[reaperducer]

Removable batteries were standard fare for decades before Apple came around and set negative precedent.

You must be newly hatched.

I have plenty of devices in my gadget box with non-replaceable batteries that pre-date Apple's iPhones, and even its iPods.

[vrganj]

Sure. But I bet you also have plenty of gadgets with replaceable batteries.

Just because something is standard fare doesn't mean it's the only option. Point is, it was quite common in the past.

[tzs]

Part of the reason it was so common in the past was because rechargeable battery technology for small consumers devices was a lot more limited. NiCd was the main choice and they required careful management to keep them working well.

Also there were no real standards for chargers. Nearly every small consumer device that used NiCd batteries came with its own bespoke chargers.

Hence most small consumer devices went with replaceable batteries because they expected nearly everyone to use non-rechargeable batteries.