I don't disagree with this. But do think the environmental side is a byproduct of it. If it were all for the environment, I think they'd talk more about giving older devices to others rather than recycling them.
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Apple Updates iPad Mini 6 Battery Replacement Policy to Substitute Battery Only, Not Entire Device
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I was all for this… until Apple decided to change the cable from usb-a to usb-c. This forced people to buy an usb-c wall-adapter the moment their old cable broke. Combine that with the price of the iPhone staying the same, while they could fit almost twice as many phones in 1 shipment…
I don’t know, they should have made the brick optional for the first 1 or 2 years, but then they would make a lot less $$$.
I would expect it to be returned in the exact same condition. If they can do that it makes sense to just swap out the battery.
For me, the iPad Mini is an awesome device. Love it! Put an OLED display in it and a bigger battery. Trim down the bezels a bit more. Find a way to put the volume rocker on the right side. Allow for narrower padding. No need to have an inch of display on the sides of the apps. Allows 7-8 apps in a row. Give it a cellular option.
For me, the iPad Mini is an awesome device. Love it! Put an OLED display in it and a bigger battery. Trim down the bezels a bit more. Find a way to put the volume rocker on the right side. Allow for narrower padding. No need to have an inch of display on the sides of the apps. Allows 7-8 apps in a row. Give it a cellular option.
I didn't realize that they would just switch out the whole device before.
Yep, your old device goes away to be refurbished and added back into the product chain. This is why the battery MUST actually be degraded before Apple will let you pay the battery replacement fee, because they aren't just replacing the battery.
That obviously looks like it is going to be different for the iPad mini 6th generation, and presumably (and hopefully!) will come to other iPads soon.
I would prefer to walk into an Apple Store, hand them my old iPad and receive a new one, and walk out.
The new policy requires me to go to Apple Store, drop off my iPad and leave. Then come back at some later time and pick it up. During that time, I have no iPad.
I suppose if not losing your data is of the utmost importance, then this new policy is better for you. But with easy backup/restore, I'd rather have a new replacement in a few minutes than days.
You think Apple just chucks the old units in the river? I would guess they are fixed and sold through some channel or in the worst case for units that can't be repaired, are e-wasted.
The number of old iPads contributing to planet waste is a grain of sand on a beach of old electronics. There is SO MUCH already out there.
Didn’t know battery replacements take days over there. Screen and battery replacements for iPhones are, mostly, finished within an hour where I live.
But yeah, fair point if it takes so much time.
Not saying this applies to you, but I do find it really interesting that there are a cohort of people who are very pro-environment as long it doesn't inconvenience or cost them anything.
I live in California, a state where you can't turn around without being hit with a tax or fee that is "clean air" or some other environmental cause related. Hence our gasoline is $2/gal more than any other state. Many things on Amazon can't be shipped to my address. The list goes on. So yes, I may be a bit jaded.
Some people depend on their devices, to make a living for instance. One of my friends makes €200 an hour with his work, but he needs his macbook to do his job. His battery-replacement takes 10 working days, since it has to be shipped (which is bad for the environment as well) to a repair facility.
So now he had to buy a new macbook in order to earn money. For just the battery.
How is any of that pro-environment?