Live data from Hacker News

All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

theolivepress.es

921–930 of 1001 posts

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#921
post #836

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you filled the negative space on an iPhone 17 Pro/Max it would be a horrendously unwieldy phone. People who say this stuff seriously underestimate the disastrous effect on ergonomics increasing the whole phone from 8.75mm to 13.2mm would have.

People already do this by buying cases

Most would continue to buy cases which would only make these phones even thicker

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#922
post #660

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that pretty much no phones have a replaceable battery says something. And it doesn't mean that all manufacturers are somehow colluding with each. The market is very competitive and pretty much every manufacturer decided the trade offs are not worth the benefit. If Samsung or Xiaomi or Google could sell you a better phone with a replaceable battery, they would. But everyone came to the conclusion that the tra…

Because people will buy that phone and keep it much longer. When phones had replaceable batteries, they needed replaced after a couple of years because they were terrible. I'm now on a several year old pixel phone that I'm happy with, but eventually the battery will wear out and I'll have to replace it. Google likes it that way.

I have a few IOS devices, you know what prevents me from using them?

It's not the battery, its the lack of OS updates. I can't install new certificates, or get access to app stores. They're useless.

In fact, the lack of a replacement battery has never prevented me from keeping something working, only software or physical damage.

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#924
post #584

It’s been long enough that people of forgotten what’s it’s like. Cameras still have replaceable batteries, there are several benefits: I can have two (or more) batteries, if it runs out I just change it. I don’t need walk around with a USB battery pack and cable hanging off the device preventing me from using it properly. I can put the battery on charge somewhere and leave it, even if not completely secure, because j…

The final law just makes replacing batteries more accessible (i.e. no glue or special screws), but it doesn't mandate battery packs. Also some devices like hearing aids are exempt. I question whether battery packs would be a good thing to bring back now. USB power banks have 100% interchangeability among many device classes, which is something that not even dry cell batteries achieved. I can choose to leave the house…

This is about extending the lifetime of a phone - it won't work properly, even with a powerbank, if the battery is EOL.

The objective is to reduce e-waste, where phones whose only issue is the battery ends up in the trash / recycling, instead of continuing to be useful.

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#925

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think this is where peak battery tech ends up. At current capacities, batteries are becoming genuinely dangerous, and faster charging only amplifies the risk. Charging high-capacity cells outside a temperature-controlled charger is risky, and even reputable chargers shouldn't be left unattended — many workplaces ban it outright (it only takes one fire to make that policy). Phone batteries are the worst of it:…

It's the exact same as with EVs. We COULD have an EV with a 200kWh battery that can go 1000km++ on a charge in -30C weather. But nobody really needs that beyond a few outliers. What we NEED is ubiquitous and easy charging. Going for a burger, it'll take 20 minutes for you to order, eat and walk out. On a 300kW charger in the parking lot you can in theory get up to 100kWh charged. Or less with a slower one. Even plugg…

But why put charges at burger shacks? For most people most of the time charge while you sleep. On trips charge along the highway. Every single store doesn’t need chargers, it’s a waste.

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#926

I used to work for Nokia back when they still made phones. Replaceable batteries were very normal then. Phones were a bit thicker than today but not massively so. These days phones are actually thinner but much larger. I had a "are you happy to see me or is that a Nokia" type Nokia 9300. That was a brick. But it had a full hw keyboard. and flipped open it wasn't that much bigger than a modern smart phone. You could a…

I suspect (but am no expert) that the main arguments for integrated batteries are actually to extend the lifetime and sturdiness; drop your Nokia and there's a chance the battery pops out and gets damaged, drop it in the water and the battery compartiment is a point of ingress.

I'm arguing that the sealed / glued / tightly packed / irreplaceable battery thing helps keep phones working for longer.

Of course the counterpoint is that often the battery is the first component to go, and this law is intended to make it easier to keep them in working order for longer.

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#927

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1000 cycles is barely 3 years, that's far too low a number

1 Cycle is discharging from 100-0 and charging from 0-100, regardless of how many times the phone is charged, so for a user that averages 50% battery drain each day, 1000 cycles would actually be ~6 years. I have no idea what the actual average is, but I'm betting that 1000 cycles is at least 4 years for the average user and possibly significantly longer.

Cycles to fixed capacity loss vs. depth of discharge is basically a straight line in a log-log plot. The advantage of shallower cycles is exponential.

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#928

I don't own EVs but I hope this is forced on EVs (cars and bikes)... that's the only reason I don't buy one.

Most modern eBicycle have a swappable battery. For extra convenience aim for big brands like Bosch or Shimano but other brands are not a huge deal to swap as the voltages are mostly the same: 24, 36, 48. You sometimes need to keep the BMS + connectors part but that’s not a big deal either with a few screwdrivers.

Don’t buy non-removable batteries bikes without the advice of a mechanist but those bike are not the norm.

Re: All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027

#929
post #660

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that pretty much no phones have a replaceable battery says something. And it doesn't mean that all manufacturers are somehow colluding with each. The market is very competitive and pretty much every manufacturer decided the trade offs are not worth the benefit. If Samsung or Xiaomi or Google could sell you a better phone with a replaceable battery, they would. But everyone came to the conclusion that the tra…

Because people will buy that phone and keep it much longer. When phones had replaceable batteries, they needed replaced after a couple of years because they were terrible. I'm now on a several year old pixel phone that I'm happy with, but eventually the battery will wear out and I'll have to replace it. Google likes it that way.

I have been using the Pixel series for years and after a year of use the battery capacity is noticeable worse for me.

I'd just like to pay 100-300EUR to replace the battery with a brand new one but the device should still be IP68 water-"proof".

Post reply on HN