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https://www.slashgear.com/2107938/removable-battery-phones-making-comeback/
Many of today's mobile phones, like the slim iPhone Air, are lightweight and sleek, with an advanced design and the latest in modern technology. It's a far cry from previous models, which were bulkier, had buttons, and bulged in your pocket. But while mobile phones have evolved over the years, the current fixed-battery design is reverting to its old form, thanks to legislation from the European Union (EU). Based on these new guidelines, phones will once again need batteries that can be safely removed and replaced by the user.
The EU's legislation also mandates that replacement batteries, while meeting the device's technical specifications, not be bound by proprietary limits. This means that a phone must be able to accept a compatible battery that meets the device's safety and technical standards, whether or not it's manufacturer-branded. Plus, replacement batteries must be available to the user for at least 5 to 7 years following a model's end of production. The EU has placed a date of February 18, 2027, for these expectations to be met.
[...] The EU's new legislation requiring smartphones to have removable batteries accomplishes a few different things. First, allowing users to replace a spent battery with a new one helps extend the life of the device before its final disposal. Plus, it also enables battery repair or replacement without throwing out the entire phone. By giving users this capability, the rules are meant to encourage reuse of existing phones and help cut down on electronic waste.
[...] But if removable batteries become the norm once again, then phone design could take a step backward in terms of overall construction. That's because cases may need to become thicker to accommodate the removable batteries, and additional safety features would need to be added to protect the new design as well. Until the top phone manufacturers reveal newer models to satisfy the EU's standards, it's unclear what changes users can expect to see.
(Score: 2, Disagree) by DadaDoofy on Monday March 02, @05:35PM (1 child)
You're a bit confused. The safest batteries are ones consumers can't fuck with.
The "additional battery safety features" are required because, when consumers have access to the batteries, the more intellectually-challenged of them will replace them with cheap, poorly made ones that are a lot more dangerous.
(Score: 2) by Bentonite on Tuesday March 03, @06:56AM
You are well aware I am not confused corporate shill.
It's sad you support ecocide, despite how Earth is the only planet you can live on.
Batteries have always been available for devices - but how hard it is now to get the stupid devices open, with metal tools required, has rather made it *more* likely for a battery to be stabbed.
Previous models of the Samsung Galaxy's (i.e. S1, S2, S3) had a removable battery, with seemingly only voltage and temperature safety features, with a plastic back-plate that you opened with your hand without any tools and I haven't come across against a report of a single problem with such batteries.
After all, such configuration is pretty much idiot-proof, as there's no metal tool to stab the battery and nothing happens if the battery is put in backwards (maybe some idiot maimed themself somehow, but that's just natural selection).
Having a Li-Ion battery sealed in a device behind stupid screws and glue is dangerous, as for batteries that balloon, the battery has an increased chance of deflagrating, due to its expansion being restricted.
In a device without a removable battery, it's often hard to notice that the battery has ballooned - as for example, when the battery balloons on a Horrible Products laptop, the only indication is the trackpad no longer clicking - which means the device continues to get used with a ballooned battery.
Also, disposing of a sealed ballooned battery is incredibly dangerous, as it requires prodding at the device with metal tools to force the screws out and break the glue (it's hard to not stab the battery even if you are competent), so the battery can be removed for discharging to 0V to render it safe.
Meanwhile, a plastic backplate will just pop off, making it immediately apparent the battery has ballooned, allowing the battery to be safely removed for discharging.
I haven't had any problems with realistically priced cheap Chinese batteries - while I've noticed that what should be premium batteries in HP and apple laptops sometimes balloon.
Li-Ion batteries are pretty safe compared to petrol (it has a far higher energy density and goes everywhere), but for some reason, nobody ever wants idiots to be restricted from accessing petrol?