9 Everyday Gadgets That Are Better With Replaceable Batteries

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"Batteries not included" used to be a common refrain, but in the age of lithium ion rechargeable batteries, the trend has been to include a built-in battery pack rather than one you source yourself. To make things worse, and as repair site iFixit often laments, gadget makers now tend to favor batteries that are not user-replaceable.

Since lithium batteries wear out over time, that puts an expiry date on your device. In many cases replacing the battery is technically possible, but isn't officially sanctioned. Likewise, if you go to the manufacturer for an official battery replacement, you might be shocked at the asking price. It does feel like an underhanded way to make you buy the new version of something, doesn't it? With certain devices, like smartwatches or wireless buds, it's entirely understandable why batteries cannot be replaced, but it's simply not true for most battery-powered devices we use every day.

Repairability remains a hot topic in the technology world, and governments are starting to take notice. A major example is the EU compelling Nintendo to release a version of its Switch 2 console with a user-replaceable battery, extending the useful life of the gaming console significantly. In some cases, a non-removable battery might not be much of an issue, especially in devices you're likely to upgrade or replace within just a few years. However, we think there are some gadgets that, given the choice, are better if they have removable batteries as part of the official design.

Video game controllers started life as wired devices, with a cable trailing from the controller to your console or PC. Third-party wireless and battery-powered controllers were available for consoles like the PlayStation 2, but it wouldn't be until the advent of the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii that wireless controllers became the default experience out of the box.

Console makers had a choice to make. Would they simply let us use AA batteries in our controllers, or would they put a lithium battery in there? Xbox and Nintendo went the way of the AA battery, while Sony decided to go with an internal battery. Since then, Nintendo has also opted for internal lithium cells. Which is better? It's a matter of opinion, but our view is that having swappable batteries that don't require tricky disassembly of your controller is the better solution overall. 

If your batteries run out partway through a game, simply swap in fresh ones. If you want rechargeable batteries, there are many rechargeable AA battery options on the market. If you want a battery-pack-style lithium battery, third-party manufacturers sell them for Xbox controllers. With an internal battery, you run the risk of damaging your controller while taking it apart, not to mention that lithium batteries can swell up and otherwise be dangerous as they get older. So get a controller that uses AA batteries, buy a pack of Panasonic Eneloop batteries, and never worry about it again.

Like game controllers, TV remotes started out as wired devices, but through the magic of radio waves or infrared light, you could soon change the channel without getting up, or having a cable trail across the floor. Alkaline AA batteries are a great solution for remote controls, because these devices don't use much power, it will likely be years before you need to change them. However, remotes with sealed batteries that are not user-replaceable have now become more common. 

You recharge them with a cable, or in some cases the remote might have a small solar panel on the back, which can trickle charge the power cell from sunlight, but also artificial light sources. You just have to remember to flip it over once in a while. The Apple TV streaming box used to have a remote that worked with a coin cell battery that was easily replaced, but the latest models come with a non-replaceable battery that you'll have to send to Apple for a service, or buy a whole new remote.

This is a problem because products like a new TV or the Apple TV streaming box have long working lifespans. People don't upgrade these as often as, for example, their smartphones. You might be better off buying a generic $10 universal remote that takes AA batteries than trying to save the remote that came with your TV.

Flashlights are the type of equipment that needs to be ready at a moment's notice. Imagine a situation where you grab your flashlight, only to realize that the non-removable lithium battery inside has slowly drained over time. Now, the one time you need some light, you'll have to charge the flashlight first. That's not great in a blackout, but even if you had a suitable power bank handy, that doesn't mean you have the time to wait for the light to charge.

Asking which is best is a good way to start a debate between flashlight enthusiasts (yes, there is such a thing) and the list of pros and cons doesn't favor non-removable batteries. The main benefit of a battery cell that can't be taken out of the flashlight is how compact it allows the flashlight to be. It's what makes those powerful rechargeable keychain flashlights possible. These batteries can also be a larger variety of shapes compared to the various sizes of cylinder most disposable batteries come in.

So if it's a small emergency flashlight that can be left in a charging dock, then there's an argument for a non-removable battery. In most other cases, you probably want to store your flashlight with no batteries in it, and a fresh set right next to it. That way, you can be sure that no alkaline batteries will leak out inside your flashlight, and that you've got a full load of light to go when you need it.

Early wireless mice used a single AA or AAA battery, which would last quite a long time. Weeks, or even months, depending on the model. These days, a typical wireless mouse has a sealed lithium battery. When it's worn out, the mouse is done. Even if you could swap them out, the battery is likely to be a proprietary shape and size.

For popular premium mice like the Logitech MX Master 3S ($99), it is possible to find a replacement battery. But if you take a look at the iFixit guide to replace the MX Master 3S battery, you'll see it involves using heat to soften and remove adhesive multiple times during the process, and then gluing it all back together again. Given that these premium mice are expensive and otherwise robust it's probably worth the hassle, but making that battery pack easily removable would be a strong pro-consumer move.

Funnily enough, it seems that the new trend in gaming mice is hot-swappable battery packs. Wireless mice perform just as well as wired mice for gaming these days, so the extra freedom can be a competitive advantage. Swapping out a battery pack in a few seconds between rounds is therefore a powerful feature. Unfortunately, those mice were often pro-gamer level and expensive, but a basic gaming mouse like the Logitech G305 ($49.99) uses a single AA battery that you can change in a flash.

