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It's official: Smartphones will need to have replaceable batteries by 2027
(www.androidauthority.com)
this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
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Producers got away with going to non-replaceable batteries because "most" people replace their phone before the battery wears out. Only a portion of consumers have a problem with it.
I'm sure there's a few of us that can comfortably get six years off a phone. In fact the phone I'm currently using is coming up on three years. I could probably get another three years out of it, but I'm going to have to replace it soon because of battery wear.
Non-replaceable batteries are bad for the consumer and bad for the environment. It forces obsolescence putting more financial strain on consumers and increases environmental impact with higher production and waste.
A phone replaced before three years could be sold second hand with a battery replacement. Otherwise consumers could keep a phone twice as long. So they're basically doubling the rate of production and waste to squeeze as much money as possible out of the consumer. Then there's zero regard for the environment. But you know that's typical of how corporations do business, rape the Earth, screw the consumer. We have to keep a leash on these guys.
I just barely replaced my galaxy s8, and it wasn't the battery that became the issue, it was the lack of any new software updates.
I was starting to have software compatibility issues, where installing new apps would say "android verision x is not supported". Also, I'm pretty sure it was getting any security patches from either samsung or upstream google.
I'm now looking at repurposing the s8 into a security camera since I think it's a waste to just throw it in a drawer.
I had an old galaxy a5 with a badly degraded battery sitting around. A few weeks ago I had nothing better to do so I opened it (breaking the glass back in the process because of how strongly it was glued), ripped the battery out and soldered a charging cable straight to the phone's battery contacts. It now lives on a phone stand in my car, connected to a bluetooth OBD2 scanner and I use it to show a couple of additional gauges like oil temperature, instant fuel economy and engine load while driving. The 12v output provides just enough power for the phone to reliably run and with the lack of battery I don't have to worry about it exploding if it sits in the sun for hours. I haven't found a way to make it turn on as soon as it gets power, so it's mildly annoying to turn it on manually every time I start the car, but I can live with that.
That's pretty clever I'm starting to think of doing that to my old Google pixel to play mp3s
You are right. My iPhone XR is around 4 or 5 years old, and now I need to charge it in the afternoon if I have used it during work to spend some time. I guess that in a year I’ll have to replace it because the battery will last even less.
Yes yes, but companies mandate is to maximize profits and have constant growth. All those things you're mentioning sound very anti-capitalist. The elite would have a hard time taking all the wealth and keeping everyone as slaves.
While I do agree that we need more modular phones, laptops, etc. having a replaceable battery would prevent phones to be fully water proof.
But I do agree with you, I have a 2-year old phone and I already experience the battery degradation. I would most likely use this phone for another year, max two, but then would be pissed by how often I need to charge it and start looking into purchasing a new one.
Planned obsolescence is definitely a thing that enriches corporations
There are so many ways you can waterproof a phone and have a user replaceable battery and still keep it thin and sleek. But that doesn't sell a new iPhone to someone every 2 years. It's why anytime Apple, or any company like them, spouts off about how green they are, I know they're full of shit. They intentionally cause so much waste it's insane.
I wish they had some truly modular phones. The phone I am currently using is quite bulky compared to slim model phones and even a lot of Iphones, I don't care. I don't see why I shouldn't be able to swap put almost every component other than the screen, it's not like the phone frame themselves have really changed much from the original Iphones. Battery, Storage, Processor, RAM, Speaker, Receiver..even the camera. I see no reason why those couldn't be part of modular systems.
They could just incorporate a gasket + screws. There are a ton of waterproof devices that have replaceable batteries.
I don't think an actual waterproof phone even exists. They're water resistant.
My Samsung Galaxy XCover 6Pro has a removable battery (and a headphone jack) and it's ip68 rated. You wouldn't be able to tell from the outside that the back cover comes off.
The Galaxy S5 active is evidence that you're just wrong. Classic removable battery but still IP67.
Waterproof ratings are all nonsense anyways IMO. The way appliances are tested does not take into consideration human error.
Gotta drop the phone a couple times onto concrete to simulate how morons like me treating it, then check its water resistance.
The question I've been asking, since this whole water resistance thing became a trend, is why do we even need water resistant phones in the first place?
We survived just fine with flip phones, walkmans, Gameboys, pagers, etc that had no water resistance.
The yellow sony walkman was waterproof.
I love water proof phones, it's a massive reduction in anxiety and means I don't have to avoid bringing it into the bathroom.
They're not even waterproof though, just water resistant. But even the weather resistance from a few years back when phones had headphone jacks and replaceable batteries seemed sufficient. Now they're overkill, being able to handle being dipped in water. I mean it's fine if they make phones like that, but does everything need that kind of resistance?
My S8 has been dunked in water and sprayed by the shower plenty of times with no issue. It might not be strictly water proof but it's kind of a semantic difference.
And nah, not everything needs that kind of resistance, but it's nice to have
While I manage ok without (but would appreciate the feature) I know several people who have destroyed too many phones by accidentally dropping it into some sort of water to ever want anything but a waterproof one.
I don't really mind that my battery doesn't work well. It lasts through the day, though I'm perpetually at 40% or less and I don't use it that much. If it's really a problem then a battery bank charge mid day totally fixes it.
However, if I could replace the battery for $50 I would.