9 Best Phones with Removable Battery

It gets more and more difficult to find smartphones with remove able batteries as manufacturers work to create slimmer phones that are more water and dust resistant. Engineers also know that sealed batteries mean the phone is cheaper to build and less likely to fail from the wear of taking a battery in and out repeatedly as many consumers do . By building phones with sealed batteries, it means the battery contacts can be put permanently in place, so they are no longer at risk of failing. With this in mind, you may not be able to buy a smartphone that is a brand new release if you are looking for a phone with a remove able battery. However,  you can find fairly new ones that do have removea ble batteries and are still considered top of the line.

1LG V20 64GB H918 (Best Overall)

 

LG continues to offer some phones that have removable batteries and although released in 2016, this V20 phone holds up to the challenge. It is a strong product that offers 64GB of storage and is one of the few phones that still has a headphone jack. Its 5.7” display has a 2440×1440 resolution for a good look. It works on a quad-core Snapdragon 820 SoC with 4MB of RAM and 32/64GB of extra storage should you want it. Its OS is the Android 7.0 Nougat. It has a quality camera that is 16MP rear-facing that also offers a 120-degree wide-angle lens. The V20 has a 3200 mAh battery that holds a good charge along with a USB Type C port and a fingerprint scanner. It’s a reasonable price for a solid phone in the cell phone market.

What the Reviews are Saying

Considering this phone was released in 2016, reviews are generally positive. People who are looking for phones with removable batteries appreciate the quality of this phone considering its older design and lower price. They praise the camera and its sturdy build, along with its ability to text, talk and email. The problem noted by reviewers is finding a new L20 versus refurbished one. There are still some new in box ones available, but make sure to read the fine print when purchasing to make sure you get new rather than used.

 

2Blackberry Z10

 

If you have a preference for Blackberry than this is one of their best ones and it comes with a removable battery. Its price has dropped as it becomes an older model.  It has a 4.2” touchscreen working on the Blackberry 10 OS. The camera is 8MP with autofocus and flash coupled with a 2MP front camera. The processor is a dual-core 1.5GHz Krait processor with Qualcomm MSM806 Snapdragon accompanying it. It has 16GB internal storage with 2GB RAM and extra storage with a microSD

What Reviews Are Saying

Buyers loved this phone complaining that they were sorry Blackberry stopped making such quality products. Solid phone with good technology considering its age. The only problems came with the carriers and the fact that some Blackberry apps have been discontinued.

 

3Motorola Moto G5

 

This Motorola phone is one of the newer options of phones with a removable battery. It was only launched a year ago. Its main feature is a 2800 mAh removable battery that will last a full day. Its screen is fairly large at 5” and it works on a 1.4GHz Snapdragon 430 SoC with 2 or 3GB of RAM. You can also add either 16 or 32GB of storage as needed. The G5 has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front one with the Android 7.0 Nougat OS. This 7.0 should update to 8.0 when possible. The G5 also has a fingerprint scanner on the front for increased security and easy personal access. This phone is considered a budget phone but has some features such as the scanner that put it at the top end.

What the Reviews are Saying

People who purchased this phone find it a “high-end” budget phone. It doesn’t cost a lot but comes with features that make more than a simple smartphone. There is praise for the quality of the display and its upgradeable memory. The fact that it has a fingerprint reader is also a plus. As with any negative reviews, many revolve around customer service versus the actual phone. Trying to get support is often problematic. The other complaint is that it doesn’t work for all carriers. This note is often found in the description so make sure to read all the details to avoid having to return it when it doesn’t hook up.

 

4Motorola E5 Play

 

Not far behind the Motorola G5, is the E5 Play. This phone is another budget phone with higher-end features. It has a 1.4GHz processor of Snapdragon 425 or 427 with 2GB of RAM that can be increased with a 128 micro SD. Its camera is a rear 8MP with flash and the front is 5MP. It has a fingerprint sensor on the back for better security. Its 5.3” HD display is of good quality and is backed up with quality audio and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It has 2 MB of RAM but this can be expanded easily with a 128GB microSD. It has a large 2800mAh removable battery to offer good power.  The OS is Android 8.0 Oreo and offers good power for a budget phone.

