A phone with a "bottle" battery is not a big deal.
But if replacing that battery is almost impossible for the average user, and the cost of genuine repair is higher than buying a new phone, then that is a paradox.
For many years, phone companies have continuously raced to create thinner, more beautiful and more modern devices. In return, it becomes increasingly difficult for users to access components inside the devices they own. The battery - the part with the most limited lifespan of the phone - gradually becomes an Achilles heel that only the manufacturer or authorized centers can intervene in.
Businesses are always expected to act voluntarily for the benefit of all stakeholders. Specifically, consumers want more durable devices. Society wants to reduce electronic waste. The environment needs less exploited resources. According to this approach, businesses need to balance those benefits instead of focusing only on economic profits.
But in reality business doesn't work like that. If a phone can be used for a long time by replacing the battery a few times, sales of new devices may decrease. When repairs become too easy, revenue from a business's proprietary service ecosystem also suffers.
In December 2017, many analyzes showed that the performance of some iPhones decreased sharply after iOS updates, and Apple admitted that it used software to reduce the performance of some iPhone models when the lithium-ion battery aged. Apple explains that this mechanism is intended to prevent iPhones with degraded batteries from suddenly shutting down.
The incident led to a series of lawsuits from consumers in the US. Apple then had to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to settle the lawsuits. However, consumers are still very dissatisfied, thinking that it is a fraudulent act, intentionally done by the manufacturer to force customers to upgrade to a new iPhone.
That is an example of how businesses tend to prioritize optimizing business efficiency and revenue, instead of maximizing repairability and extending product life.
This does not necessarily mean that businesses intentionally harm consumers. They are just prioritizing the core goal: maximizing value for shareholders within the legal framework. The problem is that the interests of shareholders do not always coincide with the interests of society. A design decision can increase revenue but also cause millions of devices to be discarded sooner than necessary. A business strategy that can generate profits but increases the amount of e-waste, one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world today.
This is when the market begins to reveal its limits.
Recently, the European Union (EU) required manufacturers to design phones with batteries that can be replaced more easily. Article 11 regulates the possibility of disassembly and replacement of mobile batteries and batteries used for light vehicles. According to the guidelines, a battery is considered easily removable by the end user if it can be removed using commonly available tools. This regulation will: make repairs more accessible to everyone; and ensure compliance with current regulations on ecological design (Ecodesign). Although many people see this as just a technical change, in reality, this is a decision with much greater significance. It reflects how modern society is rethinking the responsibility of businesses to consumers and the environment.
For many years, governments have tried to encourage businesses to act responsibly through voluntary mechanisms or codes of conduct. These tools are often called "soft" regulations - standards that are not coercive but are expected to guide corporate behavior. "Soft" regulations have the advantage of being flexible and creating little legal burden. But it is only effective when the business really wants to change.
When voluntary commitments are not enough to solve the problem, the state often has to go one step further - returning to mandatory regulations. That's when "hard" regulations appear. Regulations requiring handheld devices to use type C (USB-C) charging ports, requiring electronic devices to be easier to repair, or regulations on battery replaceability are all typical examples. They are no longer encouragements but become legal obligations. Businesses may not like them, but they must comply if they want to continue doing business in the market.
An easily replaceable battery won't save the world. But hundreds of millions of devices used for longer than a few years could make a significant difference. Fewer resources are exploited. Less e-waste. Fewer products are discarded because a small part has deteriorated.
Looking at it that way, the story of phone batteries is no longer simply a technology story. It illustrates an important principle of modern economics: when businesses do not voluntarily shoulder full social responsibilities, the state will have to use the law to protect common interests.
And sometimes, the biggest changes start from the smallest details - like a charging port or a battery inside the phone.
