Leaked Documents Suggest Apple Could Be Forced to Build iPhones With User-Removable Batteries in Europe

[nylonsteel]

as i write there are about 400 comments
even before scanning the comments
I'm guessing most are in favor of user removable batteries for iPhone

 

[deeddawg]

Yes, of course. Given these prices , I would bring the phone to the next authorized reseller or Apple. But the cost of a replacement battery can be lower and the point is, that is is not really necessary to have the battery replaced by a third person if just the design would allow to replace the batteries easier.
As I said: if you just open the phone, loosen some screws and be able to remove the batterie yourself, all the overhead would be eliminated. Because the service technician has to do all these steps as well... they’re just more experienced and you will get a new phone if they mess it up ....

My most recent experience with a user-replaceable battery phone was a Samsung S4 Active. IP67 rating *if* you managed to get the rear cover back on properly after opening it up. ... and you had no way of knowing whether or not you had done so until the phone ended up wet... and the warranty didn't cover water damage. A form of Russian Roulette in a sense.

My point of view is that the market should decide such matters, not the government. Vote with your wallet. Buy one of the phones on the market that offers that capability.
[automerge]1582893433[/automerge]

You know what else is being thrown out the window? Our planet. And it’s not replaceable, either by users nor by apple.

How so?

If your iphone battery is failing, you can get it replaced by Apple or a third party service provider. Prices have been posted several times. They're far cheaper than replacing the phone.

At such time that your phone becomes truly obsolete, you can have it recycled.

If a person chooses not to do either of the above, that's on them.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

I’m a little confused by this. iPhone batteries are already physically replaceable by users. Perhaps they are referring to “legal” replaceability (e.g. the ability to replace a battery without voiding the warranty, etc.).

iPhone batteries are not user replaceable currently. You have to take the phone apart to do it.

What they are suggesting is all phones go back to when they had removable back pieces so users can swap batteries out easily without the need for any tools.

 

[I7guy]

as i write there are about 400 comments
even before scanning the comments
I'm guessing most are in favor of user removable batteries for iPhone

But not at the expense of having a phone that looks like brick.

 

[Jim Lahey]

as i write there are about 400 comments
even before scanning the comments
I'm guessing most are in favor of user removable batteries for iPhone

For some unfathomable reason, many seem to think that users being able to swap their battery out for a new one every time its health status drops below 98% is going to save the planet. Apparently everyone is currently throwing their phone away with the same frequency. More batteries being changed more frequently will apparently reverse climate change.

You’re in the wrong place if you’re looking for rational thinking.

 

[flottenheimer]

Apple's own desire to 'go green' — should make them rethink all their products: Putting real recyclability, repairability and even upgradeability among the top of their priorities.

Apple has done a lot* but they could do way, way, way more.

Real innovation in this area holds a possibility to truly disrupt the industry once again.
This time for good.

—

*In some product-areas, things are moving in the wrong direction for green-Apple, though. (Example: How will you recycle millions of AirPods when the batteries die in a few years? — You can't even separate the metals, the plastics and the toxic battery chemistry inside).

 

[Bsgreubel]

I've never had a need to swap my battery, and would not see it worthy to give up my water resistance for such a feature. Hopefully this never comes to fruition.

 

[expiredyogurt]

k bye EU. Seems like you aren't gonna get anymore apple devices lol

 

[hawkeye_a]

The EU(the government/administration which comes up with these regulations) should make a smartphone with USB and a removable battery if they think that's what people want(and will buy), instead of trying to do product development by legislation for successful American companies like Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Uber, Netflix, etc.

European citizens should be asking themselves, why none of those companies are indeginous to the EU, and why the set of laws/regulations/governance/politicians are not conducive of such disruptive technologies and companies taking root in their jurisdiction instead. IMHO

Here's a crazy notion.... if a product, which is the sum of it's parts and features, is what people want, they'll buy it, and if it's something they don't want, they won't buy it.

