It's official: Smartphones will need to have replaceable batteries by 2027

Reclipse@lemdro.id to Android@lemdro.id – 1350 points – It's official: Smartphones will need to have replaceable batteries by 2027
androidauthority.com

TL;DR

  • The European Council has ended its adoption procedure for rules related to phones with replaceable batteries.
  • By 2027, all phones released in the EU must have a battery the user can easily replace with no tools or expertise.
  • The regulation intends to introduce a circular economy for batteries.
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It might be harder to pull that off without making the phone thicker in the process, but still possible.

Just need a tray you pull out of the side of the device that contains the battery with a gasket and a latch. Like a really big SIM or SD card tray.

The manufacturers can take the space needed from the battery making them even smaller and just blame regulators for the change while maintaining roughly the same phone without the battery for the rest of the world. At least that's what I imagine they'll do because corporations are always slimy like that.

They might just abandon the water resistance and blame the regulators, that's what I'm afraid of.

Well some might. Then you are free to vote with wallet and move to the maker who still thinks water resistance and dust is good sell factor for phones. Market working like it's supposed and so on. Within the guiding barriers market regulations.

I'm sure that it's possible to do both, though it'd eat even more space for gaskets or whatever.

I don't really care about thickness, though I would rather the thickness be used for a larger battery than for a replaceable battery.

Yup, and most regular users end up using phones for stuff which even a 4 or 5 year old phone would suffice. Except for the battery which keeps on degrading over the years.

I'm just a little cautious, because easily replaceable batteries will further dent phone sales in general, there could potentially be a marked increase in phone prices once this regulation comes into effect.

Of course people been asking for that for years and they never do. So that part of larger battery in exchange for having an enclosed system has sailed long ago. It's as likely as headphone jacks coming back.

Well headphone jacks should come back. I have a headphone jack on my Motorola g73, and it was one of the reasons I got it.

Yeah, I would be happy if it did, but flagships have sailed away in that department and budget pixels too which are great devices for those who want graphene or Calyx. I've given up on them ever becoming mainstream offerings again.