survey Would you rather have a replaceable battery or slim design?

[GAME 55]

  On 4/16/2020 at 7:41 PM, Kilrah said:

If that was true phones would be very different from what they are now. 

 

Companies make things they think most consumers will like, but then try to make them want it through marketing, and then check whether it works. It works, so they continue in that line.

 

Power users are a tiny fraction of users. Most general people don't care.

I agree, maybe I was wrong on this one.

 

But, back in the day, that was a little bit different as Linus explained on a Galaxy Note review (I don't really remember which one, I watch a lot of his videos), little bit back in the day, the Note Series for example, used to be the No-Compromise phone, preferred by power users, for people who want a pen in their phone, the best processor, most RAM.

 

Now, it is kinda hopeless! (Note 10, compared to old Note-s-) (Also, it is hopeless as a Note, in my opinion, if you like it, it is alright).

No headphone jack, no user-replaceable battery (since Note 5 though), and the worst thing of them all, is the fact that Samsung was mocking Apple hard for removing the headphone jack (Though, that is a RANT for another thread that will be talking about the headphone jack).

 

All in all, I think companies should do better than this, making everybody happy, rather than leave some people disappointed, and NOT remove something that is useful until in becomes useless, PLEASE!

Edited April 16, 2020 by GAME 55

[Kilrah]

  On 4/16/2020 at 7:54 PM, GAME 55 said:

the Note Series for example, used to be the No-Compromise phone, preferred by power users, for people who want a pen in their phone, the best processor, most RAM.

Yeah that's the point, this phone was great but if they're not making one anymore it probably means it wasn't successful enough commercially. 

 

Also unfortunately devices that are "too good" are bad business... as can be seen if you listen to Linus, that Note 9 is so good that he always wants to go back to it. Manufacturers don't want a phone so good that causes you to just stick with it and not buy a new one...

 

They're so short of possible new features that I feel like we entered a cycle where features are purposely removed so... they can be reintroduced a few years later as a "new" thing. Go back and forth between style and features so that when you remove features you get to appeal to people with style, then put you back features, and there's always something that'll make people want to buy a new device...

[Handroid7]

  On 4/16/2020 at 7:32 PM, GAME 55 said:

I will not ever forget the time a had 6 batteries in my pocket for my Note 2, and kept changing them after they got finished like I am reloading a machine gun, extremely satisfying!

Now, there is fast charging.

But fast charging is only good as long as the battery works well, and it wears down the battery quickly.

[Handroid7]

  On 4/16/2020 at 7:54 PM, GAME 55 said:

the Note Series for example, used to be the No-Compromise phone, preferred by power users,

Interesting essay:https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/08/02/the-galaxy-note-is-no-longer-samsungs-enthusiast-smartphone-series-opinion/

 

  On 4/16/2020 at 9:01 PM, Kilrah said:

Manufacturers don't want a phone so good that causes you to just stick with it and not buy a new one...

That's called planned obsolescence.

  On 4/16/2020 at 9:01 PM, Kilrah said:

Go back and forth between style and features so that when you remove features you get to appeal to people with style, then put you back features, and there's always something that'll make people want to buy a new device...

So maybe, Samsung already knew in 2014 that the S6 will not have MicroSD and water resistance, but the S7 will.

[Handroid7]

Although somewhat belated, relevant nevertheless:

Here is an article that compiles all the benefits of user-replaceable batteries into one place.

 

If you need to convince anyone about the benefits of user-replaceable mobile phone batteries, simply refer them to that article.

You're welcome.

[SolarNova]

Kinda goes without saying that an easily replaceable battery would be the better option. However, that would increase the lifespan of modern phones, which would lower the sales of newer phones, thus lowering profits for the companies. As such they wont be doing it any time soon.

 

Think about it, some relatively old phones are more than capable of being what they need to be for the average user, the only reason they're not used is likely due to hardware failure, the most prominent part being the battery.

 

EDIT:

Adding onto what i said.

I use a Samsung Galaxy J5 from 2016. It was original a family members phone, they changed to a newer one via their Job, so i got a free upgrade from an even older Huawei y330 from 2014.

The older Huawei still runs as it did when new,, that being slowly ..but battery is fine. The J5 from Samsung has had to have its battery replaced (thankfully its removable). if the Samsung was any newer, the battery would likely not be removable and it would have to be binned.

 

[Kilrah]

I'm still for "slim" since I've never had to replace a phone becasue of, or replace a dead battery.

