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

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 it takes a bit more effort now.

It's a combination of several factors, including people's preference for thinner designs. Phones with removable batteries require certain parts and mechanisms, like screws and clips, that typically make them thicker. Companies also have more freedom to squeeze components into a thinner body in creative ways if they don't have to think about how to position a battery slot so that it's easily accessible.

In addition, people now prefer premium materials like glass and aluminum for their handhelds. Glass, especially, may be too fragile for a removable back panel. The Fairphone 6's body and back panel are made of plastic. The Galaxy XCover 7 Pro's is, as well — it's even pretty flexible. Samsung's Galaxy S5, another model with a removable battery released in 2014, also has a plastic chassis.

Most modern phones have sealed bodies to protect them from dust and water, as well. The iPhone 17 series, for instance, has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating and can remain submerged in 19-foot-deep water for 30 minutes. Removable back covers could pop out when dropped or mishandled, making phones more vulnerable to water and dust.

However, it's not entirely impossible for a phone to have a removable back cover and battery and still be water-resistant: The Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro, for example, has an IP68 rating. Samsung told GSM Arena that it put seals on different parts of the phone, such as the camera, to protect its components. The phone's back cover also has gaskets that align with the SIM and the battery slots to make sure they're protected.

Finally, batteries that are easy to remove and replace could make people hold on to their devices longer instead of upgrading more frequently. And let's just say companies wouldn't love that.