1y ago

It's official: Smartphones will need to have replaceable batteries by 2027

www.androidauthority.com It's official: Smartphones will need to have replaceable batteries by 2027

Do you miss phones with replaceable batteries? By 2027, you won't anymore because, by law, almost every smartphone will have them again.

TL;DR

The European Council has ended its adoption procedure for rules related to phones with replaceable batteries.
By 2027, all phones released in the EU must have a battery the user can easily replace with no tools or expertise.
The regulation intends to introduce a circular economy for batteries.

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242 comments

I really don’t think they should be dictating how companies must design their products. My guess is Apple either pulls out of Europe , or has a phone sold only there that’s much thicker and bulky and ugly. That being said I can’t see them making that phone as goes against the company DNA. We’ll see.
- I'm very annoyed at how battery degradation makes devices obsolete more quickly. I don't think it's that hard to create an easily serviceable battery, it's just in the company's best interest to not have that. Having the battery deeply integrated with the device, is basically an easy and perfectly legal way to create planned obsolence. Maybe phones will get bulkier, but I honestly doubt it will have a serious effect. IP-ratings might suffer, but I'd wager that a global reduction in e-waste is more important.
  As to Apple pulling out of Europe, I don't think so. Given the reluctance with which companies pulled out of Russia, which has an economy the size of Italy, I think they'll find a way to adapt.
  
  IP-ratings might suffer, but I'd wager that a global reduction in e-waste is more important.
  Nokia made water resistant phones that had replaceable batteries 20 years ago. I owned two, both survived several water immersions.
  
  My guess is they’ll create a fancy MagSafe-type battery or something else really slick that technically adheres to the rules but is expensive af to replace.
- E-waste and Li-ion battery component shortages are gradually becoming a global problem. So ofcourse Governments will have to intervene at some point.
  This law exists to force manufacturers to create a circular economy for batteries. A “circular economy” refers to a manufacturing model in which the resources put into it are recycled or reused as much as possible.
- I really don’t think they should be dictating how companies must design their products.
  Like say telling to automakers they must include this design feature called seat belt and this another design feature called airbag? Also EU isn't dictating anything about the design. They are giving regulation on minimum technical features. How to design within that minimal technical requirement is free for the maker to decide. Just as say there is minimum technical regulation about safety of electric appliances in general.
  Again poor, poor companies being told by the regulation they can't use their favourite "design feature" of "exposed uninsulated power wirings " on their products.
  Regulations have existed and will exist. Companies operate at the please of society offering them a market to operate in. Offering such things as contracts needing to be honored, people not just being allowed to steal their property, enjoying the protected relative piece of national military keeping the mongol horde away and so on. In exchange the businesses shall play by the rules society sets.
  This matter was decided by the duly elected representatives of the EU citizenry (directly as the European Parliament and more indirectly the national democratically elected governments in the Council. Well except maybe governments of Hungary and Poland.... ... ...). This is the will of the European society, so this stands.
  
  Like say telling to automakers they must include this design feature called seat belt and this another design feature called airbag
  Exactly like that. It isn't the government's place to demand what features I want in my stuff.
- This regulation is not about apple. Smartphones from other manufacturers do exist.
  
  Yes, of which I have no personal connection to. I also think that if any company wasn’t going to comprise design that Apple is the one. I can see Samsung or another Android manufacturer making an ugly phone just for sale in the EU but ( IMO ) it would feel strange for Apple to do the same thing.
  
  So you're acknowledging that form over function, even to the point of making the end user's experience worse with no upside except to Apple in the form of more potential future profits, is so important to Apple that they'd rather pull out of an entire massive market than respect their customer.
  Just like you can't get a "nicer looking" microwave that has a completely clear glass front rather than the mesh screen (becasue it's bad for the consumer), and just like you wouldn't accept someone marketing a cell phone that bricks itself after 45 outbound phone calls (because it's bad for the consumer, and the environment), you shouldn't accept Apple being anti-consumer and anti-environment by refusing to allow user serviceability.
  Don't allow Apple to externalize environmental costs on to the rest of humanity simply because it'd be ever so slightly less profitable if they can't force consumers into a (needlessly) rapid replacement cycle.
- Why not? There are already tons of safety and insurance regulations that Apple has to comply with, on top of that they rely on tons of open standards, and most of the amazing technological advances that make their products possible aren’t things that they invented, nor are designs that they own.
  Anything that makes devices better for people is better.
  
  Because a comprised design with a swappable battery isn’t about consumer safety ?
- It will force research done into swappable battery devices that retain water protection, which will hopefully make the days of completely enclosed devices look antiquated. Plus, help with all these disposable yet expensive ewaste that phones have become.
- @Chadsmo @reclipse Please. Please make Apple leave us the fuck alone. No one needs forced closed ecosystems and overpriced fluff.
  
  So don’t buy their products ?
  
  @Chadsmo The general public falls for the marketing scams that they use, why shouldn't I root for them to be kicked out of Europe by... checks notes... e-waste prevention legislation?
- @Chadsmo @reclipse I'd say they will probably do the Europe only model while the rest of us get a non replaceable battery model
  
  Then the rest of us will get really pissed unless the EU version is shit.
  
  I think a Europe only phone that is comprised on design is more likely than no iPhone at all yeah.
  
  And then hopefully non Europeans can import that model to enjoy the benefits
  
  @EddieTee77 that would be nice

242 comments