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> Why do we not have standardized removable batteries for mobile phones? Because customers don't want them. Yes yes I know almost everyone, including myself, o

> Why do we not have standardized removable batteries for mobile phones? Because customers don't want them. Yes yes I know almost everyone, including myself, on HN and probably a good chunk of Reddit does want removable batteries. But the majority of customers simply do not care and having them non-removable means it's easier to make them properly water proof or resistant, thinner and larger batteries (easier to cram into the available space). Another thing to keep in mind is the average life span of a phone in the US is 2 years. That amount of time is unlikely to wear a battery into being useless so you're only going to need to replace it if you are a heavy phone user and carry additional(s) batteries with you.

hrrsn 10y ago
I should point out for years we had phones with replaceable batteries. I didn't know anybody that carried one with them.
- mirekrusin 10y ago
  Those phones were lasting for a week on single charge but novadays phones are hungry, many people carry external power banks or whatever they call them these days. I would happily use swappable battery. Design could also be improved so you can quickly slide empty battery out and charged one back in. Phones could have tiny built in battery which would make the process without the need to turn off/on the phone.
  - cesarb 10y ago
    The Moto Z family has something similar (an internal battery plus an optional removable external battery). And from what I've read, the technology it uses seems to be in part based on Google's modular phone prototype.
  - jsjohnst 10y ago
    As someone who seems to be a vocal advocate for swappable batteries, I've got a genuine honest question to ask. What's significantly better about a swappable battery vs. an appropriately sized for your needs USB battery pack?
    - gregmac 10y ago
      One big benefit is being able to replace the battery after the capacity is reduced due to age. If you get a new phone every couple years anyway this is probably less of a concern, but it's rather nice to be able to spend tens of dollars to get 100% capacity again vs hundreds of dollars for a new phone (even if it's a bit faster).
      - jsjohnst 10y ago
        Even the new iPhone 7 (picking it as Apple is potentially the worst at user friendliness re: batteries) can have its battery replaced fairly easily if its aging. Yes, it's not as simple as popping a latch and snapping in a new one, but it's still very achievable and for a reasonable price (unless you go to Apple that is).
        soundwave106 10y ago
        Having a replaceable battery has easily extended the life of my Samsung Galaxy S3, which has lost the ability to charge through the micro USB port (from what I understand this is a fairly common problem). There are certainly other ways to fix this issue (ranging from switching to inductive charging to, if your good with soldering, actually swapping out the micro USB port on the board). But swapping out a battery is so simple, even not very technically inclined people can do it. I'm not sure I could say the same for something like a iPhone 7 battery swap (such as this -- https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+7+Battery+Replacement/67528 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+7+Battery+Replacement/67... ) -- I agree it looks doable, but non-technically inclined people might run away from those type of instructions.
        jsjohnst 10y ago
        There are numerous places across the globe that will do the work cheaply, usually for about the price you'd pay for an extra battery for the few modern phones that allow you to swap batteries still.
    - nradov 10y ago
  - hrrsn 10y ago
    Flagships as recent as the Galaxy S5 still had swappable batteries.
- bluedino 10y ago
  It seemed like anyone who traveled with a Blackberry carried a second one in their bag.
pjmlp 10y ago
Not everyone outside US does change their mobile every two years, rather only when they die or get stolen. The people appreciate being able to change the battery when it stops charging properly instead of being forced to buy a new phone. Also I do see quite an increase in people carrying battery packs, because their phone doesn't allow changing them.
- jsjohnst 10y ago
  I asked this elsewhere, but I'll ask you too. What's significant better about a replaceable battery vs a battery pack that's appropriately sized to your needs?
  - pjmlp 10y ago
    Not having to buy a new phone just because the battery doesn't charge any more.
  - schoen 10y ago
    A less-commonly mentioned benefit: you can remove it to be more confident that your phone is really powered off.
    - jsjohnst 10y ago
      Wondered if somebody would mention that. I agree completely. It's the only really universally legitimate reason to need a removable battery. Everything else is personal preference imho (not saying it makes "your" preference illegitimate, just that there's an equally valid solution "you" chose to not follow). * your/you above wasn't referring to any specific person
      - pjmlp 10y ago
        > It's the only really universally legitimate reason to need a removable battery. So if it dies, one should just shut up and buy a new phone?!
dgudkov 10y ago
>Because customers don't want them. I'm sure quite a few customers would prefer switching battery rather then looking around for a power socket.

