7 old Android phone features today’s flagships still can’t replace
7 old Android phone features today’s flagships still can’t replace
https://www.makeuseof.com/old-android-phone-features-flagships-cant-replace/
Publish Date: 2026-06-20 12:00:00
Source Domain: www.makeuseof.com
Over the years, Android makers, often inspired by what Apple did with its iPhone, have removed several features from their phones. Some removals, like removable batteries, were necessary to get larger capacity, thinner profiles, and water resistance. Then there are unnecessary casualties like the removal of headphone jacks, but you can at least use a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter, so all is not lost.
Among these, there are features that were useful and practical yet kept vanishing from newer iterations of Android phones. What actually gets me is that a $95 budget phone still has features that my $1,000 flagship doesn’t. Controlling your TV from your phone, not having to pay extra for more storage, or squeezing your phone to launch an assistant are just a few of the things I wish today’s flagships would bring back.
Rear-mounted fingerprint scanners
Fast, accurate, and right where your finger lands
Justin Duino / MakeUseOfCredit: Justin Duino / MakeUseOf
In-display fingerprint scanners are cool, and Android makers pioneered them. However, they are neither as accurate nor as fast as the physical scanners that came before them. I still get failed reads on my phone’s in-display sensor when my fingers are slightly damp (I’ve got sweaty palms). I’ve configured my lock screen security with multiple methods, including face unlock, but none of them feels as seamless as a rear fingerprint sensor did.
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