[LazyMans]

This might be shifting us closer to worse overall design/performance to accommodate swapability. The pouch cells are very fragile, with the phone itself being the physical protection for the cell. If end users begin to handle these, you likely have to add additional packaging to the cell which increases the overall dimensions or reduces total capacity to maintain the same size.

Maybe it's for our own good, maybe we have to suck it up and lose a little capacity to meet sustainability goals. Or maybe this won't do much for the environment.

[GuB-42]

I am not sure people actually care that much about dimensions.

Most phones today only look thin on promotional material. With the massive camera bump that is sometimes thicker than the phone itself, and the way most people use cases, in the end, you have quite a brick. Also a glass back panel, which to me is one of the worst materials for that purpose, but it looks good on the store stand.

So to me, a removable battery will not affect the phone dimensions as much as it will affect the look, which may piss off the marketing guys, and I take it as a positive!

Seriously, bring back the removable plastic back covers, plastic may look cheap, but to me, it is the best material, and if you put on a case, as most people do, you won't even see it!

[hirako2000]

Obviously it helps with the design to embed. But it's also obvious so hard to replace batteries are by design to make those phones throw away after the 1000cycle or whatever batties last.

A good middle ground would have been to enforce an easy to replace specification..but then we are up to interpretation.

[konschubert]

This won’t do much for the environment.

Even today, phone batteries get replaced until the phone is no longer able to run today’s software.

[randomNumber7]

I recently swapped a broken display + the battery of a smartphone. It's definitely possible with recent devices (although apple might be different).

You need some skill and patience to cut it open etc. without damage, so most people should probably go to a repair shop.

[jszymborski]

I know a common refrain with my friends is "IDGAF about an extra few centimeters, give me an audio jack". I think consumers are down for thicker phones if they get something for it. In this case, a phone that lasts longer

[konschubert]

People say that but then they don’t buy the phones.

There is a difference between revealed and stated preference.

[jszymborski]

Where in the market can I buy a thicker phone with a 3.5mm jack that has comparable features to those of best sellers? How can I reveal a preference that isn't offered.

[randomNumber7]

I'm pretty sure most companies optimize for what the consumers actually want.

[jszymborski]

They optimize for enriching shareholders and experiments like exploring the market for brick phones is a needlessly costly one when existing trends can be exploited.

[Tagbert]

You assume that everyone needs more battery life. That need is highly variable based on different use and access to chargers.