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Apple Explains Why It Won’t Make iPhones With Replaceable Batteries (www.inverse.com)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/apple_enthusiast@lemmy.world
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[+] -10 points 3 years ago (2 children)

Good point, but that still supports my overall point; you’ll need higher tolerances to prevent shorts and fires which means you need thicker casings. A user-replaceable battery has thicker battery cases and connectors compared to devices where the battery isn’t accessible.

Look at laptops for a similar story; making batteries user-inaccessible allowed them to shed thicker casings and instead fill more space when they weren’t constrained by a user compartment and casing and need for easy-detachable connector. Going back to a user-removable design in the exact same size case means slightly lower capacity batteries, which customers don’t want as a trade off.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago* (2 children)

    Did you even open an iPhone? Frankly speaking, if they didn't have special screws and removed a few of the glued parts it would be more than a reasonable compromise to have to deal with their current connectors to replace a battery. The problem is that even if you have the proper screwdriver you'll have to deal with glued stuff that won't come out easily and sourcing batteries isn't easy.

    "User replaceable" can be different from "open a back case with your finger and pop the battery out". I believe if Apple did something like: remove 2 phillips screws from the bottom of the phone and then the back/front comes out (without single-use adhesives) and a battery hold in place by two other screws and one more for the current power conector it would be "user replaceable" enough for most people and situations. This would be simple changes to their current design that wouldn't, most likely, require a change to the thickness of the phone nor a complete internal redesign while delivering a very huge improvement in repairability.

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  • [–] -1 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    By your standard then, Apple already has user-replaceable batteries.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    If it requires a pile of proprietary and special hardware, custom made screw drivers and extras al shipped to you it isn't my definition of user-replaceable. And me remind you that whatever Apple is providing now was the result of the effort of multiple people pressuring the US govt. to get something, not their first approach.

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  • [–] -2 points 3 years ago

    Now you’re moving the goalposts. Apple gives users the same tools to open the case and swap the battery that they give to their own stores, and predictably people still complain regardless.

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  • [+] -3 points 3 years ago (1 child)
    [removed by mod]
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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children)

    This isn’t Reddit, we are actually nice to one another here rather than make stupid taunts.

    Sigh, again it’s amazing how non-engineers assume this must be so easy and they’re condescending to boot. The iPhone 14 pro has a much bigger battery than the Samsung Galaxy S5, which was a benefit of miniaturizing other hardware and removing other circuits. Apple could make a phone with removable battery but then you’re talking about going back to a 2014 sized battery with hours shorter battery life. Basically erasing all the gains of the last 9 years. You think Apple should go and build a removable battery anyway and give up their lead and stay behind Samsung, who isn’t making battery swappable phones?

    I know you think Apple is being intentionally sadistic and making phones of this design just to piss you off, but surveys show almost nobody swapped their phone batteries. Apple found an engineering advantage. And since you’re being a jerk on Lemmy, blocked.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago

    I don’t even get why a removable backplate is necessary when the battery is a ‘once every 2 years’ replacement. Why would I want my phone’s entire design to be compromised for a replacement that my phone will probably only see twice, maybe thrice?

    Plus, hot-swappable batteries would carry the risk of people replacing batteries and just tossing away the spare like garbage. At least now, the procedure is restricted to businesses and people who probably have enough sense to recycle the battery.

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  • [–] -1 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago)

    Lol want a picture of my electronics system engineering degree?

    Want my CV that includes 7 years working for an electric motor engineering and automation company/firm and 6 years experience with professional electronics repair?

    Need a reference to my last employer, who i setup/managed to be the first authorised Apple repair partner in province?

    Although outdated would you like my previous certifications from Samsung, HTC, and LG for electronics repair?

    I'll provide my engineering credentials as soon as you do as well. Seeing thats your major claim here little man.

    Keep sighing and shilling for a multi-billion dollar compnay that employs top level engineers and designers, who rather cut cost in manufactoring to skirt laws and consumer ease of repairability?

    And just to add, i think all manufacturers should have easily swapable batteries in their mobile devices.

    Fuck outta here with your bullshit assumptions.

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