iPad Air 5 Features Pull Tabs for Easier Battery Replacements

[Saturn007]

“That is because Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers still replace the entire iPad when a customer needs a new battery.”

and

”For an iPad battery, Apple replaces the entire iPad.”

OK, if that’s true, what do they do when I send in a 7-year-old iPad Air 2 for a battery replacement?!

Do they still have warehouses filled with Air 2s?!

Or, do they replace them with a newer model?! ?

Unrealistic, dim or rather nil prospect, but hope springs eternal!

 

[44267547]

The only tangible benefit I can see, is that it’s just makes it easier for Apple to replace/refurbish the iPads on their behalf. Like the article stated, they were using a significant amount of adhesive, probably taking the process longer by having to use isopropyl alcohol to remove the adhesive. These tabs to speed that process up a bit more.

 

[headlessmike]

OK, if that’s true, what do they do when I send in a 7-year-old iPad Air 2 for a battery replacement?!

Do they still have warehouses filled with Air 2s?!

Or, do they replace them with a newer model?! ?

Unrealistic, dim or rather nil prospect, but hope springs eternal!

Products that Apple list as obsolete are no longer accepted for service. That includes the first four generations of iPad at this point. But then the question is what they'd do with the original iPad Air or Mini?

 

[44267547]

But then the question is what they'd do with the original iPad Air or Mini?

It’s the same thing they do with all their obsolete products, Apple has their own recycling program where physically break-down components, recycling/reducing the metals and disposing of batteries, all of this is conducted through a robotic known as ‘Liam’. The below link has a really interesting article and a video that shows you specifics.

How Does Apple's Recycling Process Work?

Curious how Apple handles the recycling process? Here we shed some light on it.

www.makeuseof.com

 

[BigMac?]

Might this be the reason that the back is whobbly as hell?
Had the third iPad Air gen 5 in my hands today: it’s like a super expensive etch-a-sketch -> You can press through to the display from behind with your finger

 

[darngooddesign]

...

 

[NT1440]

I’m so fed up of Apple’s PR BS of “we use plastic free packaging and don’t give out plugs because we’re doing our bit for the planet” and yet they replace entire iPads when it is easier to just replace the battery. It’s disgusting. Maybe they don’t give our plugs anymore because they're trying to offset all the e-waste generated by stupid decisions like this and making devices that can’t be upgraded (Mac Studio) or thrown away once the battery is depleted (AirPods). Yes I know they get recycled but that isn’t the solution as it generates a lot of CO2. The answer is to make products that can be serviced by end users and Apple in a way that prolongs the lifecycle of the products.

….you think Apple just crushes the old iPad and Cook personally throws it in a landfill or something?

Those devices get refurbished.

 

[Westside guy]

iPads now include pull tabs? Cool!

Is there a list of possible prizes posted somewhere?

 

[ouimetnick]

“That is because Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers still replace the entire iPad when a customer needs a new battery.”

and

”For an iPad battery, Apple replaces the entire iPad.”

OK, if that’s true, what do they do when I send in a 7-year-old iPad Air 2 for a battery replacement?!

Do they still have warehouses filled with Air 2s?!

Or, do they replace them with a newer model?! ?

Unrealistic, dim or rather nil prospect, but hope springs eternal!

They still keep stock of iPad Air 2 available for battery replacements. Was able to replace my iPad Pro 10.5 last year. That was discontinued in 2018..

 

[mikethemartian]

….you think Apple just crushes the old iPad and Cook personally throws it in a landfill or something?

Those devices get refurbished.

How Does Apple's Recycling Process Work?

Curious how Apple handles the recycling process? Here we shed some light on it.

www.makeuseof.com

 

[iButter]

What do you call a little tab?

…A tablet. ?

I’ll see myself out.

probably the funniest comment on this website

 

[ChrisA]

The EU is currently preparing a new requirement that demands "every" battery powered device including mobile phones to have replaceable batteries that can be changed by the user from 2024.

(Not sure if a link is permitted: https://hackaday.com/2022/03/30/rep...coming-back-to-phones-if-the-eu-gets-its-way/ )

This is the only hope we have -- that either the EU or China pass some consumer laws. It would only cost Apple a tiny bit more to use a screw-down clamp system to hold the battery. But they will not do it until they are forced to.

Remember the days what every device had an incompatible charger and then all the sudden it seems they are want to USB chargers. This was because of a law in China that required it. Of course Chinese and EU laws do not apply in the US but no company wants to make different products for each market.

So we can hope the EU forces this.

 

[CWallace]

Might this be the reason that the back is whobbly as hell?
Had the third iPad Air gen 5 in my hands today: it’s like a super expensive etch-a-sketch -> You can press through to the display from behind with your finger

Honestly, it probably is a contributing reason.

Gluing everything down makes it just as difficult and expensive to repair for Apple as it does a third-party repair shop or consumer, but it does improve the structural rigidity of the device by tying it all together.

Not surprising that as Apple moves to make repairs easier (for their own benefit, primarily) their devices are now being called out for feeling "less premium" than before due to more flex and such.

 

[ouimetnick]

Honestly, it probably is a contributing reason.

Gluing everything down makes it just as difficult and expensive to repair for Apple as it does a third-party repair shop or consumer, but it does improve the structural rigidity of the device by tying it all together.

Not surprising that as Apple moves to make repairs easier (for their own benefit, primarily) their devices are now being called out for feeling "less premium" than before due to more flex and such.

Doubt it's a contributing reason. Both the older style adhesives and newer style adhesives are pretty much the same with the exception of it having a pull tab for easier removal. Both styles of adhesives are extremely thin and strong. I don't think a pull tab impact it one bit. It wouldn't surprise me if the aluminum is thinner or a lesser quality alloy.

