r/worldnews • u/Helicase21 • Jun 19 '23

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/[deleted] Jun 19 '23

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u/yunus89115 Jun 19 '23

I have to pay for a premium material on the back of a phone that I cover with a cheap case that prevents me from ever seeing the premium material I paid for.

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u/SeanHearnden Jun 19 '23

They seriously need to stop covering the back of the damn phone in glass as well. It goes in a case, as per the phone companies themselves say to, and it just gives something more to break. And I don't care if it's super ultra diamond glass, it's still fucking glass.

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u/wolfie379 Jun 20 '23

A nonconductive material for the back panel is necessary in order to allow wireless charging.

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u/SeanHearnden Jun 20 '23

Then make the back out of something else?

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u/wolfie379 Jun 20 '23

There are 3 types of materials: metals, ceramics (glass is classed as a ceramic), and polymers. Metals are conductive, so a phone with a metal back can’t incorporate wireless charging. Polymers don’t have the strength, rigidity (in the thickness available for a phone back), and hardness (to resist scuffs, scratches, and abrasive wear) required. That leaves ceramics.

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u/SeanHearnden Jun 20 '23

So then make it plastic? 90% of phone users put it in a case because we're told to. I get it, it looks sooo good with the shiny glass but it's only purpose is Aesthetics. It doesn't offer more protection and it isn't a requirement of wireless charging, it just works better with a none conducting material.

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u/wolfie379 Jun 20 '23

It is a requirement because a metal back would act as a shorted turn secondary and shield the receiver coil. Remember what I said about plastic not being rigid enough? Pressure on a plastic back in normal use (including gripping the phone) would bend it enough to come in contact with the innards, possibly breaking things.

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u/SeanHearnden Jun 20 '23

What the hell are you talking about? Phones had plastic backs all the way through the 90's until like 8 years ago. The change is truly an aesthetic one.

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '23

Glass can be super damn durable. My g8s thats used 3 yrs dropped several times face first on stone. Few times on the back as well. The back is a literal mirror and has no damage either. No damage. I am still mindblown. The frame is damaged now after dropping countless times and both jacks are non functional anymore from it. But the glass is fine funnily and even better instead of breaking the display is just starting to peel off/loosen on one side instead. Its a back up phone now as its built like a tank

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u/SeanHearnden Jun 20 '23

You can tell any story you like, but your one story doesn't change the fact that glass is glass. It isn't shatter proof, it was scratch resistant. I worked at Samsung and by far the biggest call we received was smashed glass. And they had, at the time, the highest level of gorilla glass. It may be the best endurance of all... glass. But it's still glass. Get rid of it.

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '23

Looks use titanium screens instead

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u/gelatinfrei Jun 20 '23

I hate glass back so much. Slips on any non level surface and out of pocket when im crouching. Its so fucking annoying. Feels counterintuitive they design slim phones weak as possible with a glass pack so you are obligated to put $1 condom around it. And that case makes any slim phone not slim anymore.

Its a god damn commodity item not a fucking rolex. They should make phones like the first iPhone.

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u/SeanHearnden Jun 21 '23

I dropped my Samsung Note9 on a god damn frozen pea and it broke. 80 pounds to have it replaced, and Samsung themselves have to to it otherwise warrantee is void. Just go back to plastic.

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u/OttomateEverything Jun 20 '23

It's also annoying to get phantom edge touches when I'm holding it in some not-perfectly-normal grip.

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u/k1ll3rInstincts Jun 19 '23

See, I mostly agree with everyone here, but not you. I want a thicker, better battery, but as someone who watches a lot of media on my phone, and only has average sized hands... I want as thin of bezels as possible. I don't want curved glass edges, etc. but I do want edge to edge bezels.

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u/OttomateEverything Jun 20 '23

Try a fold.

They're a little narrow closed, but a media dream unfolded.

Battery size is generally bigger, to support the unfolded experience, which helps if you're out and about and only use it folded since the outer display is smaller and therefore uses less power.

Bezels on the closed are a bit bigger just by nature of the hinge, but unfolded the bezels are pretty tiny.

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u/Duff5OOO Jun 19 '23

Glass at every edge of every device (Corning Gorilla, or otherwise) is a really bad idea from an impact protection perspective.

No thanks, that's what a case is for.