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

Remember that consumers expect certain things from smartphones nowadays, which will mean that OEMs can’t just go back to the old way of doing things. An IP68 rating would be very difficult to obtain while still offering a premium-feeling device with an easily replaceable battery, for example. These are hurdles OEMs will need to get over to be in compliance.

this is straight-up BS. there were many phones with ip68 and user-replacable batteries back when sealing the battery in a phone was frowned upon. not all but many.

Producers got away with going to non-replaceable batteries because "most" people replace their phone before the battery wears out. Only a portion of consumers have a problem with it.

I'm sure there's a few of us that can comfortably get six years off a phone. In fact the phone I'm currently using is coming up on three years. I could probably get another three years out of it, but I'm going to have to replace it soon because of battery wear.

Non-replaceable batteries are bad for the consumer and bad for the environment. It forces obsolescence putting more financial strain on consumers and increases environmental impact with higher production and waste.

A phone replaced before three years could be sold second hand with a battery replacement. Otherwise consumers could keep a phone twice as long. So they're basically doubling the rate of production and waste to squeeze as much money as possible out of the consumer. Then there's zero regard for the environment. But you know that's typical of how corporations do business, rape the Earth, screw the consumer. We have to keep a leash on these guys.

Its NOT just smartphones

Its damn near everything!

Electric cars, other electronics etc

Some are just not "user replacable" (such as a cars batteries)

this law will change all iPhones. It will also change all tablets, laptops, EVs, e-bikes, and anything else with a rechargeable battery

Headphones, gaming mice, gaminh controllers. Its gonna be great

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again (someone else definitely said this before me) I’m totally fine with a user replaceable battery but I don’t really need a “hot swappable” battery. Don’t you guys remember the old memes where an android phone is dropped and the Lego brick breaking sound effect is used from the Lego video games. I’m ok with a semi sealed device for water resistance and what not. It would just be nice to be able to replace the battery when the time comes

I wonder how apple will react to this

* in Europe

Tim Cook can suck a fat one.

I just hope the battery doesn't cost as much as a new phone would.

One of my phones battery became swollen and hated not being able to change it without removing the adhesive stuck backing, camera, wireless charging cable, brackets preventing battery cable to be removed normally, battery being adhesive stuck to the battery slot. I hope all phones go back to removable batteries.

Good. I also read appliances (like your electric toothbrush or headphones) will also have to follow this guidance. This should make it easier to repair and recycle electronics.

It's not so much the batteries for me but the USB C port that has been my main issue and that damn humidity/water sensor that thinks that I've dipped my phone in water when I haven't

but only the EU though, everywhere else is still fucked

Shame this can’t happen for memory and storage.

This is the best news I've read in a while. Hopefully the US (or at least Cali) jump on board as well.

Wonder how waterproofing will hold up

I'm looking to upgrade my iPhone 11 for no reason other than the battery life is starting to bug me. None of the features released since the 11 hold any interest for me, I literally just want more battery life. Looks like that'll cost me about $1000 if I want to stay with iOS. Absolutely insane.

Good, no reason why my Pixel 6 shouldn't last until I accidentally drop it instead of the slow death of worsening battery.

Does this mean they'll mandate SD card slots and headphone ports too?

Has anyone else always had a spare phone battery in the pocket to swap on the go?

Imagine you could just do that.

Yurop did it again.

I am curious how Apple will get around that this time. I’m almost sure this will be as funny as the whole story about the USB-C cables

Only EU though

However, there is an exemption for high-performing and durable batteries until 2027. This means devices with high quality batteries that retain over 80% of their capacity after 1000 charge cycles do not need to comply with the removable battery requirement until 2027.

So premium phones like the iPhone would be exempt.

I have mixed feelings on this. I think there were a few good reasons to move to sealed batteries. In an ideal world you could give consumers choices between the various trade-offs and offer multiple models or variants.

But of course that will never happen because non-replaceable batteries present a far better business case. If they were forced to offer options, the manufacturers would deliberately make the user-replaceable models far shittier and then complain to the regulators that they were unpopular.

*In the EU.

I had an S3 for ages because you could get a replacement battery for like $12. Upgraded to an S10, can no longer swap the battery. Biding my time.

I hate this forced upgrade/payment model and how phones seemed to double in cost almost overnight.

They're even trying to get sneakier with the contracts. 3 years now to payoff your device, instead of 2, but the payment is the same. Absolutely bonkers.

They would just "underdevelop" other areas to make their phone "breakable" or "prone to accidents". I am not that hyped because of that.

I thought there were large exceptions for water proofing etc..?

I absolutely loathe the EU and it's institutions, but every once in a while a pro consumer standardization is a good coming out of them.

Based EU

Gonna be fun to see new tech for it to still be water resistant.

I still miss those old cellphones used to have replaceable batteries but unfortunately not anymore. I recently got a free iphone 13 but the battery not removable.

Great

Threads will *never prevent you from replacing your battery. Try it today!

* Subject to change. Please read our terms and conditions.

I mean this could happen in Europe, but I suspect something as integral to design/engineering might have Apple wanting to go ahead and split the designs between Europe and other markets. They just love control too much I think to go big in on this feature everywhere.

Guaranteed Apple will have code that says:

If phone > 2 years old:

Slow down phone

If battery changed:

Slow down phone

Etc

They'll still make you buy a new phone. Don't you worry about that.

2027 wow they could have taken like 3999 With that. It has to come NOW or it has literally 0 effect.

Personally I find this terrible news. Expect people to replace their batteries with cheap Chinese fire hazards. With the size of these batteries and the density id be terrified living in an apartment building. There is already a lot of this going on with cheap electric scooters and recreational vehicles.

Add on the fact that I don’t miss the days of bulky phones where I drop them and the battery goes flying out (also dangerous).

Personally I find this terrible news. Expect people to replace their batteries with cheap Chinese fire hazards. With the size of these batteries and the density id be terrified living in an apartment building. There is already a lot of this going on with cheap electric scooters and recreational vehicles.

Add on the fact that I don’t miss the days of bulky phones where I drop them and the battery goes flying out (also dangerous).

Pfft! By 2027 Smart phones will be irrelevant.

I wonder what percentage of the user base is wanting this? Seems like most people wouldn’t care about it at all.. a battery seems to last a few years and costs about $100 to replace with a genuine part including the warranty of opening watertight phone and maintaining its integrity.

I support replaceable batteries, I do. But I want one person to show me all the cellphone models that are going to have to change their design to comply with this law. No device I have done this repair on is affected. You don't have to have thermal energy, and all the bits and picks needed are already available for $30 or less. So I'm seriously failing to understand just why people keep conflating this with cellphones when they already are abiding by this

Tbh, I don't miss this.

Phone batteries generally last 3-4 years (sometimes longer depending on the size), and by that point it's usually time to upgrade to a new phone anyway for the latest security updates and such.