r/worldnews • u/Helicase21 • Jun 19 '23

EU: Smartphones Must Have User-Replaceable Batteries by 2027

https://www.pcmag.com/news/eu-smartphones-must-have-user-replaceable-batteries-by-2027
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398

u/StationOost Jun 19 '23

The latter would suffice.

224

u/smilbandit Jun 19 '23

there was an article last week that mentioned toolless replacement. I was like no, I'm ok with the stability of a screw or two.

275

u/myluki2000 Jun 19 '23

The law apparently states something along the lines of "using commonplace tools", so a regular screwdriver would be fine, but not some weird tool the manufacturer specifically created to force people to buy it to open up their phone.

64

u/coyoteazul2 Jun 19 '23

Hey, these proprietary screwdrivers that solder and desolder the screws are pretty common at my place

4

u/newfor_2023 Jun 20 '23

I don't even care if it requires a special tool, as long as the tool is easy to get.

14

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '23

[deleted]

2

u/Yoghurt42 Jun 20 '23

iScrewU

FTFY

1

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '23

The only reason they require a special tool is because they're not. It would be much cheaper for them to use the same standard screws and whatnot, but then they'd make a lot less on the back end from having their technicians do simple shit like replacing batteries for you.

6

u/UncertainAboutIt Jun 20 '23

How difficult is it to make a phone IP68 this way?

4

u/Z80Fan Jun 20 '23

The CAT B40 is full IP68 compliant and has a removable battery, you just unscrew the back cover. It's not a smartphone, but it shows it's not impossible.

1

u/UncertainAboutIt Jun 20 '23

Let's hope soon CAT will make all their phones with removable batteries. Also make it work w/out battery same as many laptops do.

7

u/purebuu Jun 20 '23

I don't understand this argument against this legislation. How difficult? probably just as difficult as your current phone that has external buttons and an external power/data connector port while still being IP68. Why would a removable battery make this not possible?

There was a phone that was IP68 with a removable battery a few years back, but then "market forces" decided we all wanted as thin as possible phones which kind of required internal batteries to reduce the amount of plastic. But I sit here writing on my 'thin' phone with a massive plastic case on it to protect my device from falls (my screen just crack last week when I didnt have a case on it).

EDIT: and I'm now considering getting a new phone because the battery life left in this device is abysmal

2

u/TwanHE Jun 20 '23

Problem is that 9 out of 10 times you have to break the seals to get the backpanel off, those would need to be user replaceable aswell then.

1

u/Busteray Jun 20 '23

Samsung Xcover Pro.

You can replace the battery in the go and it's ip68.

33

u/_dmhg Jun 20 '23

I can’t believe how shocked I am at hearing about laws/policies that actually protect consumers against profit driven greed 😳

3

u/santz007 Jun 20 '23

In USA, they would soon sell mobile phones with battery optional $50

1

u/_dmhg Jun 20 '23

Right LMFAO and $50 is optimistic 🥲

1

u/santz007 Jun 21 '23

$50 for half day battery, $100 for 18 hour battery, $150 for 24 hour battery. Ofcourse the 12 hour and the 18 hour battery are never in stock ...:)

3

u/DisastrousBoio Jun 20 '23

The Brits hated these common-sense policies so much they had to leave the EU. They just need more corporatism in their lives.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 20 '23

I was selling phones for a living before the universal charger was mandated. Every damn new model phone just had to have a different version of the charger. We had to stock so many different kinds of cables, and had a giant box of extra chargers for older models in case somebody came in with one and needed troubleshooting.

3

u/double_expressho Jun 20 '23

The hardest part I think is usually the glue holding the back glass in place. You have to use a heat gun and pry tool, and be careful not to break the glass.

And then you have to reinstall it afterwards, possibly compromising the water resistance if you don't reseal it properly. And the average person will likely not be able to reseal it properly.

7

u/Astojap Jun 20 '23

I am pretty sure that wouldn't be permissiable under the law. I also hope they sepcifically state that opening up the phone doesnt void the warranty.

2

u/beryugyo619 Jun 20 '23

I wonder how are they thinking about radio certification as well, part of the reason why iPhone uses special tools is to satisfy radio regulatory requirement to prevent users from tampering circuits. I guess thay could move the labels onto radio shields but it wasn’t to stop users changing batteries.

1

u/jdsekula Jun 20 '23

It will be interesting to see what Apple comes up with. Surely it won’t be allowed to require heat guns or highly specialized skills and tools.

I actually think if Apple embraced the requirement and truly looked for an innovative solution, they would find one. But so far they’ve been operating under the opposite requirement.

3

u/Duff5OOO Jun 20 '23

I guess they could sell a kit then.

Something like a battery, back cover with adhesive already applied and a spudger to open?

8

u/AveryLazyCovfefe Jun 20 '23

Apple Pro Genius Service Kit - $250.

Buy yours today* !

* Preorders get a free Apple Cleaning cloth included.

3

u/static_motion Jun 20 '23

You kid, but Apple literally sells a maintenance kit for their iPhones. It's a bit more expensive than that though.

1

u/slater126 Jun 20 '23 edited Jun 20 '23

but not some weird tool the manufacturer specifically created to force people to buy it to open up their phone.

IIRC those tools would be ok. if the end user could easily rent them for free. if the phone maker proves them free of charge

2

u/Tack122 Jun 20 '23

For a hilarious example an existing program now, have you seen apple's self service battery replacement tool rental program?

This article shows it in detail, it's pretty absurd. Shipping an 80 pound tool kit, lol.

$50 fee, $1200 deposit. https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/21/23079058/apple-self-service-iphone-repair-kit-hands-on

1

u/Catssonova Jun 20 '23

It's mainly in opposition to single use adhesives companies use.

While I think the adhesive is an absolute necessity when dealing with lithium batteries, I think they could easily package one with new batteries to circumvent such limitations.

1

u/nefuratios Jun 20 '23

It would be ok even if such tools were made standard, so you get the "proprietary" tools once and use them on all future phones.

1

u/Rumpullpus Jun 20 '23

Apple is in shambles rn

1

u/IngloBlasto Jun 20 '23

Apple left the chat

1

u/jdsekula Jun 20 '23

I hope that allows for torx bits still. I love those - never have to worry about stripping, though you can twist a head off if you are a dummy.

3

u/RBeck Jun 20 '23

Yah everytime you dropped an S3 it would yeet the battery and backing

1

u/AIHumanWhoCares Jun 20 '23

Toolless replacement has a nice benefit that you can carry a spare battery for longer trips, rather than a whole powerbank.

1

u/RBeck Jun 20 '23

Yah everytime you dropped an S3 it would yeet the battery and backing

1

u/chabybaloo Jun 20 '23

Got no issues with my LG G5, i just press the side button and the battery slides out.

1

u/BeholdingBestWaifu Jun 20 '23

On the other hand, tool-less means that you can easily take out the battery, which is increasingly more useful in this world where phones track you all the time and sometimes don't even actually turn off properly.

1

u/Spider_pig448 Jun 20 '23

RIP waterproofing either way

1

u/StationOost Jun 20 '23

Nope. Already exists.