The "non-replaceable" battery myth

[gorcorps]

this too?

Nope, didn't get that far at the time of posting. Thanks

 

[dawheat]

Disagree - removing the back cover takes some force and adds some minor damage to the sides. That step alone will scare off 98% of people. While someone with good hands and experience can minimize the damage, under close inspection, you will always see a tiny bit of plastic chipping, especially where the first 'push' went in.

Unless you can put it back together 100% as good as new, it's not nearly the same in my book. Now for a used phone that already has some cosmetic damage, sure you can extend its life and it's worth it, but you can't compare it to a 10 second painless swap that your grandparents could do.

One other plus of previous Samsung phones (excluding the S5) is that it was always easy to buy the side trim and a new back cover before selling the phone for $20. Assuming you took care of the screen (tempered glass protector, etc) then the phone basically was cosmetically new. Before giving an old phone to a family member, I normally did the above + wipe the phone + buy a new battery = practically new phone for them.

 

[kpkp]

Disagree - removing the back cover takes some force and adds some minor damage to the sides. That step alone will scare off 98% of people. While someone with good hands and experience can minimize the damage, under close inspection, you will always see a tiny bit of plastic chipping, especially where the first 'push' went in.

Sure it is not for everyone, but everyone knows someone (or a local shop) that can do that for them for cheap/free.

Unless you can put it back together 100% as good as new, it's not nearly the same in my book. Now for a used phone that already has some cosmetic damage, sure you can extend its life and it's worth it, but you can't compare it to a 10 second painless swap that your grandparents could do.

There are really few realistic scenarios where you need to replace a battery on a new/newish phone.

One other plus of previous Samsung phones (excluding the S5) is that it was always easy to buy the side trim and a new back cover before selling the phone for $20. Assuming you took care of the screen (tempered glass protector, etc) then the phone basically was cosmetically new. Before giving an old phone to a family member, I normally did the above + wipe the phone + buy a new battery = practically new phone for them.

Same can be done on almost all LGs (including the Nexus) and in some models you get new sides too (N4). So that's not that much of an advantage.

 

[dawheat]

Sure it is not for everyone, but everyone knows someone (or a local shop) that can do that for them for cheap/free.

There are really few realistic scenarios where you need to replace a battery on a new/newish phone.

Same can be done on almost all LGs (including the Nexus) and in some models you get new sides too (N4). So that's not that much of an advantage.

But my point was not whether it could be done or not - but the level of effort/difficulty. I disagree that everyone knows someone or a local shop that can do it for cheap/free - by that standard, pretty much all devices are the same, including iOS devices.

 

[kpkp]

But my point was not whether it could be done or not - but the level of effort/difficulty. I disagree that everyone knows someone or a local shop that can do it for cheap/free - by that standard, pretty much all devices are the same, including iOS devices.

Nah not all are the same, when you will try to replace the battery on a M7/M8, you will see the difference is huge. Iphones are also easy to repair, they tend to use less glue and more screws which is always welcome.

But to you main point, yes it is obviously harder to replace a battery in the G2 then in a S4, but is also true that is way easer to replace a battery in a iPhone 5/LG G2/Nexus then a HTC M7 or even a waterproof Xperia. I really can't understand why why they stuck with that design in the M8.

 

[Zaap]

Same can be done on almost all LGs (including the Nexus) and in some models you get new sides too (N4). So that's not that much of an advantage.

I disagree, I think its a tremendous advantage. If I were buying a used phone (assuming someone wants a decent price for it) then I'd.consider it questionable that someone whose skills I have no idea about has popped open their phone in order to do a battery swap themselves. Did they do it right? Or will I be buying an issue similar to the OP's which possibly stemmed from some previous botched surgery done on his phone.

Meanwhile, I was able to sell my S3 and Note 2 with several replacement batteries, and the buyer secure knowing that nothing questionable had to be done/will have to be done to have a fully functional user-servicable device. And since the backs were brand new replacements, the phones looked better than new.

While its great that some tech-saavy people can crack open a sealed phone and do their own replacements, it seems a bit silly to me to pretend this has the same advantages as phones that are made to be opened and batteries swapped.

 

[kpkp]

I disagree, I think its a tremendous advantage. If I were buying a used phone (assuming someone wants a decent price for it) then I'd.consider it questionable that someone whose skills I have no idea about has popped open their phone in order to do a battery swap themselves. Did they do it right? Or will I be buying an issue similar to the OP's which possibly stemmed from some previous botched surgery done on his phone.

But maybe they replaced the camera, screen, speaker... Not as strong of an argument as you make it appear. That's why I like eBay, because I can open my phone if I suspect something and get it refunded if necessary.

Meanwhile, I was able to sell my S3 and Note 2 with several replacement batteries, and the buyer secure knowing that nothing questionable had to be done/will have to be done to have a fully functional user-servicable device. And since the backs were brand new replacements, the phones looked better than new.

As I said before, that stands only for the battery and nothing else...
I was trying to say that (for example) Nexus 4 you can replace the back and rubberised sides (2 screws and pop the plastic apart) so the phone will look even better then an used S3 from that perspective.

While its great that some tech-saavy people can crack open a sealed phone and do their own replacements, it seems a bit silly to me to pretend this has the same advantages as phones that are made to be opened and batteries swapped.

Can you point me to where I am being silly and saying that this 2 design decision have the same advantages?

 

[Zaap]

But maybe they replaced the camera, screen, speaker... Not as strong of an argument as you make it appear.

Now you're really reaching. Sure, sure and maybe they replaced the whole phone with a rock that weighs about the same. Lets just make up Infinitely possible scenarios and argue those.

That's why I like eBay, because I can open my phone if I suspect something and get it refunded if necessary.

Sounds so convienient!

As I said before, that stands only for the battery and nothing else...

First off, no, that's not just the battery. But lets just ignore the whole subject of this thread was replaceable batteries and keep shifting the topic, shall we?

 

[rbk123]

He's saying that phones without replaceable batteries actually can be replaced. He is not/has not said that replacing a battery for these phones is as convenient, or equal to, changing the battery in a phone designed to let you change the battery. I find it interesting that it gets twisted into that.