A portable electronic device includes a lower housing and an upper housing coupled to the lower housing and slidable relative thereto between closed and open positions. The upper housing includes a cover plate affixed to a rear of the upper housing. The cover plate may conceal at least one electrical connector housed in the upper housing, and may be removable to allow access to at least a portion of the at least one electrical connector. The cover plate may be configured to maintain the lower and upper housings in a generally uniform spaced apart relationship as the upper housing moves between the closed and open positions.