There are plenty of cool tech gadgets that cyclists love, but it's important to take care of the fundamentals. A helmet is non-negotiable, and if you're riding when it's still dark, you need a good bicycle light. There was a time when that light was powered by a dynamo, but no one likes the pedaling resistance needed to keep the light on.

With the advent of power-efficient LED lights, you'll find many bike lights you can buy have a rechargeable lithium battery inside. Some are sealed, and it's impossible to open the light non-destructively. So once the battery goes, it's over. Others have proprietary battery packs, so you can keep an extra one on you, or charge one at home while you ride with the other. If you have a model that takes regular AA batteries, you have the distinct advantage that every convenience store you pass on your bike will have batteries that work with your bike light.

The downside of bike lights that use AA batteries is that they don't typically get as bright as lithium-powered models. So, it seems the optimal solution would be a light with swappable lithium packs. There's a third option, too. There are high-performance bike lights where the battery and light are not one unit. With an external battery pack, the light can be smaller and more streamlined and, of course, you can own more than one pack. The pack can also be much bigger, making brighter lights with longer running times feasible.

There is perhaps no other device that has been more influenced by the scourge of non-removable batteries than laptops. For most of laptop computer history, the battery was something you could swap out just by pulling a pair of tabs. You could even use your laptop without a battery if you liked. Of course, back then a fully-charged laptop battery might only give you two to three hours of battery life, so it made sense to have easily-swappable designs. You'd have an extra battery in your carry-on luggage just to get through a medium-length flight.

These days, most laptops will get you through at least a standard work day, and hyper-efficient machines like the latest Apple Silicon MacBook Pros can literally run up to 24 hours before needing a recharge. On top of this, modern devices can fast-charge, so overall, there's no real day-to-day need to carry extra batteries.

Unfortunately, even if you avoid the habits that are killing your laptop battery, eventually you'll start seeing the signs of a dying laptop battery. If you're really unlucky, the battery might swell enough to burst the laptop's case open. If you have a laptop with a sealed battery, as is the case with the MacBooks and other "ultrabooks," you don't have much recourse. Most regular laptops today, however, do still let you replace the battery, although it can be dangerous if done by someone who doesn't have the right expertise. 

We're in the middle of a handheld-gaming renaissance of sorts. Handheld gaming PCs are now a solid market segment, both generations of the Nintendo Switch are doing well, and of course, mobile gaming makes more money than all other types of gaming combined. People like to game on the go, or in places that are not at a desk or in front of a TV.

Unfortunately, most modern handhelds do not have user-replaceble batteries, and that's a real pity when you consider how expensive these devices are. It's also a bad combination with how these devices are used. People put hundreds and and even thousands of hours into games on these handhelds. This means battery wear is a real concern. We mentioned earlier that the EU has compelled Nintendo to create a version of the Switch 2 with a user-replaceable battery. Most likely those will turn out to be the Switch 2 models with the longest working lifespan.

It's easy to argue that, in the early days of gaming handhelds, things were better on the battery front. The Game Boy used disposable AA batteries, and later handhelds like the Sony PSP used a proprietary battery, but one that could be swapped out in seconds. Hardware and game preservation matters, and given stories of older handhelds with swollen batteries popping in their owner's drawers, it's clear a removable battery is the ideal for a device that will live much longer than the average smartphone upgrade cycle.

Setting aside all the controversy about unwanted surveillance and data sharing, modern video doorbells are genuinely useful. They let you screen visitors, answer the doorbell when you're away from home, and review footage later if something happened and you need evidence for the police or insurance company. But, a video doorbell with an internet connection needs a fair bit of power. 

Ideally, you should have it wired in so that it receives power from the home. That's not always possible if you're a renter, or if the doorbell location makes running wires to it impractical. Companies like Ring make doorbells that run off batteries, however some of these doorbells have a removable battery, and others require that you take the whole doorbell down and charge it. As an example, the Ring Battery Doorbell that was released in 2024 lacks the Quick Release Battery feature of other Ring doorbells.

That's sad, because Ring doorbells take ages to recharge. Even though the battery lasts for months, you still end up with (for all intents and purposes) a day where your doorbell is out of commission. If you have a doorbell with removable battery packs, at least when it comes to Ring in particular, you can buy extra batteries and a dedicated charger. This means zero downtime for your bell, and if you have a high volume of traffic in front of your door, the frequency with which your battery will have to be recharged increases significantly.

A good pair of headphones can last a lifetime, unless it has batteries in it that can't be replaced. That's the real shame of modern wireless Bluetooth headphones. Many of them are truly excellent and can even be used wired, but their designs don't allow for easy user replacement of the batteries.

The Apple AirPods Max are a prime example. These are truly excellent premium headphones with a significant price tag, but if you look at the iFixit guide to replace AirPods Max batteries, you'll see this process is fraught with solvents to dissolve sealants and glue, special screwdrivers, and the non-zero chance that a tiny screw will be pulled into the center of a speaker, consequently damaging it. You can pay a service fee to Apple to replace the battery in the Max.

While the Max might be one of the worst offenders, non-replaceable batteries are a common refrain in modern wireless headphones. However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel: The Sennheiser Momentum 5 lists a user-replaceable battery explicitly as a selling point. Which makes its $399 asking price much easier to stomach. A good set of headphones should last far longer than current lithium batteries do, and hopefully more companies will decide that making headphones like this is the better business decision.