Comment by bombcar

19 hours ago

They're taking "commercially available" to mean things like a screwdriver - not a $1000 phone disassembly machine.

17 comments

bombcar

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wincy  18 hours ago

With all due respect, I can buy a kit on iFixit for $55 for an iPhone 16 pro max, including the battery. I’ve replaced my iPhone battery before, aside from the glue being a bit sticky so needing a heat gun it isn’t that difficult.

  • realityfactchex  5 hours ago

    Even with a good battery, bugs/features on the latest iOS can make iPhone 15 Pro Max battery last terribly, terribly short.

    Part of the new requirement should be they can't kill battery lifespan in 2-year old phones through software updates, either.

    Because even "replaceable battery" doesn't fix that serious problem!

  • bombcar  17 hours ago

    Which is fine - but the law is the law and will look at what Apple (et al) provide and document.

    (Thought Apple's $99 to do the repair themselves isn't terribly bad all things considered; and likely part of their attempt to forestall complaints and litigations).

  • spaqin  5 hours ago

    I've replaced a battery in my 2019 Xiaomi phone for $5 (the costs of the battery), using basic tools - albeit the back was already ungluing itself, making that part easier. At 10x the price, it's hard not to call it a massive markup.

  • FridayoLeary  18 hours ago

    And you can do it for much less if you want. I've replaced phone batteries with 6 dollars worth of tools and a hairdryer. You can buy glue or sticky gaskets for next to nothing as well if you care about waterproofing.

    • leptons  17 hours ago

      Most people are going to give up in 1 minute trying to open a smartphone. I can't imagine most people I know succeeding to replace the battery by themselves.

      1 reply →

streetfighter64  1 hour ago

The actual cost breakdown for a battery replacement is:

  45 EUR for a new battery
  10 EUR for new display adhesive
  20 EUR for screwdrivers and a spudger (unless you have them already)
  a suction cup and tweezers you probably have at home already

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+11+Battery+Replacement/1...

Ignore the 25 EUR clamp and 20 EUR heat pack, I did and they weren't needed at all. So all in all, around 910 USD less than you claimed.

The heat gun discussion in the sibling comments is also completely ridiculous. There must be 100 ways to do it without a heat gun. Put it on the radiator, use a heat pack for muscle soreness, or just borrow a hairdryer.

If somebody's unable to replace their iphone battery because they can't come up with a source of heat, I doubt they'd even be able to replace the batteries in their TV remote.