Best Android phone with removable battery

Removable batteries are a rare sight these days, especially when looking at Android phones. Almost every single Android phone out there has a fully sealed cell, so when it does need replacement, you have to go into an authorized repair shop to have it changed. You could try to change it yourself using special tools, but that requires in-depth knowledge and usually voids your phone's warranty. Thus, acquiring the best Android phone with a removable battery simplifies things.

The Fairphone 6 is easily the best contender for the position of the best Android phone with a removable battery. Apart from easily replacing the battery, you can also swap out other components when the time comes to replace it, and you can repair it yourself. For U.S. folks, only the de-Googled version of the Fairphone 6 is available. We have a few other good options with a removable battery if you wish to spend less or are looking for a different form factor.

Namerah Saud Fatmi

Namerah enjoys geeking out over accessories, gadgets, and all sorts of smart knickknacks. After writing about consumer tech for nearly a decade, she has become an expert in the Android accessories space. She spends her free time guzzling coffee, writing some more, casual gaming, and cuddling with her furry best friends.

At a glance

Best overall

At long last, the Fairphone 6 is available in the U.S. and Canada via Murena. However, North American residents can only purchase the de-Googled version of the device for $839. Those situated in Europe, however, can easily purchase the Android variant as well as the de-Googled version.

The Fairphone 6 is a fantastic modular phone that is easily upgradeable and repairable. You even get a full kit with tools when purchasing the phone, allowing you to swap out bits and pieces or fix broken parts yourself with minimum effort.

The Fairphone 6 comes with a neat set of specs, featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, 8GB RAM, 256GB expandable storage, stereo speakers, a 4,415mAh battery, 15W wired charging, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and dual-SIM support. Fairphone promises seven OS updates and eight years of security updates, along with a five-year warranty.

Users are guaranteed eight years of OS updates, meaning the Fairphone 6 will be good until 2033. It's even water resistant, thanks to an official IP55 certification and meets the MIL-810H military standard of drop-proofing. At a starting price of €599 (~$694), it really doesn't get much better than this.

Best for U.S.

The HMD Skyline might not be one of the best cheap Android phones, but it certainly is among the most unique offerings in the price segment. Most importantly, it's one of the few good Android phones with a removable battery that can be easily purchased in the United States. You can buy it directly off HMD's website or even via retailers like Amazon and Target. The main selling point of the HMD Skyline is that it can be effortlessly opened up and serviced by anyone, and this includes replacing the battery.

In our experience, the HMD Skyline reminded us of a cross between the Nokia N9 and one of the later Lumia models. HMD has given it pretty decent set of specs too, when you consider many of the other options featured on this list. It runs a slightly customized version of Android 14 and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC. You also get a choice between 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of onboard storage.

The rest of the specs of the HMD Skyline are notable as well. It has a 6.55-inch Full-HD p-OLED panel, a triple-lens rear camera setup which includes a telephoto unit, and a sizable 4,600mAh battery with support for 15W Qi2 wireless charging. HMD sells the Skyline unlocked in the U.S. and the company claims that it works with most carriers, with the exception of Verizon and all MVNOs that use its network.

Best rugged

Samsung updated its rugged lineup with the Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro in April 2025. The Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro is a heavy-duty Android phone that targets industry professionals like scientists and engineers due to its ultra-robust build quality. It also happens to be one of the best rugged Android phones you can buy.

The Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro has the same upper-mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip as the Fairphone 6 and the Nothing Phone 3a. You get Android 15 out of the box and seven guaranteed platform updates. Samsung also promises seven years of security updates for the Galaxy XCover7 Pro. The phone has a 4,350mAh removable battery paired with 15W wired charging.

As a rugged phone by design, the Galaxy XCover7 Pro boasts IP68 water and dustproofing as well as military-grade resistance to extreme temperatures. You can even use the touchscreen with the gloves on. The one caveat is that the 15W wired charging speed is insanely slow.

Best budget

You may or may not have heard of BLU. It's primarily a budget brand catering to the North American region with most of its devices priced under $200. If you're on the hunt for something cheap with a removable battery, the BLU G33 is a decent option.

The BLU G33 has plenty to offer for the price. There are essential accessories like a case and charger included in the box. The device runs Android 13, you get expandable storage, and there are also practical extras like a fingerprint sensor and face unlock included in the mix.

Unfortunately, the BLU G33 doesn't work on all U.S. carriers. Still, if you're on a compatible plan and want to have a removable battery in a cheap Android phone, the BLU G33 can be a fairly good pick.

Best flip

Before smartphones took over the world, feature phones (often called dumb phones as well) used to be incredibly popular. If you're still attracted by the flip form factor but aren't willing to spend thousands of dollars on a modern foldable, the Cat S22 Flip could be an interesting choice for you. However, do note that the company that used to make this phone has shut down, so it might be a bit tricky to buy this thing.

Still, you get all the basic components of a "smart" Android phone, with the CAT S22 Flip. However, the form factor is markedly different from any other modern Android device seen these days. It's even powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 SoC and has IP68 water and dust resistance. You can expand the storage via a microSD card, and there is USB-C charging included as well.

On the other hand, you get a proper keypad like the days of yore. There are two displays, one primary LCD inside and a smaller secondary black and white panel on the outside. Although the internal display is a touchscreen, its minuscule size means it'll take some time getting used to it. In any case, you're better off using the buttons for navigation.

Best secure

Kyocera's DuraForce PRO 3 is just as strange and out of place in this era as the Cat S22 Flip. Still, for those who need a removable battery, it's one of the best options available out there, and U.S. residents can easily pick it up at Verizon.

The company behind this thing specializes in security and tech, so naturally, you can expect the DuraForce PRO 3 to excel in this department. On top of that, the phone is just as rugged as the Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro, with military-grade durability and resistance to water, dust, heat, and cold. It has a 4,270mAh removable battery, which can go for up to 12 days on conservative use. The phone charges via a USB-C port, has a triple-lens primary camera setup, and even supports wireless charging.

So, there's a lot to love here, but what's the catch? Well, you'll have to spend $900 for one of these, which is incredibly expensive for a phone in this category. It's also quite chunky and hefty, so consider that too when making your decision.

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How to choose

Phones with removable batteries exist — you just have to know where to look

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Android phones with removable batteries are far less commonplace than they once were, but they still very much exist. Overall, the one that we recommend most people go for is the Fairphone 6. Not only is the battery removable, but the entire rig is modular, so you can upgrade, swap, and replace parts whenever you feel like.

Although the Fairphone 6 finally launched in the North American market, you can only pick up the de-Googled variant for a hefty bill. If you're seeking an alternative, we suggest the HMD Skyline. This mid-range phone is just as serviceable as the Fairphone, runs Android 14, and performs alright for the price.

If you need something more powerful, Samsung makes some of the best cheap Android phones in the business. The company offers one of the best and most robust phones with a removable battery, namely the Galaxy XCover7 Pro. The phone features military-grade levels of durability and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, which provides a decent amount of processing power for everyday usage and then some.