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Comment by ptero | Hacker News Reader

I am very glad S9 keeps the headphone jack. If only it would add a user replaceable battery and add-on memory card. I wonder why those three features that appear to be much loved by users are almost never present in modern phones.

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I appreciate replaceable batteries, but they are generally not compatible with water resistance, which seems to be a more favored feature.

They seemed to accomplish it with the G5.

I actually just changed the battery on my G5 instead of buying a new phone, and it is working great again.

Not being able to change the battery is planned obsolescence, that is all it ever was.

Not with sealed ports. I never trusted the S5 water proofing because of things like the battery cover and unsealed ports. Oh, and the charging cover broke off both of my wife's S5s...

I recently dropped my Galaxy S5 [with a case and glass protector] into the toilet (gross). It was probably submerged for a full 2 seconds. Absolutely no side effects what-so-ever. I even gave it a full rinse in the sink afterwards.

I'm holding tight onto this phone, it's awesome.

is water resistance a real feature? AFAIK Apple's iPhones are supposed to be "water resistant" but at the same time Apple isn't responsible for any damages, which leads me to conclude that they're not actually water resistant. Might be different with Android though...

Nope, marketing checkbox feature only (a.k.a "big fat honking lie" IMNSHO), no actual resistance whatsoever in my experience. Samsung S5 billed as "IP67 certified", meaning water resistant up to 30min/3 feet IIRC, yet denied warranty repair from 10 sec/1 inch of water, even though I had the plug in and everything. Apparently it's only resistant against dry water or something. /s

Edit: sorry for offending the downvoter - I actually like that phone, yet there I was with a wet brick.

I suspect you’ve been downvoted because iPhones have been demonstrated to be water resistant decently past their official rating, and through context it appears that you were referring to their resistance being a lie.

Ah, I see. I was referring to "Might be different with Android though..."

My prior flip-phone (not a smartphone) wasn't just water-resistant, but actually waterproof and had a removable battery. You had to use a quarter to pop open the rubber seal to replace it.

I bring my IP68 Sony XZs (with minijack) into my bathtub regularly. I wouldn't recommend it though due to warranties etc, who knows what they will say.

Not true at all.

Fujitsu F-10D (2012)

http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-rel...

Waterproof.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZVpuizKD3k

The back pops off just like a Galaxy S3. The battery itself is not just removable, it also charges wirelessly. Micro SD and of course a headphone jack. It was also the first quad core LTE on the market.

I'm sure it's highly feasible, but not on the important-feature list for them.

ps: also, yeah, water sealed electronics is very valueable. And when you do need to replace a battery, a tech could swap it with a few tools. Not user replaceable but still replaceable at low cost.

But with LG G5 I can carry a second or a third battery with me while I'm away from home. And I can swap the batteries within a minute.

Also, I have external battery charger for LG G5. I can use my phone freely while my other battery is being charged.

You don't face water probles every day but you face charging problems every day.

Also when my battery dies I don't need to wait someone to change my battery. After all I already chage my battery every day.

Battery cases are generally a better solution to this problem for the vast majority of people.

Most people use cases anyway, and space is at a premium on the inside of the phone. Not so much on the outside. Plus, battery cases can be used without shutting down and turning the phone back on.

water problems are less often but when they happen you're out of phone for at least 48h

> You don't face water probles every day but you face charging problems every day.

Speak for yourself. I have water problems about as frequently as I have low battery problems.

It rains every day where I grew up. YMMV.

I think replaceable batteries do not present big problems for water resistance. Water proofing is another story, but at least IME water resistance to a decent level is enough.

For example, I have an old GPS+HRM runner watch which is water resistant but not fully water proof. After a run I briefly wash it under running water (not submerging, but heavily splashing and using soap). I have been subjecting this watch to such abuse for years and it has not failed yet.

I think for most users water resistance would be just fine, although this may be just a personal bias.

Agreed. As long as battery can be replaced by mfr at reasonable fee, I don't mind not having user serviceable battery as long as there are better trade offs. If I needed extended battery life on the go, I'd prefer 10,000 mah external source.

I think the average person just orders a dodgy battery of eBay.

If the phone catches on fire they're on the hook for it.

Plus phones have a two year designed for lifespan. So it isn't a priority in that sense.

And users like phones looking sleek etc. A phone reviewer is going to note that a phone is bulky if it has a replaceable battery.

It's almost certain to retain the memory card slot, just like all Galaxy phones.

Galaxy s6 doesn't have a memory card slot not sure about other galaxy phones.

S7 and S8 have it.

Memory card slot was restored in the S7/Note7 generation and retained in the subsequent one; keeping/restoring features other manufacturers are eliminating seems to be a key differentiating aspect of the Samsung flagship line.

What, no memory card? S8 has one. This is quite disappointing.

I haven't seen any reports of it not having expandable storage. I don't think this is accurate.

People seem to be remembering the s6, even though they fixed that issue in the S7 a and beyond.

Samsung's flagship lines restored add-on memory cards with the S7 generation; it would be truly surprising if they reversed that two generations later.

Target customer + planned obsolescence.

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