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Thread: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

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    Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Does anyone consider it worth it to buy a phone without a replaceable battery?

    I've noticed that in the last few years, the manufacturers have started phasing out phones with a replaceable battery.

    I brought a fairly powerful Chinese made phone a couple of years ago and it lost 50% of it's battery capacity. So I opened it up and tried to replace the battery, and it broke lol, because there was no way to quickly and easily replace the battery.

    Now, I have a Nokia 1.3, the performance isn't the best, but at least I can count on being able to keep it for a long time.

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    dude 99,9% phones are without replacaceble battery, ever heard of fast charging?

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Bad luck on the battery replacement. I tend to replace the battery at least once on all phones in the house, they really don't last that long and we usually need it to get through a full day without recharge.

    My main gripe is that the replacement batteries tend to be pretty bad. Even if they seem to be original factory batteries rather than knock-offs, they have probably been sat on a shelf for as long as you have had the phone so it isn't really new even if it hasn't been used. The third party ones are hit and miss as to whether they are any good.

    Let's see if right to repair makes any difference. I suspect not.

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Replaceable batteries would work if you kept a phone for 5-10 years granted, but if you upgrade in say, 5 years, you can definitely keep your battery in good condition with some proper care:

    That's because, If you're worried about battery damage, there are ways to make your battery last waaaaaay longer than the average user, as most people allow their phones to run in 0-100% cycles.

    If you occasionally top up your phone 10-50% and keep it between 20-80% capacity (very rough numbers) you'll find a night and day difference with the condition of the battery after a few years.

    This is because of the one big rule of lithium ion batteries: they hate heat. Leaving them on charge for ages produces heat and damages cells. (Incredibly simplified).

    Source and also awesome reading: https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/...ased_batteries
    Last edited by tazzrats; 24-03-2021 at 09:52 PM. Reason: Grammer

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by PCgamer View Post
    dude 99,9% phones are without replacaceble battery, ever heard of fast charging?
    What has fast charging to do with replacing a duff or exhausted battery? Charging speed is not a factor when it can't take/hold a charge in the first place.

    There are several other corners of the tech world where no-one in their right mind would touch an integrated battery, and certainly not a proprietary one, regardless of how fast it can be charged.

    Quote Originally Posted by cbdeakin View Post
    Does anyone consider it worth it to buy a phone without a replaceable battery?
    I would say No, if you have the choice... Not so much from battery lifespan, but from being unable to yank the battery when a soft reset key combo fails.
    Unfortunately that choice is rapidly vanishing, in the name of making phones even more stupidly thin than they currently are.
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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    I heard this is because people prefer phones that are waterproof... hence they want to seal the phones so that they can survive a dunking in water better. I think was one of the excuses for iPhones removing the headphone jack as well.

    -------
    Here's a 3 year old article that pretty much says similar and has some other reasons: https://mashable.com/article/why-pho...teries-anymore
    Here's another quote from Samsung: “We didn’t do the removable battery because we really wanted the water resistance and the battery was a pain to seal. So we just put a much bigger battery” explains Samsung PR manager Philip Berne
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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by Scryder View Post
    I heard this is because people prefer phones that are waterproof... hence they want to seal the phones so that they can survive a dunking in water better. I think was one of the excuses for iPhones removing the headphone jack as well.
    Yeah, but the One Plus 9 (probably among others) is waterproof AND has a replaceable battery.

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    I agree with you. I'd prefer a phone with replaceable battery, but doesn't seem to be an idea shard by some other companies. I guess different companies have different priorities.

    I have a Nokia dumb phone from 2019 that still has replaceable battery. I also have a smartphone that has a non-replaceable battery (at least not easily!).
    The article I linked says that non-replaceable batteries can be smaller and be made in different shapes, making a sleeker phone... the quote from the Samsung rep pretty much confirms the same.
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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    I used to worry about this, but not any more. LIfe's too short..... so....

    I spend a max £150 on a phone, once every two years . Sim only deals around £9 per month, no contract.

    then ebay the old one.

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by Zak33 View Post
    I used to worry about this, but not any more. LIfe's too short..... so....

    I spend a max £150 on a phone, once every two years . Sim only deals around £9 per month, no contract.

    then ebay the old one.
    The same here!

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    Yeah, but the One Plus 9 (probably among others) is waterproof AND has a replaceable battery.
    The old Galaxy S5 had a removable battery and was water resistant enough to drop in the bath several times without any issue... Don't ask how I know this.
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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster View Post
    The old Galaxy S5 had a removable battery and was water resistant enough to drop in the bath several times without any issue... Don't ask how I know this.
    My Motorola Defy was one of the first water resistant Android smartphones IIRC,and the battery was replaceable too.

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    Yeah, but the One Plus 9 (probably among others) is waterproof AND has a replaceable battery.
    not according to the specs on the One Plus website?
    https://www.oneplus.com/uk/9/specs

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by MrJim View Post
    not according to the specs on the One Plus website?
    https://www.oneplus.com/uk/9/specs
    I was going off the Grauniad review which lists replaceable battery in the sustainability section. IP68 rating seems to be a bit model specific (T mobile ones are?), though all seem to have water resistance features: https://screenrant.com/oneplus-9-ip6...ant-explained/

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    I was going off the Grauniad review which lists replaceable battery in the sustainability section. IP68 rating seems to be a bit model specific (T mobile ones are?), though all seem to have water resistance features: https://screenrant.com/oneplus-9-ip6...ant-explained/
    That review is actually for the One Plus 9 Pro, but the One Plus website says that its battery is non-replaceable too. That review in the Guardian says: " The battery can be replaced and the smartphone is generally repairable by OnePlus in the UK.", which is a little ambiguous...maybe they mean you can send it back to One Plus for a battery replacement? It'd definitely make it a more desirable phone if that were the case.

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    Re: Built in obsolescence - Phones without an easily replaceable battery

    Sorry I should have specified Pro since that has IP68 rating apparently, but looks like the non-pro also has replaceable battery - £13 ex vat (interesting, didn't think you were allowed to quote £ ex vat these days) for the part, though I think there's a labour fee as well. Pro's battery is £17.

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