I wonder what is the definition of easily removable and replaceable. Does popping a few screws and using a specialized tool qualifies as easy? What about re-sealing the device after to keep the waterproof rating?
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0237...
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This was the last user replaceable battery mainline Galaxy phone. This was also the same generation of the iPhone 6, which was dramatically thinner than the S5 and it's replaceable battery. The market spoke.
Usually when they write these laws they say something like "replaceable using commonly available and inexpensive tools".
Like, I've been owning mobile phones for 22 years at this point and it's literally something I've never cared or benefitted from.
On the other hand, having replaceable batteries is definitely something that's been useful in the past.
I'm happy for you, for never having lost a phone due to an accidental encounter with water. I haven't lost one recently, but:
- I fumbled an old flip phone while having a night out on the town and dropped it into the toilet.
- I replaced it with a really cute small Kyocera candy bar phone, that my girlfriend at the time didn't notice was still in my pants pocket when she washed my pants (I'm not sure if waterproofing would have saved this...)
- I recently dropped an iPhone 12 into a bathtub full of water and suffered 0 ill effects from it.
If I had to choose between replaceable batteries and waterproofing, I'm not sure which I'd personally choose. I've changed internal batteries in a few phones over the years... it was a bit of a hassle, but kept a $1000 device alive for another year or two. The water-killed phones... there was no bringing them back to life.
I use my cell phone in the rain, I use my cell phone in the shower. I drop it in the mud and rinse it off in the sink.
Waterproof is a top-tier feature, right up there with "not exploding the screen into a thousand shards when I drop it".
Might be a top-tier feature for you, but it never made any difference to me.
I also like to go hiking and camping a good bit. I've lost a few electronic devices from getting caught in a storm. Its nice having the peace of mind that it doesn't matter if I get completely soaked with my phone in my pocket.
Finally, I have kids, and they're of the stage where its fun to throw things in toilets and in sinks.
As well, once a day I run my phone under the faucet while I wash my hands and give it a clean. I absolutely want my phone waterproof and happily will trade a user replaceable battery for a waterproof phone.
Yes.
I'm not discussing it being useful, I merely said that it doesn't feel _really_ needed by me.
If I had to choose between interchangeable batteries and waterproof I would choose the first one hands down.
> Is waterproof even a real needed feature?
That comes across as though you're trying to dismiss it as unimportant; it doesn't come across as though you're actually asking the question and willing to listen to the answer. And then, responding to people who answer you with further dismissals of their reasons continues to seem like you're trying to dismiss it as unimportant because you don't use it.
In response to someone saying they don't want to lose an $800 phone to water damage, what value does it add to say "I never buy over $300 phones, and anyway it never happened to me"? Other people do buy expensive phones, and also, whether expensive or cheap, other people do want to not lose them to water damage, and for that matter, other people do want to use them in environments where they're likely to get wet (e.g. pools/showers/baths).
It comes across as though you're trying to say "but you're wrong to want that", which results in the response you are getting.
I’m probably just clumsy, but I’ve dropped my phone into bodies of water twice in 10 years. I also know of 2 people that have dropped their phones in toilets.
The Venm diagram of expensive phones and clumsy people is large enough to make this a useful feature for some.
I wouldn’t mind if the regulation was that a phone company must offer at least one model with detachable battery, but I’d be sad if the amazing advances in waterproof phones were compromised.
Depends on one's lifestyle that can include hiking / cycling under heavy rain for example.