Rechargeable flashlight Vs. Light with removable batteries?

For enthusiast lights, removable, standard cells. For non-enthusiast lights, I prefer internal charging capability. I don’t like non-removable or non-standard batteries.

Rechargeable flashlights that have the posibility to remove the battery and change for another one of you need/want

Generally I prefer the removable non-proprietary batteries.
With some exceptions in the uniquely formed small key-chain (fob) or similar type light.

The original statement and question are both oversimplified and misleading.
Most of us do prefer batteries that are removable in most lights. Having onboard charging does make sense in a lot of lights. But is that going to be a magnetic charging system or a micro USB or a type C. 18650 and larger batterys should charge at 1 amp or more for larger batteries. I want everything with at least an ipx8 rating. So batteries with a micro USB charge port on them does make sense for some flashlights such as the Acebeam W30 with a 100m depth rating. Onboard/built in charging just adds one more thing to go wrong so it needs to be tough and waterproof.

Depends on the intended use.
Very few rechargable ports are bomb proof.
For hard use in harsh conditions, removable is my choice.

And always I want the option to change the battery, in light charging ir not. So standard config batts. are a must.
Only in keychain type lights do I find oddball format batteries OK.
All the Best,
Jeff

I prefer removable batteries. For EDC it doesn’t really matter, but I’m also frequently out in the woods for a weekend where I don’t have access to electricity. It’s much easier to carry an extra cell or two than charging cables and a powerbank.

Definitely (removable-I don’t like proprietary batteries or built-in) rechargeable batteries, since high output needs li-ion but having dual chemistry is super helpful (like AA/14500 or lights with AAA carriers that can use 26650 or 18650) when your li-ion goes dead and no access to chargers.

The question’s vague, as “rechargeable” and “removable” are not opposites.

You can have removable disposable cells (eg, alkaleaks) or sealed disposable (eg, cheap-enough keychain lights, toss the whole light once the cell’s dead).

Or you can have removable rechargeables (most lights, with or without built-in charging), or sealed rechargeables (eg, if Apple would make a flashlight).

That’s not even touching upon lights with proprietary-format batteries that might even be removable, but won’t fit any common chargers.

Removable batteries is a no brainer. I have lots of 18650s and if one of my flashlights dies, I can pop in a new 100% full battery in less than 10 secs and run for another few hours.
Batteries eventually lose their ability to hold a reasonable capacity after a while. Flashlights with built in rechargeable batteries that are not removable are basically a disposable resource, as they will become a paperweight as soon as the battery can no longer hold a charge.

Replacing Batteries is much much cheaper than replacing a flashlight, so much cheaper its not even funny.
I do have an Imalent LD10 and it has a built in battery that is not removable and I bought it knowing that it WILL become a paperweight eventually when the battery dies. After it dies I’ll consider busting it open to see if I can replace the battery myself.

The ratio of flashlights I have that are user replaceable vs not user replaceable are 8 to 1. And i’m sure others are similar.
I go out of my way to try and find devices that have user replaceable batteries, but sometimes (Smartphone) you can’t anymore.
The day that I can’t buy a flashlight with user replaceable batteries is the day I stop buying flashlights……

Proprietary batteries can usually be replaced. Imalent makes replacements I believe. The issue is cost (they can be spendy) or getting to them. You run the risk of serious damage to the host either internally or externally getting it apart like if loctite or other glue was used to stick bezels, joints, or pcbs together. For most folks, when it dies, you toss it or for the technically inclined or curious, tear it apart to see if it can be salvaged

I require replaceable batteries. Including charging on the light can be nice, when done well.

Standard removable batteries every time.

If I can’t change the batteries or the batteries aren’t standard, I won’t buy the light.

This is the wrong target demographic to ask that question.

Outside of that, “it all depends on the aplication”

Every light that I have seen that has USB charging has a removable battery. I would never buy a light with a proprietary non removable or removable battery.

I like using the battery of my choice with the charger of my choice.

I prefer removable for quick batteries changes, with very well sealed host. The worst the weather the more I use flashlights. Charging ports are the weakest spot to fail. NO charging ports, at least for my needs.

That is a very situational question…so it depends on the purpose for the light. Normally, I use only lights with replaceable rechargeable batteries. I do however have some flashlights with built in batteries that were extremely inexpensive….like 12.99 for three pack, and they have only 3 functions low, high, and strobe. they have built in 18650 2000mah batteries with a male usb under the endcap for charging. These are ideal for having a few in vehicles, and if I run into someone with car trouble I can just give them one to keep so they can see to fix their issue. When you are talking 4 bucks and change each, they have their place, and at 800 lumens on high, the lights are usable, even with the anemic 2000 mah rating. If I had children, they would be perfect for them to use camping, and if they lost it or broke it, well it’s only a little over 4 bucks. It is not a light that I would often use, but is great to keep peoples paws off my nicer lights. Except for very cheap lights, I would never buy lights that have built in batteries.

proprietary built in battery=FAIL!
i often get dead stuff and replace cells since i can easily do it but those items get moved down the line.
if i suspect a battery is dieing off i want to be able to swap it and keep going not plug in and wait.

Removable battery for sure. I try to avoid stuff that has a non-replaceable battery since that device will become useless when the battery dies. I want my devices to last beyond the battery life if possible.

Removable common size standard cell.

Built in USB charging is great, USB-C port, but NOT for any kind of nonremovable non-standard cell.

Removable battery with a USB C port in the flashlight for charging. I’ve been looking for the smallest 18650 light with built in charging. Haven’t found one yet.