What the Reviews are Saying

Once again reviewers find this phone good for the price. The phone works as stated. People are generally happy with the quality of the phone including the camera. It is light and easy to use as well as secure. Some people who purchased the phone didn’t realize they had purchased the international version which has some different specs. That being said the phone still worked fine but people needed to be aware when ordering accessories. Once again it is suggested people read the small print before ordering so they know what version they are purchasing and what carriers it will work with.

 

5Galaxy Xcover 4

 

Galaxy continues to offer quality phones with removable batteries for a good price. This Xcover 4 is a sturdy phone that offers a little more drop protection than most. The 2800 mAh removable battery is great for when you aren’t around a charger. This phone was specifically designed for being out and about the outdoors or work. It can handle some harsher environments than an average phone. It has a 5” HD IPS LCD touchscreen, an Exynos 7570 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Its OS is the Android 7.0 Nougat.

What Reviews are Saying

The Xcover is liked by many of its purchasers. Its another offering by Samsung that keeps the price down while offering a solid camera with basic functions including a removable battery.  While this phone is a little older in design, it offers a touchscreen and a good camera. As with many the budget phones, they don’t work with all carriers, especially in the US. Most international versions will state that in the specifications so make sure to read before purchasing to assure it will work with your carrier.

 

6LG K8

 

The LG K8 is a sturdy mid-budget phone. It isn’t high end but it will do what you want it to. It’s not a phone for people who need speed for games. It has a Snapdragon 425 processor with 2GB of RAM and another 16GB of storage. Its 8MP camera is adequate for basic pictures and certainly can document what you need. The battery is removable so you can change them easily should you not have a charger handy. It runs Android 7.1.2 Nougat as its OS.

What Reviews are Saying

While purchasers acknowledge that this LG phone is not as quick as the V20, they like it for the capabilities it has. They know that if you are buying a budget phone you aren’t going to get all the bells and whistles you would with a more expensive one. However, the fact that it is lightweight, has a good camera and removable battery for a good price makes it worthwhile. Be aware that the K8 does not work with all carriers and can be glitchy if used internationally.

 

7Nokia 1 (Best Value)

 

Nokia puts this good budget phone forward as one of the original cellphone producers. The Nokia 1 won’t ruin your budget and will offer features that will make it a useful smartphone. While the phone itself isn’t overly powerful, it is flexible and offers 1GB but with the ability to expand it to 128GB with a microSD. The camera is 5MP and has an LED flash with a front camera that is 2MB that allowing for selfies and video chat. It has a 4.5” LCD screen and a durable shell with a 2150mAh removable battery. It uses 4G and has a headphone jack. Its OS is up to date with Android 8.1 Oreo – go Edition with talk times up to 9 hours.

What Reviews are Saying

Most people who reviewed the Nokia 1 were happy with the price considering what the phone itself offered. They realize that this is a budget phone and judged it as such. They were happy with basic features that allowed them to email, text, take pictures, and make phone calls.  People also liked it as the first phone for new young cell users. There was the odd complaint of repeatedly updating so the phone lagged and also about carriers. Once again checking what cell service it will work with before buying it helpful.

 

8Samsung Galaxy J7 (Premium Pick)

 

While Samsung has put out successors to this particular phone, the 2016 version is the one with a removable battery. While it’s not the cheapest phone on the market, it has many Samsung features other phones don’t. It comes with a 5.5” HD Super AMOLED display with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage that is expandable and a 13MP rear camera, and a 5MP front camera. While its OS is Android 6.0 Marshmallow it can be upgraded to Nougat once you have the phone and comes with Snapdragon 617 octa-core chipset. The J7 has the benefit of a large battery at 3300 mAh that is removable.

