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The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

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Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#41

Post by Semaphor »

ekianjo wrote: post #19
seba_dos1 wrote: post #2

I have never used a phone (nor a laptop) where the battery wasn't easily replaceable and to be honest I can't really imagine using one. Batteries can (and do) go bad and start expanding. Using a device where the battery isn't easily accessible feels absolutely distressing.

> used a phone there are almost no smartphones where you can easily replace the battery these days.

While it’s probably not easily, it was (to me) surprisingly easy to change the battery in my OnePlus 5. The battery itself was glued, but not in a way that removing it would destroy anything else. The other parts just required normal phone repair tools.

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#42

Post by vletal »

nuker wrote: post #33

I’d hate to lose waterproof feature on iPhone. For it’ll be dealbreaker.

Submarines are not glued tight, yet they are waterproof.

Much bigger deal for Apple is design. Exposed screws sealing the back cover would give Jony Ive OCD ticks, I'm sure

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#43

Post by RhodesianHunter »

pizza234 wrote: post #37
bjackman wrote: post #4

I think this is fantastic news. It will be interesting to see how it affects the amount of phones that get discarded. I think the next bottleneck is likely to be software longevity. This has improved a lot lately! But basically I think phones have now reached a place like laptops and desktops where HW capabilities are stable, and there's no good reason for devices to be obsolete in 5 years any more. I wonder if regul…

In my experience, the current bottleneck with (Android) phones is that the get very slow without any apparent reasons after a few years. I've had multiple reports of acquaintances complaining about their phones getting slow after a few years, and I've always assumed that they were just full of apps... until it happened to me. I can't find an unambiguois explanation; my guess is a mix of CPUs deteriorating over time d…

That interpretation is incredibly generous to the companies that benefit from you feeling a need to replace that phone.

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#44

Post by layer8 »

jacquesm wrote: post #32
onli wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost didn't find it myself this time. But here it is: > In addition to not offering the longevity loophole, Opsomer also points out that the battery regulation covers all products with a portable battery; it’s far wider-reaching than the phone and tablet-focused ecodesign regulation.

Ah! Then they really should give that factoid much better billing, including the title. Thank you once again.

An interesting implication is that it apparently also applies to devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods.

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#45

Post by Tade0 »

nuker wrote: post #33

I’d hate to lose waterproof feature on iPhone. For it’ll be dealbreaker.

Galaxy S5 was IP67 certified despite having a removable battery.

iPhone users had to wait two additional years to get the same feature.

It's a solved problem - it's just that Apple dragged its feet on it.

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#47

Post by Semaphor »

poetaster wrote: post #36
systemtest wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nokia has been sold, I don't know about any EU smartphone brands outside of Fairphone. The market is so small that adding regulation isn't hurting the EU, which is why its an easy target compared to the automotive industry.

Gigaset is a German company who manufactures and assembles in Germany. https://www.gigaset.com/hq_en/smartphones/ A German remarkting firm Volla sells them with their own Android. The swiss company Rephone also rebrands with upgrads the GS5 (6GB RAM instead of 4). All the recent Gigaset phones have replaceable Batteries. I use a GS5 and a Rephone with SailfishOs.

Oh wow, I remember them from ISDN wireless phone times. All a bit large for me, but cool that they exist and do this :)

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#48

Post by minimaul »

adhvaryu wrote: post #23
mantas wrote: post #9

Iphone battery is already pretty close to replaceable by this law. You need a common tool to get in (trident screwdriver is available in most DIY shops), then glue tabs can be pried by hand. Doable for layman? Well, some people are afraid of opening up a device in any way. How do we (or, rather, lawyers) draw a line?

> Doable for layman? Well, some people are afraid of opening up a device in any way. How do we (or, rather, lawyers) draw a line? Start by not requiring a screwdriver in the process of changing batteries. I remember the early days of Samsung/Android phones where you only needed to pry open the back cover using your nail and the battery was easily taken out. It's a small change but the layman will be way less afraid.

My experience was that those kinds of back covers would always come loose over time and/or after they were removed a few times they never fit properly again.

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#49

Post by systemtest »

jacquesm wrote: post #29
systemtest wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nokia has been sold, I don't know about any EU smartphone brands outside of Fairphone. The market is so small that adding regulation isn't hurting the EU, which is why its an easy target compared to the automotive industry.

> I don't know about any EU smartphone brands outside of Fairphone. That's your problem then, don't you think? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_phone_brands_by... Now, whether all of these are actually manufactured locally or not is another matter, but the EU definitely is regulating its own market. As they have been empowered to do so. I'm all for it. And I would love to see standardized battery packs fo…

> That's your problem then, don't you think?

No need to play the man or be belittling.

Point still stands that the EU smartphone market is so little that any regulation isn't hurting them. Regulation on car repairability definitely would, hence why you stil need to visit the BMW dealer if you want to change the 12-volt battery or activate your heated seats. The EU will not likely do anything about that.

Re: The EU’s fight for user-replaceable smartphone batteries

#50

Post by mvanbaak »

adhvaryu wrote: post #23
mantas wrote: post #9

Iphone battery is already pretty close to replaceable by this law. You need a common tool to get in (trident screwdriver is available in most DIY shops), then glue tabs can be pried by hand. Doable for layman? Well, some people are afraid of opening up a device in any way. How do we (or, rather, lawyers) draw a line?

> Doable for layman? Well, some people are afraid of opening up a device in any way. How do we (or, rather, lawyers) draw a line? Start by not requiring a screwdriver in the process of changing batteries. I remember the early days of Samsung/Android phones where you only needed to pry open the back cover using your nail and the battery was easily taken out. It's a small change but the layman will be way less afraid.

Those phones were not water resistant. While maybe not important to some, to others it is
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