The issue here is that people think this is novel due to the way things that have been done recently. It’s not. If a 10 or 5 year phone could do it… your newly released iPhone would probably as well. However, unfortunately, it’s in Apple’s main interest to keep their clientele ‘zealot’ through brand image (people see iphones as a status thing, at least here in Brazil) and planned obsolescence, so they don’t really have to improve the phone or act beneficial towards the consumer.
My 3rd gen Moto G had a removable back and was also water resistant. Though I don’t think it had a removable battery.
The issue here is that people think this is novel due to the way things that have been done recently. It’s not. If a 10 or 5 year phone could do it… your newly released iPhone would probably as well. However, unfortunately, it’s in Apple’s main interest to keep their clientele ‘zealot’ through brand image (people see iphones as a status thing, at least here in Brazil) and planned obsolescence, so they don’t really have to improve the phone or act beneficial towards the consumer.