I'd appreciate it if someone with expertise can comment on why the market shifted to non-replaceable batteries. I know the suspicion that it's for planned obsolescence, but does someone really know?
My impression is that replaceable batteries limit the shapes, materials and engineering that can be used, reducing capacity while increasing weight and size. For example a replaceable battery must be safely handled by end users, shaped and placed so it can be easily removed, and its connection is limited to something quickly and easily utilized.
This is stupid. Battery lifetimes has come a long way (1000-2000 cycles are the norm) and will improve in the future. Devices are much denser and are waterproof. There are trade offs and customers have chosen to favor designs that do not require easily replaceable batteries. I wouldn't want to pay the price for having one.
It seems like an alternative option could be available then: if you sell phones without user replaceable batteries, it could be mandated that the manufacturer is responsible for subsidizing costs such that replacing the battery is comparably priced to the cost of a replaceable battery.
That seems a lot more reasonable to me. There are a lot of legitimate technical and design reasons for why batteries are not user replaceable today.
User-replaceable batteries always have a negative effect on the design of a product. I’d rather see free battery replacements every X years be offered from authorized techs.
I just don't get why replaceable standard-sized lithium ion batteries have pretty much completely failed to take off other than those 18650 flashlights and vape pens.
The proprietary replaceable batteries are an improvement over non-replaceable but in anything other than cameras the replacements seem to get discontinued by the manufacturer by the time you actually need one.
> Maybe not a great tradeoff for something needed once every 2-3 years.
The case for user-replaceable batteries isn't just to be able to replace them when they wear out. It's also to be able to carry a spare or two for when you want to use the device for an extended period of time. (No, external power banks don't really address this use case).
Not having easily replaceable batteries is definitely the root problem. Everyone knows that batteries can't last forever and the weak link in having something last for years yet everyone is perfectly fine with non replaceable batteries. I know so many people who have bought new phones when all they need is a new battery. It's mind boggling.
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