In a few months, we’re going to see something that was considered unthinkable at Apple: an iPhone 15 bowing to European Union laws and ditching Lightning in favor of a USB-C cable. This is already a move that will have consequences, but it risks falling short of what the European Parliament has just approved.
And it is that the chamber has given the green light to work on updating European regulations on how to deal with battery waste and extend its life as much as possible. And yes, interchangeable batteries are part of the proposed measures
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Specifically, what the European Union says is “to design portable batteries in devices in such a way that consumers can easily remove and replace them.” The ultimate goal is for 95% of discarded battery materials to be recycled.
This begs the million dollar question: Can we imagine an iPhone whose battery can be changed? Technically it is possible, but it would have a lot of effect on the design and specs of the phone. A hot-swappable battery requires internal mechanisms and sockets that would take up space for other components or the battery itself.
We would have less autonomy and less resistance to water, but we would open the door to interesting businesses
The consequences of this can be less autonomy, or less protection against water and dust. Although also would give rise to an interesting business for the sale of interchangeable batteries: We could always have a spare charged battery on us in case the battery we “carry” dies.
Now, this would not only affect Apple: very few manufacturers continue to manufacture mobiles with a replaceable battery, so it would also affect all Android devices that are sold at the moment. It’s the same design of devices where every millimeter counts.
For this same reason, surely Apple and the rest of the manufacturers unite to exert pressure so that such a measure is not forced. Because if that were the case, devices such as tablets or smartphones would change a lot. Ironically, the Vision Pro is the only one that can do this thanks to its external battery.
Picture | Kamil S.
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