Comment by Night_Thastus | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Night_Thastus | Hacker News Reader

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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.

> 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.

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.

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