What Reviews are Saying

People who purchased this J7 phone loved it for both national and international use. The quality screen, camera, and battery were great for a cheaper phone. It’s a great phone if you are looking for smartphone quality with removable battery at a good price. The main complaint was in regard to the sound quality. Even people who liked the phone said the volume level was quite low and sometimes made hearing difficult.

 

9Samsung Galaxy S5

 

This is an older Samsung Galaxy phone that is one of the last Samsungs with a removable battery. While they are a little difficult to find new, there are some along with many refurbished ones on the market. If new, this smartphone offers water resistance along with other solid Samsung features. It has a 5.1” HD Super AMOLED screen with a Snapdragon 801 SoC quad-core. It has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage that can be expanded. Its rear camera is 16MP and the front 2MP. Its OS is older than the Android 4.4 KitKat but can be upgraded to Nougat. The 2800 mAh is a good-sized removable battery.

What Reviews are Saying

Reviewers of the S5 enjoy it for the solid smartphone it is. One of the last with a removable battery that has good Samsung capabilities. They also note it is one of the last phones with an SD card slot. The screen was clear and the basic applications worked well. The main criticism reviewers had was about the camera. They found that it was glitchy at times and didn’t always live up to their expectations. However seeing as it’s an older series phone, the camera was not the most important feature most wanted.

 

 

Features to Look for in a Phone with Removable Battery

Features in a phone with remove able battery are a little different than what you would look for in a phone with a built-in power source. So many of the phones in 2019 don’t have easily accessible batteries meaning that to find one you may have to give up some of the functionality of the newer phones as you will be looking at either budget models or older version smartphones.

The first feature is the removable battery. You should see the strength of it and if you can purchase extra ones. Many people like the removable power source so they can have two charged and when one dies the second one is ready to go. This is especially great if you know you aren’t going to be near a charger any time soon.

The second feature is the networks the phones will work on. This is important as some of the phones may be older versions, unlocked or refurbished. Many of the reviews state that a lot of these phones with removable batteries many not work on all networks so make sure to read the small print.

The other features to look at would be the applications available on the phone. What do you want it to be able to do? While a removable battery is fine, there are different levels of smartphones available for different costs. If you want one with more bells and whistles then it will probably cost more than just the ones that text, email and call. Be aware of what each phone offers and what will offer you the best bang for your buck.

Differences Between Phones with Removeable Batteries

The main difference that will come up when looking at phones with renewable batteries is the type of phone itself. You will never find an Apple product but LG, Samsung and Motorola have all had phones in the marketplace that are not only quality phones but some are new to the market offering a longer tech life to the buyer.

The main differences you will find are in battery strength, processors, screens, and Operating Systems. Each one will need to be assessed on what you prefer. You will also have to look at durability, new or refurbished, and what you actually want to use it for. Is it for home or travel? Is it for pictures or texting and email? There are lots of differences in each phone so it’s best to do your research to find out what is the best fit for you and your lifestyle.

FAQS When Choosing a Phone with Removable Battery

Do I have to buy a phone that is older?

This depends completely on what you would like the phone for. There are newer phones offered by Motorola and Nokia that may meet your needs and be newer than one that is older but has a few more features. It is a balance of pros and cons of each phone and whether you can find brand new versus refurbished. So you don’t have to buy one that’s older to get a removable battery but it might be an older one that has all the features you want.

Does it matter what carrier I’m with?

Yes, yes, yes. Many people who prefer phones that have removable batteries like them as they can swap out batteries when they drain. Again, this means there is the possibility of having a refurbished or older phone. It also means you may end up purchasing an international model which is different from a US model. Knowing this is important as many of these types of phones don’t hook up to all carriers. It’s important to check before you purchase.

Do I really need a phone with a removable battery?

This completely depends on what you want the phone for. Many like the removable battery as it allows swap-outs when one dies along with an ability to change the battery without having to go to a repair shop. However, if you think your phone needs to be waterproof or you will cause wear and tear on the battery house then you may want to rethink going with the removable option. Constantly removing the battery can cause wear on the prongs and it also breaks any water type seal so assess what your priority is for use of the phone and then decide what type of battery you should be looking at.