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

[bandalay]

They are already. I've changed out batteries on a a half dozen devices. It's really not that hard.

 

[HVDynamo]

They already are removable, it just requires some time, tools, and a little skill. I actually don't want to go back to the days of batteries being able to just pop off in seconds. They tend to last long enough (Lifecycle wise) we don't need to do that. I have replaced some batteries myself, and brought others in to be replaced. It's not the worst process. What I don't like is when they glue the battery down (like in the laptops). That I have a problem with, but just requiring that you take out a couple screws and open the machine up to change the battery isn't that big of a deal really. everyone can already order the kit from iFixit and do it yourself.

 

[gnasher729]

The idea is that instead of having the e-Waste of an entire phone after a year or two, however long your battery lasts, you can replace the battery. Since it's not expected to be handled like your AA or 9 volt battery, you can keep the current battery envelope. There's no need to make the battery extra-durable. It's just like how we expect adults to be able to be responsible around gasoline or fertilizer.

Only a complete idiot would replace an iPhone after a year or two because the battery is running low. Anyone with a brain will either go to an Apple Store to have the battery replaced, or to a repair shop offering the same service.

 

[jlseattle]

This seems like a no brainer. User removable battery might inhibit design a bit but I know with creativity they could figure it out.

 

[bandalay]

Oh no! But I totally enjoyed waiting in line for half an hour, twice, but only after booking three appointments at the Apple Store over an over again only to be told, once I went there and waited in line, that they can't actually do the replacement and that I should book another appointment, and then paying a third of the price of a new phone, for a battery replacement. Only to then find that the battery life didn't improve, because that's just how bad battery life is on iOS 13.

The only thing that enjoyed more than that, was the battery replacement on my MacBook Pro, which took two months of setting up appointments here and there and paying huge sums of money to basically replace half of my computer. It's almost as if when designing products, Apple pretends that batteries are not consumables.

iPhone battery — Search - iFixit

Repair your electronics yourself. iFixit is the repair manual you can edit. We sell tools, parts and upgrades for Apple Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and MacBook as well as game consoles.

www.ifixit.com

 

[4509968]

Is it as sleek as an iPhone pro max?

An iPhone Pro Max is 8.1mm thick. My iPhone 6 is 6.9mm thick.

... rather than just keeping new iPhone models at 6.9mm (the thickness of the iPhone 6, which is the thinnest-ever iPhone), iPhones have gotten progressively thicker...

A simple Google search will turn up smartphones which have removable batteries even now. One of them, Moto E6s is 8.6mm thick. That's .5mm thicker than an iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Moto E6s - Full Specifications & Price in India (30th August 2025) | 91mobiles.com

Discover the full specifications of Moto E6s Mobile Phone, including MediaTek Helio P22, 4 GB RAM, 13 MP + 2 MP Dual Rear Camera, 8 MP Front Camera, 3000 mAh battery & 6.1 inches (15.49 cm) display.

www.91mobiles.com

iPhone

Designed for Apple Intelligence. Discover the iPhone 16e along with iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 and iPhone 15.

www.apple.com

Wow that's a lot.

Here are some more phones which have removable batteries even in 2019. Some have MIL grade durability and some have IP68 waterproof rating too.

10 Best Android Phones with Removable Battery

Can’t give up removable batteries? Here are 5 best Android phones with removable battery that you can still buy in 2018.

joyofandroid.com

The same IP68 as aniPhone 11 Pro Max.

It took me 5 minutes to google all this out.
[automerge]1582822010[/automerge]

Excellent idea. Billions of consumers tossing all their used phone batteries into landfill.

Agreed. They should be throwing the entire phone into the landfill.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

How is this a bad thing?

User removable batteries need two layers of protective shells, the housing in the phone and on the battery itself. I'm all for better repairability that allows for easy access for those who care to repair it themselves, but user removable batteries would result in much smaller capacities or much thicker phones. The last generation MacBook Air struck a good balance imo (as compared to the user removable 2009 MacBook Pro or the glued on batteries on the newest MacBooks), with unprotected battery cells but very easy to replace with only screwdrivers.

 

[HVDynamo]

We have a dongle for that!

Dongles suck and should go away. I'm with him, I want the actual jack back.

 

[Anarchy99]

Well, for one thing, a user-replaceable battery might mean the device is less water-resistant.

they say that but that's not really true, they said the same about headphone jack but the same year Samsung's galaxy had both a user-replaceable battery as well as a headphone jack while retaining its waterproofing.

its comes down to a few things, its more costly because it requires more gaskets/watertight seals etc.
hypothetically due to use misuse/over use can cause additional wear failure points and probably the most important gives them fewer reasons your average person put up with when they void warranty claims on a whim.
not to mention it can look less aesthetically pleasing and/or cause the device to be thicker not thinner.

