Android

So many solid wins for EU, so exciting! If it means things become much easier then having to remove a bunch of components just to get to the battery to replace it. I am in.

I honestly don't have too many issues removing the back with a spuger and heat... Provided they make it so you can replace it just as well. The majority of the reasons people dispose of smart phones and buy a new phone is due to the battery degrading. It costs a lot just to replace it. Swappable batteries increases the longevity of a phone, means I can daily drive my phone for longer. Which is what I want... My pixel 5a battery is already degrading pretty badly. I like my phone but I feel disappointed I didn't get more usage out of it.

I saw how to replace it, and to do so it means removing a lot of components including the screen... And even though they sell replacement parts including screens they do not for whatever reason sell 5a screens to the UK it honestly baffles me...

Google doing some things for right to repair but much like other companies. It does feel like they are dragging their feet a little bit.

Finally! Now to also force phonemakers to universally provide bootloader unlocks so we can put our own ROMs on our devices once the software support ends.

huge W

I hope this passes, but I wonder how it will get watered down, where the loopholes are.

That link is dead for me. I wonder what constitutes "removable". I'd honestly be fine if it still required a spludger, but it required them to make it easily accessable and not loaded down with glue once you're in. And make OEM batteries available for sale.

Really hoping this happens. I want to be able to replace the battery on my phone after a year because the performance on the battery degraded by nearly half.

That being said, I'm also willing to bet some time shortly after this goes into affect, the cost of mobile service (at least in the US) will go up another $10/$15 a month, and phones will increase in cost by another $100-$200. Not because materials cost more, or designs change. But to preemptively screw people over.

I love reading such headlines, really glad there's an entity that can enforce such rules on manufacturers, at least when they're looking after us

thank you EU!

About bloody time! Devices these days are so far technically advanced, no need to upgrade every 2 years. I can hold onto a phone for easily 3-5 years. Especially with hot swap batteries!

I'm curious to see what this will mean for phone designs & dust/waterproof ratings. Either way, it only takes effect in 2027 so that should give some time for innovation rather than falling back on plastic clamshells of yore.

I might be in the minority here, but I feel this is actually a step back.

In the 5 years I've had my phone, there have been two times I've ever really needed to pull the battery, and still the hard reset sequence still eventually worked in both cases.

Anyone remember how some phones had issues with the battery door becoming somewhat loose over time, causing any slight bump to turn the phone off? Many have already commented on how they explode into multiple pieces when dropped. Traditionally the battery covers are incredibly flimsy plastic, even on flagship devices (cough Samsung). Waterproofing is a common concern too, however it actually can be done with a removable battery (e.g. Galaxy S5).

What really needed to be addressed here was how cumbersome it is to get into these devices to replace the battery, and how often people are price gouged to replace them. I believe this could have been better written to allow for either a removable battery, or a standardized and affordable built-in battery replacement process.

Amen! Now let's see how Apple gets around that one too. :)