But it’s just like many people don’t know that you can buy dual physical SIM iPhones from China because it’s mandatory there.


https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT209086

Separate region SKU here we come 😅

Its on all phones... the post is related to Apple, but the mandate was on everything.

The regulations in general so android also.

The regulations apply to literally any electronics with an integrated battery, not just smartphones, and sure as shit not just Apple products. It applies to like, electric scooters as well.

> A portable battery should be considered to be removable by the end-user when it can be removed with the use of commercially available tools and without requiring the use of specialised tools, unless they are provided free of charge, or proprietary tools, thermal energy or solvents to disassemble it.

seems like a definition that has no teeth then, because the tiny screwdriver, suction cup and prybar comes with all the 3rd party battery replacements, so it would be trivial for apple to simply do the same.

Isn’t apple already has a program in us that allows to user replace the battery? And you get the tools for free if you return them after. I think that’s why they made it in a first place, to counteract that law.

If you've ever tried to take apart a recent smartphone you'll know the back plate is glued on, which you need to cut through with something thin and flexible like a guitar plectrum, and then after removing some important looking tapes that inevitably rip apart and removing some screws (no problem there) the battery is glued in, which is really hard to remove without bending it, which is super scary with lithium ion batteries...
So this is actually great news.

But I just hope they are going to make legislation about the screens on smartphones. Often the first thing to break, and nearly impossible to replace. Often they can be replaced, with difficult steps, but it is an assembly with the structural backbone of the phone (frame) included. And super expensive. Would not be such a big problem if at least you could find a replacement screen... Manufacturers should be obliged to keep some stock of replacement parts.

Another thing about those screens: at some point the materials and designs changed and everything became super fragile. Drop you're phone once: screen broken. Go buy a new phone. I believe this is intentional. I believe smartphones can be built in a way more resilient way, be it at the cost of a little bit of fancyness. The glass/plastic of the screen might be a bit thicker, the edge around the screen a bit wider, maybe a thicker layer of rubberized material to protect everything. I'm willing to make the trade.

It seems like we've all forgotten that breaking a screen so easily didn't use to be a thing.

How long before Apple invent some weird way of keeping the cover on - maybe with magnets or some weird adhesive that can be removed without solvents or thermal energy but only if you use their special tool?

That probably won’t be very common.

The regs basically say that the battery has to be user replaceable without specialized tools (and specifically without heat guns). Regular “commercially available” tools are fine.

This doesn’t necessarily mean a sliding battery door on flagship phones.

Lol, so many people have forgotten the iPhone 4/4S which was two screws, and simple slide of the back to get access to the battery. From there on, a simple battery with pins can be inserted and removed like the old Nokia's.

Phones don't need to go back to being plastic. There's so many different ways to implement this.

That flying battery actually did a lot of good, taking much of the impact energy with it.

Last year's Galaxy xcover6 pro is IP68 rated & have a removable battery, check any of the drop tests the back never comes off

Also removable battery =/= removable battery, look at th3 LG G5, the battery reloads like a handgun.

Still have my iphone 8 and replaced the battery twice already...

The original iPhone was released 15 years ago, battery isn’t the reason people aren’t still using them today.

And also people aren’t replacing phones after 15 months, I’d say 3 or 4 years is pretty normal.

That's not true, I replaced the battery in my phone about 3 months ago.

It only took about $100 worth of specialized tools, following a 50 steps guide, and then about the same number of steps in reverse. And I only had to do 3 attempts and live without the phone for a week while waiting for extra adhesive things to arrive because I messed up the one I had originally.

I also doubt that my phone is still waterproof and I definitely voided my warranty.

Would do it again 10/10

> Taking a device with a 15 year lifespan down to 15 months because the battery is welded in place.

literally no phone has a battery that's "welded in place", or has the battery failing after 15 months.

just because the opted to waterproof the phone and make it thin rather than having a clip on the back doesn't negate that it's only like 5 screws to replace an iphone battery.

The batteries aren’t welded in and replacing them is cheap. Forcing replaceable batteries on consumers is a step backwards because phones with (easily) replaceable batteries are terrible.

Say goodbye to water resistance, ever improving battery tech and say hello to tons of additional e-waste not just once but for the entire forseeable future buddy

no, it was a giant "oh, nobody cares about this feature" moment, exactly like the headphones jack.