 

[macduke]

Easy. Just release all the chonky non-water resistant phones for Europe, while we have the slim devices that unfold before our eyes. I mean, does anyone actually think that it would be easy to replace the battery in some future iPhone that unfolds multiple times into a large iPad using a bunch of different integrated battery cells? This just hamstrings innovation. Just like requiring USB-C hamstrings development.

Could you imagine if they had required micro-USB years ago? The Lightning port never would have happened, which forced innovation in USB-C. People so quickly forgot that USB used to not be able to carry a video signal, used to not be able to be reversible, used to be less rigid, etc. These are all innovations that Lightning helped pioneer.

But I see now why they don't mind requiring a thicker port in USB-C if they're also going to require removable batteries and therefore thicker devices.

 

[iapplelove]

Normally I would take the side of the consumer, but not in this case.

 

[sman789]

Dongles suck and should go away. I'm with him, I want the actual jack back.

I know, I'm with you. I have a G8 and will stick with LG for phones.

 

[1984]

Why are non-eu-user offended by this? You will still get your iPhones as before, don't worry.

Because they will cost more and availability will be impacted if Apple was forced to dedicate manufacturing to a subset of phones specifically for the EU market.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

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.).

I think they are referring to having your average, everyday person have the ability to replace their battery easily without specialized tools, and a bunch of technical knowledge. A removable back or door that allows access to the battery that would easily pop out. Sort of like many laptops.

 

[CAScading]

future iPhones will require a smart battery case

 

[cmaier]

This seems like a no brainer. User removable battery might inhibit design a bit but I know with creativity they could figure it out.

Do you? You know that?

Have you compared phones with user-replaceable batteries to ones without them? It's not like we don't actually know exactly what effect this will have.

 

[Jimmdean]

future iPhones will require a smart battery case

I like that idea. Make a model with no battery that requires the battery case. Be careful what you wish for Europe.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Fantastic. This would be a great help with making sure that phones are able to be used longer, and in turn reducing e-waste.

1) E-Waste will increase because people will just throw away the old material instead of disposing of it as it should be done.
2) You make a false point "being able to be used longer". You can do it already by going to an Apple Store or a certified repair shop.
2b) It really doesn't take that much of a time to go to an Apple Store and get a battery replacement once every two years.
3) possible issues with waterproofing
4) most likely thicker phones and crappier default batteries (why would Apple invest in good batteries knowing that you can change them for cheap every three months?)

 

[ktecac]

Would love this! If this is the case Apple may be forced to make each generation better and not just thinner (though I don't mind if they make it thinner too). Would like to see it expanded to Laptops and iMacs too - though we'd have to be concerned about the safety of people handling highly dangerous SSD and volatile memory sticks ( )

 

[cmaier]

Would love this! If this is the case Apple may be forced to make each generation better and not just thinner (though I don't mind if they make it thinner too). Would like to see it expanded to Laptops and iMacs too - though we'd have to be concerned about the safety of people handling highly dangerous SSD and volatile memory sticks ( )

Each generation for the last few has been getting thicker, not thinner.

What are you even talking about?

 

[iTech23]

What about water resistant phones? Can they do that?
Because I know they have to seal the phones in order to be water resistant.
[automerge]1582823150[/automerge]

Would rather have a headphone jack.

I say no to both.

 

[jgrove]

Let’s face it, Apple only created none user replaceable batteries to ensure that people upgraded the latest handset, although it did make the phone smaller it was a financial decision and nothing else. Anyone that claims it won’t be waterproof needs to check their facts.

 

[Stevez67]

With all the things the EU has to contend with trying to hold their union together, they waste time on legislation about charging ports and batteries on mobile devices? Wouldn't their time be better spent trying to revive their economies?

 

[orbital~debris]

The European Union is trying to get involved in our lives on a micro level. Deciding what we buy and what companies produce. It's almost like a big communist state. Except that it's just a governmental body on top of everybody's own government and no country is a communist state on it's own. One forced thing isn't that hard, but they already decide on what kind of light we can use in our lamps and the amount of watts our vacuum cleaner are allowed to use. It may seem for the greater good, but it's all so restrictive. There is no real benefit in it.

I think the benefit in the two examples you gave are to our shared environment!

 

[grobik]

What about all the android devices without user replaceable batteries? Last I checked the user base for Android was larger in Europe.