Rumor: Oppo will replace your smartphone's battery for free within four years of purchase

13 September 2023
There is of course a caveat - you're not getting unlimited free replacements.

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potato4k, 14 Sep 2023Battery replacement is already free within the warranty per... moreBut is the battery covered under warranty when the capacity drops to 70%?
As in the previous comment.
I dont know about EU or around the world but in Germany the mandatory warranty for new goods is 2 years.
Free battery replacement regardless of the battery capacity will be a super thing.

    Berserker, 14 Sep 2023Removable batteries or a mandatory free battery replacement... moreWhy? you already have that. Within warranty they will fix the mobile (including battery) free of cost.

      Anonymous, 14 Sep 2023Warranty period is just 1 year for most phones. Battery rep... moreHere in Germany we have a mandatory 2 Year warranty and 1 year for used goods.
      But yeah,there needs to be a discussion about the mandatory warranty policies also.

        OpposedScroll75, 14 Sep 2023You're just wrong. Most people just buy a new phone... moreThat's not why users upgrade, most modern phones have batteries that can last 4+ years if treated properly. People upgrade because they want the fancy new phone or its time to upgrade with their network provider. Personally I feel the removable battery scheme is unnecessary, would be much easier to research and develop better battery tech and have companies use that new tech in their phones. 1 amazing battery versus 10 mediocre swappable battery

          Anonymous, 14 Sep 2023Yes it is indeed possible to have water resistance and a re... moreYou're just wrong.

          Most people just buy a new phone within a year or two because the battery no longer holds enough of a charge. Those phones then get thrown out and thus become e-waste. Now imagine that but with hundreds of thousands of phones PER DAY.

          Having replaceable batteries is going to encourage users to keep one phone for longer than two years OR buy used phones more often since you can just replace the battery and boom, it's as good as new.

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            • Anonymous
            • nDy
            • 14 Sep 2023

            IMX363, 14 Sep 2023EU was looking to pass a law (now sure if already did) to h... moreEU literally made a deal with Apple in late 2018 that 1% of every lightning sold item sold on UE soil to go to the Eu budget...so, people stop trusting EU that looks for you...money and power...Even Apple said that this lightning in 2012 will be around for a decade...so Apple would got rid of it by late 2024 anyway

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              • Anonymous
              • nDy
              • 14 Sep 2023

              IMX363, 14 Sep 2023EU was looking to pass a law (now sure if already did) to h... moreThey literally did it with 12 macbook
              Being among the first
              If EU wanted and had power over Apple they would done it 3 years ago when they first wanted. But money and Apple power baought 2-3 more years

                EU was looking to pass a law (now sure if already did) to have easily replaceable batteries.

                EU is pretty much the only entity between consumers and these big, greedy corruptporations.

                Apple would have never gone Type-C, if not for the EU.

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                  • Anonymous
                  • vI2
                  • 14 Sep 2023

                  Marco M, 14 Sep 2023THe Motorola DEFY from 2010 already had easy to open back a... moreYes it is indeed possible to have water resistance and a removable battery both in a phone BUT the design needs several changes and consequently the phone price will rise

                  Also as a side effect, buyers will buy additional batteries to benefit from the removable design, even when they don't actually need to replace it, probably just to extend battery life without having to wait to charge a device (by quickly swapping it), so all this will be causing more electronic waste and will do more harm than good

                  The best way is to just create a better battery that lasts long. And everyone will be happy since people usually use a phone for 4 years, maybe 5 or 6 in case of high end phones. So if it lasts till then, it will work. No major modifications required to phone design

                    Berserker, 14 Sep 2023Removable batteries or a mandatory free battery replacement... moreBattery replacement is already free within the warranty period for most manufacturers, since majority of battery won't go bad within a year.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • vI2
                      • 14 Sep 2023

                      Berserker, 14 Sep 2023Removable batteries or a mandatory free battery replacement... moreWarranty period is just 1 year for most phones. Battery replacement is not needed that soon

                      The only way to this is to either make removable batteries or make them last long enough that they function well till the end lifecycle of a device (about 6 years for a flagship device)

                        Anonymous, 14 Sep 2023The EU already passed a law on removable batteries, so all ... moreTHe Motorola DEFY from 2010 already had easy to open back and IP67 rating.
                        https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_defy-review-546p2.php

                        I don't see an issue with a solution involving screws. Be it either on the four back corners, or the two lower corners of the phone to avoid the current glued shut solution. Alternatively on the side or bottom for a battery that one can simply slide out. This battery compartment solution could be similar to SIM tray and have a gasket, preferably secured with a screw and loctite - or similar.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • n4t
                          • 14 Sep 2023

                          European union will make these companies to allow easily user replaceable batteries.

                          My mom has old phone(not smartphone) and she loves it and it had bad battery life.

                          Luckily it was easy to replace, just back cover out, new battery in and back cover back!

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                            • Anonymous
                            • mVK
                            • 14 Sep 2023

                            Whoever offers this in EU, I'm switching to their device.

                              Removable batteries or a mandatory free battery replacement within the warranty period.
                              And all will be happy.

                                KrazzyDJ, 14 Sep 2023This is actually a very welcome move and one that I'd ... moreI didn't find original battery for any Xiaomi phone. That's the real problem

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                                  • Anonymous
                                  • vI2
                                  • 14 Sep 2023

                                  potato4k, 14 Sep 2023Samsung Galaxy S5 had removable battery and IP67 rating bac... moreI know but IP ratings don't have a guarantee. They can fail
                                  No phone company will repair a water damaged phone, even if the phone has IP67
                                  The more open ports, removable parts or flaps a device has, harder is to implement water resistance but it can be done
                                  It will take advances in smartphone design tho

                                    Anonymous, 14 Sep 2023The EU already passed a law on removable batteries, so all ... moreSamsung Galaxy S5 had removable battery and IP67 rating back in 2014, so it wasn't really an excuse.

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • vI2
                                      • 14 Sep 2023

                                      Anonymous, 14 Sep 2023Good idea or just make a battery back door, just before all... moreThe EU already passed a law on removable batteries, so all phones will perhaps come with removable in near future

                                      Thanks to EU for introducing such laws. IP ratings might be affected tho but I guess that's a small price to pay for the convenience of replacing it without taking phone to service center

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                                        • Anonymous
                                        • vI2
                                        • 14 Sep 2023

                                        potato4k, 14 Sep 2023Don't get too optimistic. This is just a rumor, only f... moreAFAIK, xiaomi and oneplus have already provided free replacements in the past. It was in certain places, outside of china as well

                                        It's appreciable that at least few phone companies are taking steps to extend battery health and lifespan, and even offer a replacement for free, when required

                                        Apple on the other hand, trying to make a business out of it
                                        That's why I never buy an iPhone. Too much greed there with their anti consumer practices. Little innovation, more robbery