taste for it now

A few weeks ago, I used the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE as my daily driver for a few days to give a second opinion on our review. I knew I would only have the phone for about three days, and Samsung didn’t send us cases with our test devices. This forced me to use the phone without a bag. Since the back of the device is made of plastic, it felt natural anyway.

Connected: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE rating second opinion: So close to being a OnePlus killer

When I finished with the Galaxy S20 FE and returned to my beloved OnePlus 7 Pro, I was disappointed. My 7 Pro always lives in a sandstone bumper case (thanks, OnePlus for keeping the sandstone design alive, if only in case shape). I wish I could have removed the case and used the 7 Pro as is.

I tried it, but I just couldn’t keep it up. Every time I went to the phone I was nervous that it would slip right out of my hand because my back is so slippery. Pulling the phone out of the pocket was also more difficult than on the Galaxy S20 FE because it is difficult to get a good grip on (the curved display sides don’t help here). Without this case, it just wasn’t ideal for everyday use.

Now that I’ve spent a few days using a pocket-free phone, I am desperate to continue using it.

Of course, there’s the option to forego a case and get a custom skin instead. Skins are vinyl stickers that are precisely tailored to the specifications of your phone. The stickers give your phone more grip and an individual look that you can really design yourself. However, they still put stickers on your device (which never looks as good as you imagine). They also do not offer any real protection against broken glass drops.

Interestingly, the case of my 7 Pro wasn’t particularly important to me before using the Galaxy S20 FE. Now, however, I think about it several times a day. I am thinking of the beautiful Nebula Blue color that OnePlus designed and how it shifts in different lighting conditions. I think about how I can never see because this damn case is on all the time.

The Pixel 5 proves it doesn’t have to be that way

The aforementioned Google Pixel 5 is not a flagship. It doesn’t have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, just has two rear camera lenses, and keeps it updated with a fingerprint sensor on the back. However, the Pixel 5 has a perfectly grippy back that’s not made of glass.

Google was able to create a phone that could be used by people without a case while wireless charging (and even wireless charging) was possible. This phone is proof that nothing is stopping smartphone OEMs from abandoning the glass sandwich trope. For some reason they just don’t bother to try.

See also: The Best Phone Case Brands: Our Guide to Choosing a Case for Your Phone

I can only hope that Google will set the example here and that other OEMs will follow suit. I know if I were to decide between a Pixel 5 and a comparable glass-backed phone (like the OnePlus Nord, for example), I’d definitely lean towards the Pixel 5 because of its build materials. I am sure there are many people out there who would read this and do the same.

Hear my plea, smartphone OEMs: we’re so sick of the glass sandwich design. Get Innovative. Do something unique. Don’t spend thousands of hours designing your beautiful phones so that they can be wrapped in ugly black rubber sheeting for the rest of their lives.