Why smartphone makers stopped using removable batteries, and why they're making a comeback - Engadget

The ability to replace my phone's battery? Yes, please. There was a time when replacing a phone's battery was as easy as popping the back cover off and lifting the battery from its slot with your fingernail. While you can still find a few devices with easily replaceable batteries these days, the design isn't anywhere near mainstream anymore. They're pretty much obsolete, and there are many reasons why they are, which we'll get to later. But a soon-to-be-implemented European Union regulation could bring some form of them back in the near future. One model you can still get in 2026 is the Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro, a military-grade rugged phone with an easily swappable 4,350mAh battery. It was built for tough environments, and the idea is that you can replace its battery if you lose power while hiking or mountain climbing. Another model you can get today with an easily replaceable battery is the Fairphone 6. It's built a bit differently than the earlier models in the series, which come with back covers you can easily take off. It uses components that make it slimmer, but that also means its battery is held in place with five screws. The battery is still pretty easy to replace, but