Some smartphone features disappear so quietly that many users stop noticing they are gone. Yet removable batteries and microSD slots still survive in a narrow corner of the market, where repairability and long-term use matter more than uniform design.
That corner is not led by mainstream flagships. It is occupied by niche phones that still make room for practical hardware choices, and one of the clearest examples is Fairphone (Gen 6), a device from the Dutch company that is aimed at Europe and is difficult to find in the United States, even though it is available there through Murena.
A phone built around repair, not just software
Fairphone (Gen 6) stands out because its appeal is not limited to its software support. In a market full of similar-looking smartphones, it keeps a hardware design that gives users more control over maintenance and long-term ownership.
The phone is designed to be opened, and it includes nearly a dozen parts that users can replace on their own. With the included screwdriver, owners can swap the camera module, replace the display, and fix the USB port without glue or solder.
That approach does not make the phone indestructible, but it does make it more practical for people who want a device that can be maintained instead of discarded. Compared with most current smartphones, the concept remains far more repair-friendly.
The removable battery is still here, but less convenient than before
Fairphone (Gen 6) also keeps a removable battery, although access is not as simple as it was on earlier Fairphone models. On older versions, the plastic back could be removed with a fingernail, allowing the battery to be exchanged quickly and without tools.
The newer design is a step back in convenience, but only in relative terms. Against the wider smartphone market, it is still unusually open, especially at a time when many devices are sealed shut.
That matters because a removable battery can extend the useful life of a phone. If a battery swells or wears out after several years, the device does not have to be retired as long as the internal parts can still be opened and replaced.
microSD remains useful for the same reason
The microSD slot is another feature that has not disappeared completely. Fairphone (Gen 6) still supports external memory cards, which means buyers do not have to lock in a storage decision at purchase.
Modern microSD cards now reach capacities of up to two terabytes. That gives users room for files, apps, and media collections without immediately stepping up to a more expensive phone variant.
This feature is still relatively common in midrange and lower-end phones. In the flagship segment, however, microSD has become increasingly rare, which is why many users now see it as a leftover from an earlier era.
Why niche phones still keep older features alive
The survival of removable batteries and microSD slots says less about nostalgia than about market focus. In niche devices, these features remain useful selling points because they deliver benefits that are easy to understand and difficult to ignore.
For some users, microSD is more than extra capacity. It can hold large media collections, including digitized DVD libraries, without depending on cloud services or more complicated remote access setups.
Fairphone’s software story also fits that long-term mindset. The device supports /e/OS, and it can also run LineageOS and postmarketOS.
That combination gives the phone a broader software life than many mainstream models. It also helps explain why its usable lifespan may stretch beyond the eight-year claim listed on its website.
In a market that keeps moving toward sealed devices and fixed storage choices, Fairphone (Gen 6) shows that older hardware ideas still have a place. They now survive not because they are common, but because a small group of buyers still values phones that are easier to repair, easier to maintain, and easier to keep in service for longer.