Leaked Documents Suggest Apple Could Be Forced to Build iPhones With User-Removable Batteries in Europe
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What do you mean? No iphone has had what's considered a "user-replaceable" battery.
What's meant is essentially tool-free replacement such as existed in many phones years ago. I know the Samsung S4 had one, that was a big selling point for a lot of people. I forget just which generation Samsung dropped the replaceability.
DTphonehome
macrumors 68000
Would be hilarious if Apple made a thick ugly phone without waterproofing or wireless charging, but with USB port and removable battery, just for the European market. Sell them side-by-side with the regular model and see how many actually sell.
TheColtr
macrumors 6502a
You are correct, but I could see Apple make a Europe specific phone.
subi257
macrumors 65816
This will be the can of worms that will wreak havoc on all future products. Obviously, the batteries will need to have data connection to the processor for power management. So that will be proprietary and other (non Apple) batteries won't have that ability (that would be apple intellectual property).....until a government forces it to be released to other manufacturers. Now that sets a precedent for every company in every other industry....cars, TVs, tools, computers, etc.
If such a law were to come to pass, which I highly doubt would happen, it's far more likely Apple and Samsung and other phone makers would create separate EU-specific models. Perhaps sharing the same innards, but with a different housing -- and most likely a higher price to account for the additional production line equipment.
subi257
macrumors 65816
So much for being waterproof and dustproof. The manufacturers are struggling to get to the highest IP rating they can and this would throw it all out the window. Size will go out the window, to have a removable battery, the device (phone) would have to have a socket/compartment for the battery to fit into. Even as thin as the plastic might be, it does take up space. Now the battery cells now need to be encased into a sealed/safe enclosure that fits into the above socket. some form of water proofing/dust proofing will take some space. So......either the phone becomes bigger (might not be so pocket sized anymore) or the battery cells get smaller (reduced electrical capacity) and will require the user to carry extra batteries.
BornAgainMac
macrumors 604
Just have no battery in the iPhone and require connecting to a another device that has a removable battery with the lighting port or USB-C port.
Expos of 1969
Contributor
Now if you drop your phone the glass back shatters and you are out $ 1,000. Total piece of crap.
harrisondavies
macrumors 6502
Don’t be so sure. Europe is forcing them to use USB C. Bring it on.
It would be harder to make devices waterproof if you can’t truly seal them and have to have a removable panel. It would require the devices to be bigger to accommodate the gaskets, the latch mechanisms, etc.
And what about the fact that phones these days have Qi wireless charging coils on the back? You’re going to have a removable back panel, but the Qi coil on that back panel still has to be wired to the charging circuitry.
A battery inside a sealed phone doesn’t require the battery to have a thick, protective shell, since the battery is protected by the device’s shell. A cell phone’s body protects the battery inside it. But a removable battery (which can explode when punctured or damaged) needs to have a thick protective shell of it’s own.
Plus, it would require the internals to be completely re-engineered. Can’t have anything between the battery and the removable panel. And you need better protection for some of the internals that are currently protected by the back shell. Can’t have people getting zapped when they pop off the back cover and touch something while the battery is still plugged in. Oh, and that L-shaped battery Apple uses to wrap around the logic board? That’ll need to be rectangular instead to ensure structural integrity of the protective shell of the removable battery.
And what about the fact that phones these days have Qi wireless charging coils on the back? You’re going to have a removable back panel, but the Qi coil on that back panel still has to be wired to the charging circuitry.
A battery inside a sealed phone doesn’t require the battery to have a thick, protective shell, since the battery is protected by the device’s shell. A cell phone’s body protects the battery inside it. But a removable battery (which can explode when punctured or damaged) needs to have a thick protective shell of it’s own.
Plus, it would require the internals to be completely re-engineered. Can’t have anything between the battery and the removable panel. And you need better protection for some of the internals that are currently protected by the back shell. Can’t have people getting zapped when they pop off the back cover and touch something while the battery is still plugged in. Oh, and that L-shaped battery Apple uses to wrap around the logic board? That’ll need to be rectangular instead to ensure structural integrity of the protective shell of the removable battery.
RecentlyConverted
macrumors 6502a
As well you know, that was a special offer. Apple probably trying to avoid litigation due to its implementation of device throttling through iOS.
Expos of 1969
Contributor
Ah, so form over function. Not a wise approach.
SDJim
macrumors 6502a
Everyone knows that a battery replacement for an iPhone is only either $49 or $69, right???
What, pray tell, is to be gained from this? You think I'm going to be able to get a non-explosive battery on the aftermarket for significantly less than that? And then not be risking something by putting it in myself? After two years with your iPhone 7, I think $49 for the OEM to replace the battery with a brand new OE unit is not only reasonable, but far and away the best option.
TL/DR: Things are exactly as they should be. This is more EU socialist idiocy.
What, pray tell, is to be gained from this? You think I'm going to be able to get a non-explosive battery on the aftermarket for significantly less than that? And then not be risking something by putting it in myself? After two years with your iPhone 7, I think $49 for the OEM to replace the battery with a brand new OE unit is not only reasonable, but far and away the best option.
TL/DR: Things are exactly as they should be. This is more EU socialist idiocy.
and regular price is $49 / £49 / € 55 for iphone8 and earlier. $69 / £69 / € 75 for iphoneX and newer.
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Clearly not.
But when have we ever let things like actual information get in the way of outrage?
Expos of 1969
Contributor
What the heck are people doing with their phones that they feel they need water proofing rated at 30 minutes in a glass of water? Maybe don't browse the internet while using the toilet
People here are answering to the “How is this a bad thing?” question with arguments about why it is. And I indeed think it is, but the main point is how people can naturally think that because they think something is better, it should me mandatory. And we’re not talking about critical safety areas, like speed on the road. It’s exhausting to hear our European politicians talk about innovation when they’re totally, totally wrong. None of them has understood how it happens, they think it’s all about setting up a meeting with young people to discuss ways to improve the UX of old people from the Pyrenees when accessing public health. No effort, no risk, no big-thinking, just not innovation.
adrianlondon
macrumors 603
The battery on iPhones has always been user-removable.
It's just getting the phone to work afterwards that isn't possible 😁
It's just getting the phone to work afterwards that isn't possible 😁
Lounge vibes 05
macrumors 601
Welcome to 2008. All phones have bendy plastic backs that pop off with the smallest drop. A single drop of water will kill it. And your phone is only 13MM thick
The EU would force Batman to wear a white cape if they could spend ten years talking about it while surrounded in red tape. Regardless of the outcome.
smorrissey
macrumors 68000
and at the end on the rest of the world too....yes!!
But it is made of mostly plastic?
Do you think it would possible to create a phone max 8mm thick with IP 68 which the casing is made of only metal and glass and no plastic exterior? And at the same time house battery with the same capacity as today without increasing size?
lederermc
macrumors 6502a
UK left because they wanted to be able control immigration. The EU mandates any EU citizen can work and live in any EU country. When the EU was formed the Eastern block counties were not member of the EU.