Hacker News Reader

Comment by ToucanLoucan | Hacker News Reader

I mean it isn't just minimalism. It makes waterproofing way easier and allows for sturdier construction in a smaller device when getting said device apart again isn't really a priority.

Also who in the world needs all this replacement batteries anyway? I'm still rocking a 13 Pro purchased when new, I have no plans to upgrade and my battery is bloody fine. I still end every day with a good 40% charge at minimum and I'm an app developer, so I'm on my phone for a good solid portion of every day. And prior to this one I had an X which not only didn't have any major battery issues but my wife still used it for another year after I bought my 13, and then, near the tail end of her ownership, STARTED having some battery problems. At the end of year 4 of service as a daily driver.

View on HN

See, you made a good point at first and then ruined it. You are absolutely right about the benefits, but:

>who in the world needs all this replacement batteries anyway

>I'm still rocking a 13 Pro purchased when new

Congratulations, your phone with a whopping 2-years of age still has a good battery. (Though I'm not sure losing 60% a day is really great imo...)

Try living in a world where a $300 phone is a big expense, and now it barely lasts a day when it used to last a week.

1: Some people have phones that are just fine, but have a dying battery. Replacing an otherwise perfectly functional phone just because the battery is going is massive e-waste.

2: Not everyone can afford constantly replacing their ever-more-expensive phones just because the battery died. Even if they can, it's a really wasteful use of money.

Consumers should have the choice. They can get a product with some compromises, but a replaceable battery - or a potentially more durable, more waterproof phone without one.

Of course they don't bother because the demand is a vocal minority. Most people don't care. But the e-waste effects everyone so something does need to be done.

Or you could just pay $70 for Apple or an authorized dealer to replace the battery after three years.

Those same users don’t have to buy a $300 phone - which by the way is more than the average selling price of an Android phone - there are plenty of unsubsidized Android phones for less than $100.

> Congratulations, your phone with a whopping 2-years of age still has a good battery. (Though I'm not sure losing 60% a day is really great imo...)

Well again, I spend a lot of my day with my phone on and being used to do my job. And I also use it plenty for bathroom breaks, screwing around between tasks, the usual stuff. In my mind, running like that for 16 hours per day and still having 2/5th's in the tank is pretty good.

> Try living in a world where a $300 phone is a big expense, and now it barely lasts a day when it used to last a week.

I have never owned any smartphone that lasted even close to a week. When I was younger, my droid would occasionally go a couple of days between charges, if I was particularly busy and therefore not using it. I don't think I've owned a phone I haven't charged overnight since... gotta be like 2011?

> 1: Some people have phones that are just fine, but have a dying battery. Replacing an otherwise perfectly functional phone just because the battery is going is massive e-waste.

But again that's what my question is getting at and what I'm trying to understand: how are people frying out their batteries like they are?

We're not frying batteries quicker, we're using our phones longer. The only reason I'd have to replace my 3.5 year old phone is that the battery is dying, but it probably doesn't make sense to spend half the price of my phone (phone was only $200-ish) on a replacement. I just don't have any qualms with my phone or have any particular reason to need a new one. I resent having to replace my phone because a part that could be easily user swapable at a reasonable price point isn't.

Your assumption that phones would only be used for 2 years is pretty weird on an article about using phones for 8 years.

> Also who in the world needs all this replacement batteries anyway?

Really?? I get that you personally may not see a need for this, but it takes special kind of blinders to pretend that your experience is universal. Tons of people want replaceable batteries. You're welcome to talk to the iFixit folks if you need more evidence.

My question wasn't do people want replacement batteries, they clearly do. My question is why they need them? I don't understand how one person's experience with a battery can be so much different than anothers. I would think, if anything, my usage of my phones in my day to day work would mean I'd be harder on phones than most people, not apparently easier.

In a world where Apple slows down your phone when battery is worn out and considers it fair. It should be fair too to have the ability to replace it.

Can't comment on the details of your experience, but both my Pixel phones and iPhones (albeit earlier gen iPhones) all had significant, noticeable battery degradation between years 2 and 3.

What I really want is to be able to replace my battery when it's worn after after years of usage by undoing some screws and fiddling with a gasket. Trying to melt a ton of glue and pull out a glued-in battery without starting a fire is incredibly difficult and unnecessary.

Is it? Do you know that for a fact? Because while admittedly I've not designed a phone, I've owned and used many things that used screws and gaskets to provide protection from water ingress, and those things rarely survived full submersion which is what is offered currently on the iPhone (and has been for some time.) The other day I got in my hot tub after a stressful day of work only to realize my phone was still in my damn pocket, and while I had to take the case off for a bit and let everything air dry, apart from that I walked away from that totally consequence free.

I'm not opposed on principle to people having the option of repairability vs the sleek lines and watertightedness glue assemblies offer, that's completely fine. I just feel the need to push back on this narrative that's gotten so much traction here. There are a LOT of advantages to how newer phones are built that have nothing to do with forcing you over a barrel for maintenance costs, though I'm sure the suits are just fine with it if they do.

Battery degradation is not linear. They tend to be fine until they fall off a cliff at the 2-3 year mark. You just haven’t gotten there yet.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com