 

[chucker23n1]

The EU(the government/administration which comes up with these regulations) should make a smartphone with USB and a removable battery if they think that's what people want(and will buy), instead of trying to do product development by legislation for successful American companies like Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Uber, Netflix, etc.

European citizens should be asking themselves, why none of those companies are indeginous to the EU, and why the set of laws/regulations/governance/politicians are not conducive of such disruptive technologies and companies taking root in their jurisdiction instead. IMHO

That's a simplistic take.

For one, most of those companies are in California, which has far more regulations than the US in general.

Two, while it's true that the European tech industry has seen a decline, it's hardly defunct. You all depend on companies such as ARM(!), Nokia (which has swallowed up the cellular divisions of Bell Labs, Lucent, Siemens, Alcatel, and Motorola), Ericsson, Siemens, and others.

Here's a crazy notion.... if a product, which is the sum of it's parts and features, is what people want, they'll buy it, and if it's something they don't want, they won't buy it.

That is indeed a crazy notion, because it ignores complexities of consumerism, antitrust, ….

 

[subi257]

You know what else is being thrown out the window? Our planet. And it’s not replaceable, either by users nor by apple.

If the EU is taking steps to alleviate the catastrophe we’re already whitnessing, I won’t complain if my phone is a bit thicker or if it’s not ready for scuba diving out of the box.

The old phones/devices....electronics should NOT be going into the garbage/landfill! They should be going to a responsible E-recycling company and all of the materials being reused. Along with the fact that there is much money there.
[automerge]1582901228[/automerge]

The same usb-c ports which are in my macbook are not suitable for another applethingie?

Do you carry your MacBook in your pocket?

 

[Regbial]

The EU is going to end up with iPhones that are:
- fat, ugly
- no water resistance
- no ports

...whut?

We cannot just point at Apple on the lack of removable batteries. Good luck finding a premium smartphone from any manufacturer that has one. Removable battery phones generally fall into the 200-300 dollar range budget phones.

If the EU implements this, I would think it would be easier and cheaper for premium phone manufacturers to just stop selling their flagship phones in the EU. The black market would thrive, so no real sales would be lost.

It's almost like markets aren't set in stone and change constantly... What's to say Apple won't make an iPhone that looks just like the rest but comes with little tools to remove the battery? And you can't make a stylish, capable, modern phone without a removable battery...? .....Why?

 

[compwiz1202]

How is this a bad thing?

Lose water resistance. Plus unskilled users could probably damage something.
[automerge]1582905129[/automerge]

Lol no ports and then batteries charged like a drill set battery on an external charger. Phones will come with spare batteries.

Yea I remember those battery chargers you just snapped one into. And can we get those fat extended batteries with the custom backing again?

 

[deeddawg]

...whut?

A possible response to https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...that-means-for-apples-lightning-port.2224277/

It's almost like markets aren't set in stone and change constantly... What's to say Apple won't make an iPhone that looks just like the rest but comes with little tools to remove the battery? And you can't make a stylish, capable, modern phone without a removable battery...? .....Why?

Yep. Samsung, Moto, etc used to have removeable batteries in their flagship devices.

Then they switched to sealed devices.

So long as the other aspects aren't impacted, I don't really care.

Just don't like government interfering in the free-market any more than necessary -- and since faulty batteries can already be replaced if needed, I don't see the need of forcing a particular design feature such as this.

 

[compwiz1202]

Oh , really?!..
What I meant is that there is less depletion of raw material. We are too much used to change the whole thing instead of a small part and we are paying it a lot , not only as individuals but as a whole society.

This was way back like almost 30 years ago when I was in tech school for PC Support. The first part of the first semester we learned how to fix actual cards by soldering and stuff, and then they nixed that in favor of just replacing parts because it was cheaper to just get new parts over repairing.

 

[Ma2k5]

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.

Delusional rubbish.

