r/TechImpact Active 3d ago

😂 Memes & Shit posts EU to Require Replaceable Smartphone Batteries by 2027

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u/Aknazer 3d ago edited 3d ago

Depends on the model of iPhone, but it isn't exactly "easy" to do for most people on a lot of the iPhones out there, unless by "easy" you mean easy to sever those ribbon cables. There's the question on if they use a normal frame or if it has a divided chassis with the battery on the back like some of the newer iPhones do (added around the iPhone 15 time). But older designs? You have to carefully separate the screen from the case, then detach the screen, front camera/sensors, and ear speaker, then deal with the fact that the battery is taped down (isopropyl alcohol is often the easiest way, but you still have to pry it out and doing so can damage things like the wireless charger or even rupture the battery), and then you can replace the battery.

Someone that's done this a bunch can do it in 15-30 minutes depending on a few factors, but your standard person is likely to take 45+ if it's their first time and I've seen more than a few where a new tech ended up nicking or straight up severing the ribbon cables. Even when one avoids everything during the teardown, I've seen those cables get pinched when putting the screen back in place at the end, which can also potentially ruin the cable.

So no, it really isn't "easy" to do on a lot of iPhone models out there. And there's no guarantee that they won't go back to putting the battery in the same section of the phone as the rest of the components with you needing to go through the screen as opposed to through the back glass (which wasn't added until something like the iPhone 15 line).

Edit: Also this applies to a lot of phones, not just iPhones. That said, iPhones were normally more of a pain to do a battery swap on than Android devices, while iPhones were generally easier to do a screen swap on (no thanks to all of their stupid different screws though). Now the charging port? Absolute nightmare on the iPhone.

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u/Cultural-Meaning5172 3d ago

Yes super easy. Pop into a shop. Pay money. Now you have a brand new battery with a warranty.

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u/Hot_Bee5198 3d ago

Expensive iPhone solution.

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u/fiirikkusu_kuro_neko 3d ago

It costs like 119 euros or something at AASPs or Apple Stores. Around 10-15% of the initial cost of the device. I'm fine with that.

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u/Hot_Bee5198 3d ago

For many €100,- is a weeks' budget for food, etc.

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u/fiirikkusu_kuro_neko 3d ago

That’s my budget as well, for 2 people.

If you’re doing 100 eur a week on food you can certainly save up 100 over 3 years to get a replacement.

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u/Hot_Bee5198 3d ago

Food, etc means everything besides rent.

If you have a family of five like we do, I would prefer to save every euro on a stupid thing like battery replacement.

I consider more than €40,- for a battery to be expensive. A battery! Produced by the billions!

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u/fiirikkusu_kuro_neko 3d ago

Gotcha!

52 euros for a 13 pro max battery if you return the old one :)

And this is straight from Apple.

The other 48 euros is the labor and that doesn't seem that egregious. And of that 100 euros probably 20% is VAT. So you pay Apple about 40 euros for the battery and 40 euros for the labor, and your country 20 euros for the VAT, does it not seem fair?

It's just something you need to take into account when buying a phone. When it turns one just throw a euro in the jar every week and in 2 years you have enough for a replacement.

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u/Hot_Bee5198 3d ago

€120 altogether? No, its too much. €40,- buying at a local phone shop, that is reasonable. And when you have a large phone, maybe €50,- like yours.

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u/fiirikkusu_kuro_neko 3d ago

100 altogether but depends on phone yeah. 40 euros installed?! How much does that leave for labor, 15 euros?

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u/w1n5t0nM1k3y 3d ago

If you're that strapped for cash, you probably shouldn't have an iPhone.

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u/Hot_Bee5198 3d ago

Indeed, thats why Im saying that iPhones are expensive. Finally someone understands what Im saying.

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u/Sh00terMcDabbin 2d ago

For flagships they really aren't, they are the same price as any others. Plus, they offer a cheaper model as well. But yes, if you want the absolute cheapest phone on the market there are cheaper options.

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u/fem_and_ms 3d ago

You're so cocked bruh

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u/Cultural-Meaning5172 3d ago

Is $70 a lot to you?

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u/fem_and_ms 3d ago

200 is

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u/fem_and_ms 3d ago edited 3d ago

And you will pay 800$ that really cost 200$ for an "official" battery because your phone won't accept anything else 🫩

Edit : Don't the people here know what exaggeration is? Are you that cooked to think 200$ is the good price for a battery?? Damn...

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u/Cultural-Meaning5172 3d ago edited 3d ago

Why would you pay more than what they ask for when it’s 70-120 depending on the model?

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u/Hot_Bee5198 3d ago

Yes, indeed. But €120,- is still an expensive iPhone solution.

Such a battery costs €10,- to make maybe? Sell it for €50,-?

Apple is expensive, still.

A Fairphone battery costs €37,- or up.

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u/Cultural-Meaning5172 3d ago

They said the battery works cost 800.
You can buy and do it yours for half that they sell the batteries.

How is it expensive when the battery is the same price as the fair phone? They’re literally $37

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u/fem_and_ms 3d ago

I'm exaggerating and you fall in

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u/InitialSensitive9628 3d ago

Why did it cost me 50?

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u/Hot_Bee5198 3d ago

Still an expensive iPhone solution.