I e never had a phone that needed a new one. If I did need one it would only cost 80 so not a big deal.

>device with a 15 year lifespan down

Lmao. So you're saying that you are still using an iPhone from 2008?

How is that working for you?

Woah woah woah! Are you saying that Apple didn't provide the market standard sd slot, because they are, like, greedy? I thought it was because they care about us! I don't like EU ovahrrheguylaytion! I trust the free market!

You guys have phones without SD card slots?

A law PRHIBITNG the disign of lighter, stronger phones is what's anti-consumer.

God, this is such double-speak. Limiting what consumers are ALLOWED to purchase is as anti-consumer as can be.

This law is a big FUCK YOU to the expressed product preferences of the consuming public. We all FLOCKED to sealed phones and all the benefits they brought.

Because I keep my phone for 1 year, and then swap for a new one. I don’t want a larger phone because people want to keep the same phone for a decade. Even if I was to keep a phone long enough I’d bring it to have OEM parts used, and not some cheap knockoff stuff from a back alley repair shop.

Electronics have a lifespan, people need to realize it’s not a lifetime investment.

If it's not readily replaceable by end users, it doesn't meet the criteria. Specialized tools are currently required, PLUS they use adhesives which would effectively be prohibited moving forward.

The small minority can already tinker with batteries.

Get your head out of Tim Apples Ass.

They had time to design their phones and during this time we lost tons of functionality and now we are getting garbage non servicable hardware.

Engineers don't design phones, accountants do.

oh no, your phone will be able to have more "features" that help you.

Or you know, we do the thing that actually works and force companies to do the ethical thing.

The free market and public is awful at self-regulation, it works on paper, but in practice, people don't want to do the extra effort or make a choice that's not in their self-interest. We had free capitalism a century ago without regulations, it didn't work out well and never will.

Excess waste hurts people.

Making people pay hundreds of dollars to replace a $20-80 battery hurts people.

There's also the issue of lots of people *not caring* at an individual level, so they all get the device they like the most, usually from companies that don't do replaceable. But at the macro level the aggregate waste is enormous.

Environmental laws and consumer protection laws are only needed because its easy for giants to back the whole market into a really brutal position based on consumer preferences, killing choice for others and increasing waste for all.

(also phone batteries will probably be like watch batteries. You can do it yourself, but if you want to ensure water resistance you pay to have it done. Still costs extra, but the *option* of self service places a constraint on how much they can charge)

Apple is the problem.

The iPhone is the only phone in the Apple ecosystem. There's no competition to "vote for with your wallet" if you're stuck in the Apple ecosystem for whatever reason (some people legit need Apple).

That's why this is targeted at Apple and not Android manufacturers.

Why not? It's super practical for the end user

IP certified phones with user replaceable batteries have existed for decades. I have one sitting right here.

If the Samsung S4 is an indicator, no. It was literally advertised as “take pictures under water!” but once the back cover was removed and replaced, even the trained employees struggled to seat the seal around the USB port and the phones fried with water contact.

Probebly from the start, it is Apple

Small brain energy, it's clearly gonna lead to less consumer waste cause the lifespan of a phone will increase now. It's the whole point of this mandate.

Sorry, what the fuck are you on about?

Did you only read the first 4 words?

You sound like a cynic from the US or someplace without adequate consumer protections. Things generally work well here. Apple (or anyone else) can exit the EU market if they don't like the regulations (they won't) but they'll need to meet the 2027 deadline like everyone else and follow the letter and spirit of the law if they don't want to be immediately fined and their products banned. Also, you realize the text already demands that from the get-go no specialized tools may be required unless provided with the product for free? And that end-users need to be able to change the battery 'at any time' and 'readily' do so? And there's a list of requirements on replacement availability. Plus, anyone could make the batteries themselves, not just Apple, etc.

It works like this in 'murica?

"Haha Apple expensive, I am funny and original, please upvote"

How is you replacing your Xiaomi shit every other year (even though it is unusable after 3 months for anybody with standards anyways) working for you?

There was no incentive because it's a bad idea. This law just mandates a bad idea.

Glue-sealed design is BETTER. Slim, light, strong and water resistant. THAT'S what there was an incentive to design. That incentive is called customer preference.

Throwing money at an "invented" problem isn't going to violate physics. We have the phones we have because they are the best possible design.