[idle_zealot]

I'm sure it's technically possible to build a phone where the battery is easily replaceable and is highly water resistant. Difficult? Sure, but possible. If this regulation really does lead phone manufacturers to go back to the days of hand-removable backs or slide-out batteries then I'm sure they'll be investigating in R&D to get their IPwhatever ratings back.

[Brian_K_White]

Not even difficult. They can and do make buttons, headphone and usb jacks, and even mics and speakers. Battery contacts are nothing at all.

[microtonal]

Example: many GPSr units have replaceable AA batteries and support IPX7. It's not exactly rocket science -- a good locking mechanism and a rubber seal.

[lb1lf]

The GPSr crowd tend to be less obsessed by their devices being a fraction of a millimeter thinner than last year's model, though.

(Much as I love a good locking mechanism and a rubber seal, I can see it making the phone a little thicker than it would be was the battery non-removable.)

[witheld]

A law requiring everyone to have replaceable batteries puts everyone on even ground- phones will continue to be exactly as thin as they can be.