[Handroid7]

  On 5/6/2020 at 6:14 AM, Kilrah said:

I'm still for "slim" since I've never had to replace a phone becasue of, or replace a dead battery.

If you would use your phone longer or heavier (e.g. 8K video on the newest phones), that would quickly wreck the battery.

 

Also, 45W fast charging puts enormous stress on it.

[Kilrah]

That's why I don't use fast charge unless in an emergency, my phone can do 55W charge but I've got a good old 2A Samsung charger from before the fast charge craze that I charge it with.

I use my phones a lot and they're always still good after 2 years, at which point I tend to want to change anyway and sell the old one if still in a decent condition.

 

One could argue that super fast charge is a convenient way to shorten the battery life if people always use the supplied charger though...

[Handroid7]

  On 5/8/2020 at 4:04 AM, Kilrah said:

One could argue that super fast charge is a convenient way to shorten the battery life if people always use the supplied charger though...

Indeed. Which is why there should be an option for a decent phone with replaceable battery.

 

And no, the Xcover Pro is not decent by 2020 standards because its camera can only record at 1080p@30fps at best. Something the S2 from 2011 can too.

[Handroid7]

  On 5/6/2020 at 5:30 AM, SolarNova said:

However, that would increase the lifespan of modern phones, which would lower the sales of newer phones, thus lowering profits for the companies.

I smell planned obsolescence.

 

If any phone manufacturer came up with a replaceable battery today, the OG Samsung and LG crowd would come en masse.

[Kilrah]

I have a hard time believing anyone but a few techy guys would... the average person doesn't care.

[Handroid7]

  On 5/8/2020 at 4:58 PM, Kilrah said:

the average person doesn't care.

Coincidentally, the "bloated", "cheap plastic" Galaxy S4 happens to be the most sold Android phone of all time, with over 80 million units.

 

Also, the group of people who neither cares about fashion statement (status symbol) nor newest specifications should not require a new device very soon.

 

But yes, it is sad how in the past manufacturers betrayed power users repeatedly.

 

Phones lost many features over the years, including MicroSD and MHL to HDMI and USB 3.0 and many menu options on the Galaxy S6.

 

But non-replaceable batteries are the worst trend of them all.

• Benefits of user-replaceable batteries

It appears to me like corruption. The part with the shortest lifespan is now non-modular on nearly every phone.

If they at least released 10% of their phones (especially flagship and higher class devices) with replaceable battery, that would still be much better because it would give users the freedom of choice.

[Lord Vile]

  On 5/9/2020 at 1:07 PM, Handroid7 said:

Coincidentally, the "bloated", "cheap plastic" Galaxy S4 happens to be the most sold Android phone of all time, with over 80 million units.

 

Also, the group of people who neither cares about fashion statement (status symbol) nor newest specifications should not require a new device very soon.

 

But yes, it is sad how in the past manufacturers betrayed power users repeatedly.

 

Phones lost many features over the years, including MicroSD and MHL to HDMI and USB 3.0 and many menu options on the Galaxy S6.

 

But non-replaceable batteries are the worst trend of them all.

• Benefits of user-replaceable batteries

It appears to me like corruption. The part with the shortest lifespan is now non-modular on nearly every phone.

If they at least released 10% of their phones (especially flagship and higher class devices) with replaceable battery, that would still be much better because it would give users the freedom of choice.

Expand  

Or did the S4 just sell well because there realty wasn’t any competition on the android side? 

[Handroid7]

  On 5/10/2020 at 5:32 AM, Lord Vile said:

Or did the S4 just sell well because there realty wasn’t any competition on the android side? 

Sorry for late response, I just revisited the forum.

 

What about HTC One M7 and Sony Xperia Z? (both with nonreplaceable batteries)

[Lord Vile]

  On 6/8/2020 at 11:45 PM, Handroid7 said:

Sorry for late response, I just revisited the forum.

 

What about HTC One M7 and Sony Xperia Z? (both with nonreplaceable batteries)

HTC have never made a good phone and the Z series were B tier phones. 

[EL02]

  On 6/8/2020 at 11:51 PM, Lord Vile said:

HTC have never made a good phone and the Z series were B tier phones. 

The m8 was kinda impressing tbh

[Lord Vile]

  On 6/9/2020 at 12:52 AM, EL02 said:

The m8 was kinda impressing tbh

Nah they were all unreliable and broke far too often