[DrStalker]

There's no reasons you can't put a voltage boost circuit into a device other than it would be cheaper not to and consumers will blame the batteries, not your device, if you don't. (also, if your device functions fine with low voltage batteries there is no need to.)

[ableal]

> if your device functions fine with low voltage batteries

Probably not a good idea. Really spent batteries tend to leak and damage the device.

Not working makes the owner change the batteries.

[deutronium]

Even with a boost converter, it'll still stop working

[jotux]

>There's no reasons you can't put a voltage boost circuit into a device

It will kill rechargeable lithium batteries.

[digikata]

A single cell AA lithium likely already has a 3.7v (IIRC) to 1.5v step down, but also likely has a cut-off voltage to protect the internal cell too.

If it's built-in lithium then you're as likely put in a step-down or a buck-boost to regulate raw lithium cell pack voltages to whatever the device needs internally, but that also needs a self-protection cutoff.

[Terr_]

There's also an efficiency loss from the extra circuitry, particularly when the batteries are good enough that there's no benefit yet.

[shabble]

They could add a bypass circuit around their boost converter, which would give virtually 100%[1] efficiency until the booster actually fires up.

Something like the TI TPS61291[1] draws only 15nA in bypass operation, and maybe 85% efficient in boost.

[1] The bypass switch itself will have some resistance, the part below is ~1.2ohm, which might be significant depending on your load.

[2] http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/slvsbx9a/slvsbx9a.pdf