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Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

ecopv-eu.com

81–90 of 560 posts

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#81
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

technically you're meant to replace the rubber ring around it, but yes, not hard to do.

I actually never did. I think you're only supposed to replace it on those scuba-style watches with screw-on casebacks that shred the gasket when fully tightened to ensure a tight seal. But on those watches with 4 screws on the case, the gasket seemed fine to me to keep reusing.

I think a lot of sealing rings / gaskets are meant to be single use. I had to swap the heater on my hot tub a while back and the store told me to change the o-rings on the inlet and outlet as it was unlikely the prior ones would re-seal after being loosened.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#82
post #7

There's an exception for batteries that "retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles." Coincidentally, iPhones and probably other flagships already qualify for this exception.

Huh, my iPhones have never come close to this. They are always under 80% capacity before 1000 charge cycles.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My low-cost plastic Casio watch based on a very old design is waterproof and battery can be swapped out by undoing 4 philips screws, no glue. Its buttons can also be operated under water while staying waterproof. What is this whicraft?

I get it for watches, but I've never understood the mass-market need for a waterproof phone, outside of a few niche hobbies. Are people showering and swimming with their phones or something? Or dropping them in their toilets? The wettest my phone has ever been in 8 years is in my pocket while it's raining.

I like to wash my phones every now and then. Even submerging them in water.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#84
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i’m ok with this and an $80 battery replacement in exchange for better waterproofing

There is not waterproofing, on any phone. Yes, when you buy it, no after 3 years when the glue that waterproofs no longer sticks due to ageing.

"Yes, when you buy it, no after 3 years when the glue that waterproofs no longer sticks due to ageing."

My 2014 Kyocera Duraforce Pro is STILL waterproof and I use it for underwater photography incessantly.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My low-cost plastic Casio watch based on a very old design is waterproof and battery can be swapped out by undoing 4 philips screws, no glue. Its buttons can also be operated under water while staying waterproof. What is this whicraft?

I get it for watches, but I've never understood the mass-market need for a waterproof phone, outside of a few niche hobbies. Are people showering and swimming with their phones or something? Or dropping them in their toilets? The wettest my phone has ever been in 8 years is in my pocket while it's raining.

People in humid climates and cold climates were regularly having their phones get denied warranty service because the water ingress stickers turned red due to condensation, without ever exposing their phone to water immersion. This was understandably upsetting for a lot of people who just wanted their phone to be fixed under warranty.

Thus, companies put in a big effort to seal their phones against dust and water, which ought to have dramatically reduced these service issues and led to a better customer experience overall!

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My low-cost plastic Casio watch based on a very old design is waterproof and battery can be swapped out by undoing 4 philips screws, no glue. Its buttons can also be operated under water while staying waterproof. What is this whicraft?

I get it for watches, but I've never understood the mass-market need for a waterproof phone, outside of a few niche hobbies. Are people showering and swimming with their phones or something? Or dropping them in their toilets? The wettest my phone has ever been in 8 years is in my pocket while it's raining.

Kayaking, fishing, river floating, surfing, diving, snorkeling, etc. "No one I know takes their phone snorkeling" <- that's because they're not presently waterproof, but I imagine a lot of people would like to take a high quality camera under water.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#87

What is a “special tool”? A Philips screwdriver is pretty clearly not, but is a T-5 Torx? A security T-5? A Tri-wing? A Pentalobe?

Why does the Pentalobe exist in the first place?

in one product design i did, unironically because the customer thought that six-star screws were antisemitic

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#88

While sounding nice in theory, these sorts of regulations will certainly curtail innovation while providing very, very little value elsewhere. If people wanted removable batteries in their phones, they would buy them a lot. They don't.

...is what people said when they brought in the mandate for usb charging but it didnt.

It turns out market consolidation is usually the biggest innovation killer.

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which flagship phones with replaceable batteries can customers buy? Samsung was the last major brand in the US to have one, and they made the choice to remove it.

Not sure. But there are plenty of flip phones with removable batteries.

So you're suggesting we all just need to buy exclusively flip phones for a few years to send the market a signal that it wants replaceable batteries. Then the free market will do its thing and keep the engine of innovation running

Speaking of which, does anyone want to do a list of "features added to smartphones over the last 10 years" vs "features removed from smartphones over the last 10 years" so we can see just what innovations are at risk?

Re: Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027

#90

While sounding nice in theory, these sorts of regulations will certainly curtail innovation while providing very, very little value elsewhere. If people wanted removable batteries in their phones, they would buy them a lot. They don't.

Even with a battery that can be replaced using a tiny screwdriver, this still doesn’t make it DIY for probably 80-90% of smartphone users.
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