More modern iPhones (14 onward and 15pro onward) are a lot easier to replace the battery. No need to remove the screen anymore, it can all be done from the back side. Apparently the pull tabs for the batteries are a lot better, as well.

Still requires heat, but I’m not sure I’d call a little heat and some pry tools particularly “special” tools.

It’s a compromise being made to achieve better rigidity and waterproofing. Seems like a reasonable trade off, honestly, for something that needs to be changed maybe every few years.