hrrsn 10y ago

I should point out for years we had phones with replaceable batteries. I didn't know anybody that carried one with them.

mirekrusin 10y ago
Those phones were lasting for a week on single charge but novadays phones are hungry, many people carry external power banks or whatever they call them these days. I would happily use swappable battery. Design could also be improved so you can quickly slide empty battery out and charged one back in. Phones could have tiny built in battery which would make the process without the need to turn off/on the phone.
- cesarb 10y ago
  The Moto Z family has something similar (an internal battery plus an optional removable external battery). And from what I've read, the technology it uses seems to be in part based on Google's modular phone prototype.
- jsjohnst 10y ago
  As someone who seems to be a vocal advocate for swappable batteries, I've got a genuine honest question to ask. What's significantly better about a swappable battery vs. an appropriately sized for your needs USB battery pack?
  - gregmac 10y ago
    One big benefit is being able to replace the battery after the capacity is reduced due to age. If you get a new phone every couple years anyway this is probably less of a concern, but it's rather nice to be able to spend tens of dollars to get 100% capacity again vs hundreds of dollars for a new phone (even if it's a bit faster).
    - jsjohnst 10y ago
      Even the new iPhone 7 (picking it as Apple is potentially the worst at user friendliness re: batteries) can have its battery replaced fairly easily if its aging. Yes, it's not as simple as popping a latch and snapping in a new one, but it's still very achievable and for a reasonable price (unless you go to Apple that is).
      - soundwave106 10y ago
        Having a replaceable battery has easily extended the life of my Samsung Galaxy S3, which has lost the ability to charge through the micro USB port (from what I understand this is a fairly common problem). There are certainly other ways to fix this issue (ranging from switching to inductive charging to, if your good with soldering, actually swapping out the micro USB port on the board). But swapping out a battery is so simple, even not very technically inclined people can do it. I'm not sure I could say the same for something like a iPhone 7 battery swap (such as this -- https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+7+Battery+Replacement/67528 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+7+Battery+Replacement/67... ) -- I agree it looks doable, but non-technically inclined people might run away from those type of instructions.
        jsjohnst 10y ago
        There are numerous places across the globe that will do the work cheaply, usually for about the price you'd pay for an extra battery for the few modern phones that allow you to swap batteries still.
  - nradov 10y ago
- hrrsn 10y ago
  Flagships as recent as the Galaxy S5 still had swappable batteries.
bluedino 10y ago
It seemed like anyone who traveled with a Blackberry carried a second one in their bag.

pjmlp 10y ago

Not everyone outside US does change their mobile every two years, rather only when they die or get stolen. The people appreciate being able to change the battery when it stops charging properly instead of being forced to buy a new phone. Also I do see quite an increase in people carrying battery packs, because their phone doesn't allow changing them.

jsjohnst 10y ago
I asked this elsewhere, but I'll ask you too. What's significant better about a replaceable battery vs a battery pack that's appropriately sized to your needs?
- pjmlp 10y ago
  Not having to buy a new phone just because the battery doesn't charge any more.
- schoen 10y ago
  A less-commonly mentioned benefit: you can remove it to be more confident that your phone is really powered off.
  - jsjohnst 10y ago
    Wondered if somebody would mention that. I agree completely. It's the only really universally legitimate reason to need a removable battery. Everything else is personal preference imho (not saying it makes "your" preference illegitimate, just that there's an equally valid solution "you" chose to not follow). * your/you above wasn't referring to any specific person
    - pjmlp 10y ago
      > It's the only really universally legitimate reason to need a removable battery. So if it dies, one should just shut up and buy a new phone?!

dgudkov 10y ago

>Because customers don't want them. I'm sure quite a few customers would prefer switching battery rather then looking around for a power socket.