9 mo. ago • 99%

Android may soon tell you when it's time to replace your phone's battery

www.androidauthority.com Android may soon tell you when it's time to replace your phone's battery

Android is preparing to give you an estimate of the remaining capacity of your phone's battery, making it easier to know when to replace it.

72 comments

That would be great if we weren't past the point of phones having unremovable batteries... Too little too fucking late as always, Google.

145
- The EU would like to have a talk with manufacturers about this... Much like USB C for iPhones, removable batteries are in the works again thanks to the EU.
  
  74
  
  Bear in mind the law isn't for replaceable batteries in the way you describe, it just has to be easy enough for a person or a repair shop to do without too much risk of damage.
  
  It's unlikely we'll see every phone having a back we can just pop off and pull the battery out.
  
  Even then, there are exceptions. If the phone still retains 84% of battery capacity by year 3, and I think 80% by year 4, it doesn't have to be user-servicable.
  
  9
  
  I hope these changes affect the global supply chain, but I'm very skeptical that it's going to have any repercussions outside of the EU.
  
  9
- All battery's can be removed if you try hard enough
  
  25
  
  Last time I tried to remove one it caught fire. So much glue..
  
  9
- looks at fairphone
  shrugs :p
  
  Jokes aside, this is indeed a huge problem and do hope that eu law gets passed. Its perfectly possible to have a replacable battery and keep a good ip rating...
  
  20
  
  Other countries will follow EU's example. OEMs will not have non-removable batteries anymore. Apple should immediately comply. Fairphone is indeed an example of sustainability.
  
  4
- All batteries are replaceable. Some take a bit more effort and some specialized equipment, though.
  
  14
  
  Yeah but that seems like a pain, of course I had a cell back to analog days and am probably is. Used to sell so many batteries for cells in my Radio Shack days, and many were people wanting a second one for a backup when they were in the bush. Even remember $80 for a lithium startac battery heh, like 20ish years ago.
  
  7
- Some phones, like mine, do have removable batteries. The point of Android is that devices should be varied in design and features rather than interchangeable black mirrors and I think it's good that Android is still adding features that help facilitate that.
  
  10
- ~~Dont~~ Be Evil
  
  8
  
  33% less words to print, more efficient.
  
  9
- It wouldn't be any different as how iOS has been doing it since a long ago, it shows the battery in maintenance mode and they even say to go to an authorized place to do it lol.
  
  I want all that BS to end already, managing battery life has been more stressful to me that I'd want to admit (yeah, quick charge ain't the solution).
  
  -1
  
  Quick charge actually damages the battery over time lol. Tbh, if the battery was replacable and you could just buy and replace one, would it still be stressful to get that message?
  
  3
They mean the ones that are glued in, inside of casings that are glued in? Gee, how nice.

99
- That's ending relatively soon because of the EU though, so I guess it's fine.
  
  35
  
  Mmm, trickle down consumer rights.
  
  29
  
  Will phones keep the water proof/resistant feature with that change?
  
  I mean, I prefer having it accessible, one thing less to worry about or being anxious lol, and none of my phones have had such protection anyway.
  
  6
  
  Excellent. I cannot wait to hotswap batteries again. It is so much easier to carry around an extra battery than a battery pack and cable.
  
  1
- How can we make this worse? Hey let's glue the battery to the digitizer!
  
  9
  
  They should make the batteries explode when the device is opened that way the user gets third degree burns
  
  6
- My Nexus One says the battery needs to be replaced.
  
  2
Looks at non removable battery... Oh.

34
- They said you should, not that you could, the iOS way indeed.
  
  10
Also, why can't we finally get usful battery stats on which app or function sucking up how much.

7
- That's been available for ages.
  
  8
  
  Haven't seen a properly working on in a long time
  
  1
This is probablybyhe feature from Apple that I like the most. Glad to hear that it's coming to Android.

1
Well gee, that's awfully nice of him. Sure, would be nice if they still let us replace them without having to deal with adhesives.

1
The EU would like to have a talk with manufacturers about this...

0
Surely I know when I want my phone's battery replaced, because I'm the one using it?

-4
- Most people can't tell how much battery life has been lost to wear and tear just by using the battery.
  
  18
  
  This is especially true for users of Lineage os. Its hard to know if the reduced battery is related to updates or not.
  
  5
  
  if I can't tell that my battery life has been reduced, why do i care? i'm literally oblivious to it
  
  5
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  4
  
  Seems then if the user can't tell...
  
  1
  
  Worse if you buy it used.
  
  The phone I bought used was fortunately a company phone where the prior user barely touched it. So it lasted two years before really going to crap. But I've seen stories of used phones working fine for a few months then the battery just goes to shit.
  
  1
  
  Honestly sometimes I get carried away on my device and eat through 20-30% of my battery. And then start thinking it needs replacement because it felt like it's just been a few mins... before popping open the battery stats and realise i've actually been on my phone for hours 🤦‍♂️
  
  1
  
  So, use the phone instead.
  
  1
- But can you tell how much longer the battery will keep working?
  
  4
  
  does it see future? all it knows is the current calculated capacity and cycle count. the battery might continue degrading linearly, or it might go down a cliff. nobody knows.
  
  1

You've viewed 72 comments.