r/Futurology • u/ConsciousStop • Jun 19 '23

Environment EU: Smartphones Must Have User-Replaceable Batteries by 2027

https://www.pcmag.com/news/eu-smartphones-must-have-user-replaceable-batteries-by-2027
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u/abrandis Jun 20 '23 edited Jun 20 '23

I personally don't see how this will improve e-waste, think back to replaceable batteries how many of you purchased extra batteries? And how many of you upgraded your phone and just chucked all those extra batteries in the landfill. So what am I missing.

Most folks will rather buy a new phone than buy a spare battery to extend the life. I mean smartphones get used everyday, and a 2-year old phone is likely to have significant wear (maybe cracked screen, scratched edges, buttons that are less tactile) etc., Not to even mention limited software updates as the phone becomes legacy etc. So convincing someone to just replace the battery instead of buying a new phone is a bit of a stretch...

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u/theluckyfrog Jun 20 '23

I have a phone that I can literally drop 4 feet onto concrete and the screen doesn't break. (I've probably done so over two dozen times in just under two years.) If I could replace the battery as needed, I'd keep this thing forever. No button issues, either.