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EU wants the return of easy replaceable batteries in smartphones

Marco LancasterFebruary 25, 2020

Do you remember some years ago when swapping batteries in smartphones was something very simple? Everything we needed to do, back in the days, was to remove the smartphone’s back cover, remove the battery and replace it with a secondary unit. In just a few seconds we have a fully recharged battery ready to go. Nowadays, it is an extremely rare commodity. Of course, the change in favor of non replaceable batteries brought us some benefits such as larger batteries. Moreover, it’s really easy and fast to re-charge a battery with the actual fast-charging technologies. However, some nostalgic fans are still hoping, that someday, we will have all the three possibilities in a smartphone. According to a leaked document, the EU isn’t happy with the actual scenario as well.

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The document states that the EU is planning to fix non-removable battery restriction in the near future by forcing manufacturers to make their phones batteries more easily accessible and replaceable. A Dutch financial website obtained the information and the aim of the proposal is, once again, to reduce electronic waste. You will remember the universal connector situation, the EU moved in favor of a universal USB port for smartphones, to reduce the electronic waste. Now the conglomerate is giving a step further to fight against this problem.

EU wants to discuss the return of quick replaceable batteries as soon as in the next month

It reads that if the user is able to change the battery hassle-free, he would do so and keep the device for longer instead of discarding it after two years of use. The proposal also suggests that manufacturers need to make the parts easily accessible to help third-party service centers. Furthermore, the plan includes recycling and re-using raw materials after discarding an electronic device. The EU will eventually work on a European collection system to gather old smartphones, tablets, and chargers so recycling is made easy. The proposal will focus on eco-friendly and recyclable packages. The plan will be presented sometime in the next month. Only time will tell if the replaceable batteries will make a return in smartphones.

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Source/VIA :

FD.nl

About the author

Marco Lancaster
Marco is the HARDWARE & OS EXPERT of Gizchina for the past 4 years. He is Fascinated for technology. He is constantly diving into the Software Development Field and is an expert in all kind of Hardware. He is passioned for the Chinese world of Smart Devices and an addict for technology in general.

Cyril Dieudonne
February 26, 2020
sweet, I’m 150% down for that. It has to comeback. I don’t to have to change my phone only cuz my battery died.

Guest
February 26, 2020
That’d be the best decision they take in years.. batteries degrading fast, 4000 mah becomes 3000 in a year or two and then will not hold charge eventually, I can live without dust/water resistance and fast charging in benefit to replacing the battery and get a recharged phone INSTANTLY.
Moon Wolf ☽🐺
February 26, 2020
Even if it passes in the EU, there’s no guarantee it’ll change anything for the rest of us. 🙁

Matei Alexandru Coltoiu
February 26, 2020
I always change battery during warranty, I hope that they find a solution for this while keeping phones water resistant. For now I prefer the current situation when the battery has 2 years warranty, with user replaceable batteries you only had 6 months warranty for the battery.

Wes Gale
February 26, 2020
While I support that, you can say goodbye to phones with an IP rating for water. Phones will have to be a fair bit thicker to include a reusable gasket in the back shell or something if you want to keep that feature.
If they make this mandatory apple will probably just stop selling phones there, we all saw how little they care about the usbC vs lightning thing.
Thankfully I expect my phone to still serve me well until I decide to get a other one, as my battery is usually in the range of ~60% at the end of the day
iCrazyApples
February 26, 2020
But then won’t be water proof.

Guest
February 26, 2020
In the United States it’s essentially illegal for anyone to fix Apple products because they got a court to rule that any replacement parts used to fix their products constituted patent infringement That’s what routinely happens now after 40 years of Republicans corrupting the court systems with judges who always rule in favor of big business and the super wealthy regardless of the law or the facts of the case.
Gordon Frew
February 26, 2020
It won’t reduce waste, people are too lazy to recycle properly it will be in the landfill. New startup business will be big business selling vast quantities of batteries.

ejohnston610
February 26, 2020
Couldn’t the manufacturers put in some sort of rubber gasket to create a watertight seal?
It can definitely be done.
ejohnston610
February 26, 2020
What could be even better is if they agreed on a set of standardized battery sizes, meaning that different manufacturers can use the same batteries and help to cut down costs and would make replacements cheaper too.

ejohnston610
February 26, 2020
“If they make this mandatory apple will probably just stop selling phones there…”
No they won’t. Apple would be stupid to stop selling iPhones in the EU. They will probably just find some way to circumvent it through some loophole.
Ryan D
February 26, 2020
Yes, yes, and yes. It’s sad when a $30 USD drop phone has this “feature” and a flagship doesn’t. It should be at least as simple as changing a car battery.

Aaron Welsh
February 26, 2020
Europe accounts for 25% of Apple’s global sales
mzs112000
February 26, 2020
Yes, bring back removable batteries…
Aaron Welsh
February 27, 2020
Bring back huge aerials as well & polyphonic ringtones 😂
William Steele
February 27, 2020
I would love for them to change their mind about usb-c and change it to a magnetic style of plug. I’ve been using a magnetic adapter for over a year on all of my usb-c, micro USB and lightning connectors and they are great but could be better if I didn’t need the adaptor (built-in instead). It’s great for getting in and out of cars and quickly (and only using one hand) connecting and disconnecting the cable.

Viktor_
March 1, 2021
When talking about violation water resistance in phones with replaceable batteries, this is fully fake. I have watches Omega (water proof) for 30 years and every 4 years i open back cover in the watches and change battery in this watches. I wash the dishes, i wash my hands and take a shower. And I don't understand why my watches still work for a 30 jears ?!?!
Viktor_
March 1, 2021

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EU wants to discuss the return of quick replaceable batteries as soon as in the next month

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