Best Phones With A Removable Battery In 2024 - Technobezz

If you are looking for the best smartphones with removable batteries, go through our list below to find the right one for your needs.

www.technobezz.com

People seem to forget how many compact phones we have had and still can have with replaceable batteries. The idea Apple can't create a pocket sized replaceable battery phone which is water resistant while others can is laughable.

 

[I7guy]

Delusional rubbish.

Best Phones With A Removable Battery In 2024 - Technobezz

If you are looking for the best smartphones with removable batteries, go through our list below to find the right one for your needs.

www.technobezz.com

People seem to forget how many compact phones we have had and still can have with replaceable batteries. The idea Apple can't create a pocket sized replaceable battery phone which is water resistant while others can is laughable.

Which ones in the list are ip68 water resistant and have Face ID the equivalent or better than apples?

 

[Ma2k5]

Which ones in the list are ip68 water resistant and have Face ID the equivalent or better than apples?

Are you comparing what Apple can make compared to, what can be considered in most of those cases budget phones? I am dispelling the illusion that a removable battery would create some oversized monstrosity which would become water damaged by a sneeze as some on this thread seem to believe.

 

[I7guy]

Are you comparing what Apple can make compared to, what can be considered in most of those cases budget phones? I am dispelling the illusion that a removable battery would create some oversized monstrosity which would become water damaged by a sneeze as some on this thread seem to believe.

The point is Apple (or anyone) capable of cramming all of the electronics into a phone with a removable battery the same size and water resistance as today’s phone without compromise. I dont want a thicker phone or smaller battery.

 

[G5isAlive]

Are you comparing what Apple can make compared to, what can be considered in most of those cases budget phones? I am dispelling the illusion that a removable battery would create some oversized monstrosity which would become water damaged by a sneeze as some on this thread seem to believe.

Ah yes the get something for nothing argument by citing cheap examples that don't have the same specs and durability of iPhones. Those phones may handle a sneeze but don't do as well in common weather situations such as rain or snow. And they do come apart at the worst times. I prefer my phone to be reliable.

 

[chucker23n1]

Are you comparing what Apple can make compared to, what can be considered in most of those cases budget phones? I am dispelling the illusion that a removable battery would create some oversized monstrosity which would become water damaged by a sneeze as some on this thread seem to believe.

Your implication is that Apple is too stupid, too lazy, or too evil to make their batteries easy to replace.

The reality is that doing so comes with the compromise of making the device thicker, heavier, clunkier, and also more failure-prone.

They made a trade-off and stuck to it.

 

[HudsonSteele]

The government does this because it's their job to intervene...

No, the governments job is to apply the will of the people, not tell them they need to change their will. It's your job as an activist to change the will of the people, which you are attempting to do by relying to my comment so kudos, but that can only be done by persuasion. At the end of the day, freedom is lost when coercion is used, it just becomes tyranny.

 

[Regbial]

A possible response to https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...that-means-for-apples-lightning-port.2224277/



Yep. Samsung, Moto, etc used to have removeable batteries in their flagship devices.

Then they switched to sealed devices.

So long as the other aspects aren't impacted, I don't really care.

Just don't like government interfering in the free-market any more than necessary -- and since faulty batteries can already be replaced if needed, I don't see the need of forcing a particular design feature such as this.

I do think there should be more of a middle ground, at least. Force companies to make it at least easier for local repair shops to replace batteries, and also more affordable for the consumer.

 

[deeddawg]

I do think there should be more of a middle ground, at least. Force companies to make it at least easier for local repair shops to replace batteries, and also more affordable for the consumer.

I'll agree with third-party repairability mandates. I'm not a fan of price controls though.

 

[Ma2k5]

Your implication is that Apple is too stupid, too lazy, or too evil to make their batteries easy to replace.

The reality is that doing so comes with the compromise of making the device thicker, heavier, clunkier, and also more failure-prone.

They made a trade-off and stuck to it.

You are stating the obvious. If you removed your Apple bias, you would see my post was nothing about removable batteries without compromise. It was criticising some peoples exaggerated perception of compromise.