If you want to purchase a stylish phone, then check out our list of best smartphones with metal body.
For a long time, plastic was used as the main building material for smartphones. It was only a couple of years ago when the smartphone manufacturers decided to turn to some other materials like glass and metal. It also isn’t strange now to see the manufacturers combining the materials. All of these materials have some advantages and disadvantages, but metal seems like a nice change after all those cheap plastic bodies we saw on smartphones in the past. Are smartphones with the metal body better than ones made of plastic or glass? Well, depends on who you ask.
d8nn / Shutterstock.com
Those who prefer smartphones built with metal body say that they look better and have a nice feel when held. Metal allows manufacturers to think outside the box with the design of the phone, creating a visually appealing piece of technology. Metal is also a better conductor of heat than glass or plastic and will make sure the smartphone doesn’t overheat often. On the other side, there are some negative things that will come alongside the smartphone’s metal body. You won’t have a clear reception like you would have with a plastic body smartphone. Also, the metal body of the smartphone is more prone to damage and the dents, scratches and other marks will be more visible. You would have to be more careful. Another thing that doesn’t favor these smartphones is that metal is more expensive and will result in the smartphone being pricier as well. Still, metal is definitely better than using glass as the material to manufacture phones. If you drop your glass body smartphone you’ll end up collecting the pieces of your precious phone. Also, there are certain limitations when it comes to design. If you don’t care about the material of your phone, but you want it to support Nano SIM card, check out our list of Best Smartphones with Nano SIM Card Slots.
In order to create our list of best smartphones with metal body, we turned to Phone Arena and used their database to single out all the smartphones with a metal body. Then we decided to award points to each smartphone according to their specifications in terms of processor, RAM, and storage. Also, we gave extra points for all the smartphones that had better resolution than 1080 x 1920 pixels and had rear and front cameras combos greater than 12MP – 8MP. After summing everything up into our IM Score, we ended up with a definitive list of best smartphones with metal body. Note that when it came to having different variations and upgrades of the same model, we took into consideration the one with the best specifications. So, let’s take a look at it.
10. ZTE Nubia Z11 Max
IM Score: 12
We start our list with one big phone. Nubia Z11 Max has a 6.0 inches screen and weighs 185 g (6.53 Oz). Released in 2016, the smartphone has and Octa-core processor paired with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. It offers 2 SIM slots, one which can be used as a memory card slot. The primary camera packs 16MP and offers good quality photos but the front one of 5MP isn’t something that will amaze you. Although Nubia Z11 Max presents a good buy for the price, its software performance ruins the overall feel.
9. Xiaomi Mi Max
IM Score: 12
Bigger and heavier than Nubia Z11 Max, Xiaomi’s Mi Max, next on the list of best smartphones with metal body has a 6.44 inches screen and weighs 203g (7.16 Oz). There are plenty of different versions of the phablet to opt for. First, you can pick between Hexa-core and Octa – Core processor. Then you get 3GB of RAM and are able to choose between 32GB and 64GB of storage. For those still wanting more, there is a Prime model that packs 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. When it comes to cameras, the rear one of 16MP isn’t bad, but front 5MP snapper won’t give you any joy.
8. Lenovo P2
IM Score: 12
If you want a phone with a good battery life, then this entry on our list of best smartphones with a metal body is one to look for. Already being called “one of the most impressive phones in the recent period”, Lenovo P2 has gathered quite an army of admirers. It has 5.5 inches glass and weighs 177 g (6.24 Oz), having an Octa – core processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. If this is too much, you can get the 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage version. Its 13MP rear and 5MP cameras are labeled as average at best. But, the 5,100mAh battery inside the phone will make everything better. It can last for days and will bring you back in the time when you didn’t have to recharge your phone all the time.
7. Gionee A1
IM Score: 13
You shouldn’t expect anything out of this world from Gionee A1, but if you want a good smartphone for a more than a reasonable price, give it a strong consideration. Like all the smartphones on the list, it looks really good and feels like a premium phone rather than a mid-range smartphone that Gionee A1 actually is. One of its highlights is the selfie 16MP camera accompanied by 13MP rear one. Weighing 182 g (6.42 Oz) and having s 5.5 inches display, the A1 model also bringd to the table Octa-core processor, 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. You’ll also get a dual SIM capability and fingerprint scanner as a part of the package.
6. Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom
IM Score: 13
Asus has made an interesting approach with the Zenfone 3 Zoom, next on our list of best smartphones with metal body. Its body is mainly made of metal, but there is plastic around the edges, which makes the smartphone more resistible to beating. With Zenfone 3 Zoom model that weighs 170 g (6.00 Oz), you get s 5.5 inches display, Octa – core processor, 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. Note that there is a version with 3GB of RAM that can be purchased in the United States. The reason why the smartphone presents a good buy is its low price combined with good specifications and excellent camera and battery performance. Compared to other smartphones in this price range, Zenfone 3 Zoom’s Dual 12MP rear and 13MP front cameras are the best you will be able to find.
5. Samsung C5 Pro
IM Score: 13
Although mainly aimed at markets in China and India, you can still get Samsung C5 Pro via Amazon in the United States as well. It looks like a smartphone you wouldn’t mind owning. It has a 5.2 inches display and is incredibly light weighing 145 g (5.11 Oz). Smartphone packs Octa – core processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The interesting thing is that you will get similar 16MP cameras on both rear and front.
4. Oppo F3 Plus
IM Score: 13
Having 6.0 inches display, Oppo F3 Plus, that ranked 4th on the list of best smartphones with metal body, joins the other big phones on our list of best smartphones with a metal body. F3 Plus big selling point, like in Gionee A1 is the front facing camera. Alongside 16MP rear camera, Oppo managed to put Dual 16MP + 8MP cameras in front. This combination results in amazing selfies, so the Instagram can be conquered lot easier. Now, F3 Plus isn’t shy in other departments as well, having an Octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
3. Huawei Honor 8 Pro
IM Score: 14
I really like Honor 8 Pro, since it doesn’t just look good, but it is also thin while not compensating on the battery. Also, Huawei was one of the first manufacturers that started using metal to build their smartphones. Having 5.7 inches display with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution, Huawei Honor 8 Pro weighs 184 g (6.49 Oz) and offers 4000 mAh battery, Octa-core processor and 64GB of RAM. There is an option to choose between 4 and 6GB of RAM. The only remarks for the smartphone could be not top of the class Dual 12MP rear and 8MP front cameras.
2. Samsung C9 Pro
IM Score: 15
Next on the list of best smartphones with metal body we have is one powerful phone that will make sure you get your money’s worth, at least now. Upon its initial release in October 2016, it was rather expensive compared to its competitors. It has a slick design, beautiful 6.0 inches display and weighs 189 g (6.67 Oz). Under the hood, there is plenty of everything including Octa-core processor, 64GB of RAM and 6GB of storage. The cameras are nothing shorter than great and both rear and front one pack 16MP.
1. Huawei Mate 9 Pro
IM Score: 16
Entering the market at the beginning of 2017, the last entry on our list of best smartphones with metal body was even called the “best Android phone” at the moment by some reviewers. It is surprisingly light, weighing at 169 g (5.96 Oz) while having a 5.5 inches display with a great resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels. It gets better. In case you aren’t demanding there is a version with Octa-core processor, 64GB of RAM and 4GB of storage. In the opposite case, Huawei prepared a version with 128GB of storage capacity and 6GB of RAM. Mate 9 Pro’s Dual 20 MP +12 MP and 8MP front cameras fit right into the description of a great phone. Add to all of this a smart and beautiful design, with fast performance accompanied with a good battery life and you have a winner.
