All smartphones and iPhones, must have replaceable batteries by 2027 in the EU
L: https://mashable.com/article/replaceable-batteries-smartphones-iphones-2027
C: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36736222
posted on 2023.07.15 at 08:55:20 (c=2, p=7)

@hkrn except - there's exceptions. If the device is meant to be waterproof - exempt. If the device has a sufficiently high quality battery (it's defined in the statute) - exempt. It's likely the iPhone of 2027 will qualify on both counts.

@Biggles @hkrn That exception is actually a huge problem. The definition of the battery solely lies in it claiming a certain amount of capacity, which ultimately a lot already do and, more importantly, so do some of the lowest quality, cheapest batteries. I worry very much they'll just intentionally use bad-faith battery sellers in their designs that lie about capacity and then use it as an excuse to not make it replaceable.

@nazokiyoubinbou @hkrn
This *is* Apple we're talking about. It's a luxury brand. I guarantee you they're on top of their suppliers like a ton of bricks. Will others do that? Only if they're stupid - it's trivial to sample and test phone batteries, even non-replaceable, to check compliance. In fact - the fact that you can get rip-off mislabeled junk batteries is a solid reason to prefer the one the manufacturer shipped with; you know who to blame if there's issues.

@Biggles @hkrn I don't think it will just be Apple by any means. I can especially imagine Samsung doing it. But the sad thing is, this "luxury brand" is the brand that countless people insist upon using no matter what -- despite the fact they get ripped off from doing so. Even if it can be proven they pull a stunt like that, the actual process of litigation/etc would be arduous at best. Especially if it ends up being one of those things that require individuals to take them to task.

@nazokiyoubinbou @Biggles @hkrn

ripped off? I just changed my phone from a 7 to a 13. And only reason I got a new one is because I dropped it hard (long story).

I think 5-6 years out of a cell phone is pretty good, and I could have used longer. My MacBooks usually last even more, currently using a 2018 and not looking into replacing it any time soon.

If you are buying a new model every year, then it is on you. The quality allows keeping them for a long time. Excellent value.

@FuckElon @nazokiyoubinbou @hkrn

To me, "ripped off" is a phone that only does security updates for two years, rather than the life of the phone. I used my 6s+ until it quite literally didn't have the cpu to keep up, with no battery replacements, easily 5 years. Relevant amusing graphic:

@Biggles @FuckElon @hkrn I agree on the security updates thing. That's a market issue, not an Apple versus others issue. My 2017 A5 (that is six years) has a LineageOS update waiting on it with the latest security patches right now though, so, like I said, it's a market thing. It still "has the CPU to keep up" because nothing was added to arbitrarily slow it down (though I could do so manually if I wanted.) It does need a new battery, but that's a different discussion (voltage/rates/etc.)

@Biggles @FuckElon @hkrn No, much more specifically, when I talk about ripping people off I refer to the entire business model Apple uses. They repackage old tech developed by others as if it were their innovation, slap a fashionable exterior on it, then charge 2x, even 3x the equivalent alternatives and make people think that's a good thing. They lock stuff down and arbitrarily limit people at every step. And tons of other anti-consumer practices.

@nazokiyoubinbou @FuckElon @hkrn

We'll have to agree to disagree, as all I got out of that paragraph was "I've never used Apple products and actively ignore history"