 

[techno-Zen]

Easier to replace batteries are welcome news!

Yeah but we can have it creaking lol worthy trade off

 

[techno-Zen]

Honestly, it probably is a contributing reason.

Gluing everything down makes it just as difficult and expensive to repair for Apple as it does a third-party repair shop or consumer, but it does improve the structural rigidity of the device by tying it all together.

Not surprising that as Apple moves to make repairs easier (for their own benefit, primarily) their devices are now being called out for feeling "less premium" than before due to more flex and such.

Ding ding ding, thanks right to repair advocates. Our devices feel cheap as heck now.

 

[Chazzle]

The iPad battery replacement prices cost still the same. No changes on that. It just makes it easier for the technician to do a job quicker. 😣

iPads with a failing battery are replaced completely, but only charged the cost of the battery, usually $99.

 

[subjonas]

The iPad battery replacement prices cost still the same. No changes on that. It just makes it easier for the technician to do a job quicker. ?

Those are not the battery replacement fees. Those are the repair fees. Battery replacement for all eligible iPads costs $99.
See “iPad battery and power - United States”

iPad Repair and Service - Apple Support

Need to repair your iPad? See your service options, their costs by coverage type, and how long they take.

support.apple.com

 

[subjonas]

The EU is currently preparing a new requirement that demands "every" battery powered device including mobile phones to have replaceable batteries that can be changed by the user from 2024.

(Not sure if a link is permitted: https://hackaday.com/2022/03/30/rep...coming-back-to-phones-if-the-eu-gets-its-way/ )

That’s great if true. I hope the US does something similar soon. I believe the government should be as hands-off as possible when it comes to the market, but unfortunately, we only have one planet, and companies and consumers will burn it for money if left to themselves, so government environmental regulation is probably our only bet.

 

[RadioHedgeFund]

If Apple so chose they could easily add removable batteries back into their non-waterproof designs. You could have a bracket on the side of an iPad that unscrews for a battery to just pop out and the thicker MacBooks could bring back the removable batteries of yesteryear, complete with the handy LED array letting you know the capacity without powering the device on.

I wouldn’t want this on the iPhone as I like the IP rating but the iPad and MacBook have never had need of such things and probably never will.

 

[subjonas]

I’m so fed up of Apple’s PR BS of “we use plastic free packaging and don’t give out plugs because we’re doing our bit for the planet” and yet they replace entire iPads when it is easier to just replace the battery. It’s disgusting. Maybe they don’t give our plugs anymore because they're trying to offset all the e-waste generated by stupid decisions like this and making devices that can’t be upgraded (Mac Studio) or thrown away once the battery is depleted (AirPods). Yes I know they get recycled but that isn’t the solution as it generates a lot of CO2. The answer is to make products that can be serviced by end users and Apple in a way that prolongs the lifecycle of the products.

I, too, wish that companies would replace the batteries only, but I think it’s ok to receive an equivalent whole unit replacement IF
- the old unit has the battery replaced and is used as a refurbished unit for someone else
AND
- we’re charged a somewhat competitive price for the battery replacement (parts and labor), and not for anything more.

I think this would be an environmentally friendly and fair business practice. And probably cost effective for the company. It’s probably faster and cheaper for Apple to have a refurbishment assembly line that is constantly churning out replacement units ready to give to customers and taking in their old units, rather than taking time for each iPad battery replacement one by one. So I would think this is what Apple does.
I would think they only dismantle and recycle parts of iPads for those iPads that aren’t in good enough shape to be used as refurbished units.
Those units that are not good enough to be refurbished and are thus recycled, but were good enough to function, however—I wish Apple would only replace the battery in those and let the customer keep the unit—because of the environmental impact of the recycling process, like you mentioned. But I’m glad at least they are making user/third-party battery replacements more feasible, so now at least customers have options.

 

[bingeciren]

Apple absolutely has the design prowess to give us awesome devices with easily user replaceable batteries.

They should do that

They absolutely had that prowess in the past. Anybody remember 2008 Unibody MacBooks with a latched back lid, which popped open and allowed easy access for battery replacement and internal drive change? That was the first and the last MacBook with such a great and friendly design. It all went downhill from then on.

It's nothing to do with prowess. Just a deliberate design philosophy to make Apple devices totally not user accessible, upgradeable or repairable.

 

[headlessmike]

It’s the same thing they do with all their obsolete products, Apple has their own recycling program where physically break-down components, recycling/reducing the metals and disposing of batteries, all of this is conducted through a robotic known as ‘Liam’. The below link has a really interesting article and a video that shows you specifics.

How Does Apple's Recycling Process Work?

Curious how Apple handles the recycling process? Here we shed some light on it.

www.makeuseof.com

My point was that the original Air and Mini aren’t classified as obsolete yet. There they either have to have a stock of refurbished A7 iPads, replace the batteries on the ones sent it, or replace them with a newer device.

 

[jadot]

Might this be the reason that the back is whobbly as hell?
Had the third iPad Air gen 5 in my hands today: it’s like a super expensive etch-a-sketch -> You can press through to the display from behind with your finger

I sent mine back for a refund because of this. I think Apple tried to make a cheap iPad Pro and ended up with a cheap feeling iPad. It’s the visible signs of compromising premium build quality for what feels like a rushed product.
I kept my iPad Air 4, which is a far better product, give or take battery issues, and bought an iPad Mini instead.
The Mini is perfect for my every day needs, without any of the above woes. A solid contender.

 

[Tozovac]

Apple absolutely has the design prowess to give us awesome devices with easily user replaceable batteries.

They should do that

And iPhones that are a little less Swarovski crystal and a little more Sony Spotts Walkman.