Really a check-mate move from Apple. Onerous limitations that apply to everyone except the mega-corps.
Non-megacorps can also build wrist devices and wireless headphones. The law doesn't explicitly list "AirPods" as exempt, you must understand that?
EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
51–60 of 72 posts
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#52Cowards. Force them to implement resealable waterproofing
Who is "them"? Everyone making wireless earbuds, because that's who it'd apply to.
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#53anyone know how you can build a water-resistant phone with a removable battery?
The current issue with battery replacement is mainly the fact that they're glued to the phone. Which make them very dangerous to replace, as newbie might try to pry off the battery with metal tools (and you don't want to know what happens when a lithium battery is pierced.) The only thing that will change as far as I know is that battery won't be glued anymore. You'll still have to open the phone with screw like you…
It's not even glued, it's like those 3M hooks you can slap on to a wall.
The issue is people thinking they need to use maximum power to RIP it out, damaging everything in the process.
You need a constant slow pull on the adhesive, which heats it a bit, causing it to release cleanly.
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#54I dont agree for environments sake it should be user replaceable batteries even in small electronic devices. Hearing aids has user replaceable batteries
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#55Electric toothbrushes are exempt? Why? We have several for our kids, with removable batteries from Oral-B. All are years old and still waterproof. And with that amount of voltage, where can there _ever_ be a "safety issue"? That is quackery! Sounds more like somebody lobbied successfully.
Because they're specifically engineered to be safe?
I can see someone taking open a toothbrush, slapping a generic cell in there and then it going into water and having a fun time
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#56Electric toothbrushes are exempt? Why? We have several for our kids, with removable batteries from Oral-B. All are years old and still waterproof. And with that amount of voltage, where can there _ever_ be a "safety issue"? That is quackery! Sounds more like somebody lobbied successfully.
Why would a company choose to produce an inferior product? My guess is there is a trade of that's worth it on the product side. That's why you can't buy a compelling phone w a replaceable battery anywhere. Its an incredibly competitive market. If there was a design that worked and tradeoffs made sense it works certainly exist and do well since who wouldn't like it. I just believe that the fact it doesn't exist tells…
At least with phone batteries, to make them removable, means removing some capacity. Lots of phones squeeze as much cell into every nook and cranny as they can
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#57> The iPhone was already exempt from the removability rule under the original regulation, thanks to its battery cycle life and water resistance rating. I can understand for super compact devices like AirPods, you cannot provide replaceable batteries without making the device larger. But why on earth would they exempt iPhones? Like is it rocket science to build a water proof battery replaceable phone in 2026?
I've always been a bit suspicious of the waterproof claims and their use. My phone is IP68 rated, meaning prolonged submersion (at least 30 minutes) in water of up to 3 meters deep. Why? What's the practical use here. It surely will make maintaining that level of waterproofing hard if you need to open it up...
My kids dropped my phone in pool plenty of times. Works perfectly.
I never had a need to replace phone battery myself (and I used to work on my laptops decade ago when it made sense).
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#58Electric toothbrushes are exempt? Why? We have several for our kids, with removable batteries from Oral-B. All are years old and still waterproof. And with that amount of voltage, where can there _ever_ be a "safety issue"? That is quackery! Sounds more like somebody lobbied successfully.
Because they're specifically engineered to be safe? I can see someone taking open a toothbrush, slapping a generic cell in there and then it going into water and having a fun time
I mean, it's not a toaster.
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
My first gen AirPods became e-waste in 18 months due to the battery no longer lasting through a meeting. My AirPods Pro 2 have lasted a lot longer but I'm sure then they do die it will be due to the batteries.
Product idea: charging cables: snake the cable up to your AirPods while they're in your ears, use magnets to attach to the battery terminals and deliver juice. But argh, I have a feeling the AirPods turn themselves off while being charged...
I have a product idea. The headphones could be passive and a wire run from them to the device that wants to make noise through them?
Re: EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods from Battery Removal Requirements
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
You allude to another reason people stop using them, besides battery degradation and loss, what is it?
Loss or breakage. I had the original AirPods and vowed to never buy them again because replacing the battery was so expensive. Just ridiculous to throw away expensive audio equipment because battery replacement is as expensive as 50% of a new pair. While good headphones from the 70s are still good, maybe with some foam replacements.
I love it when you see people with a tether on their airpods to prevent loss. My headphones have a special tether which means they will never need a battery replacement, or indeed a battery