Having read a little more detail, I still think this is a fantastic decision and long overdue.
Even if you have to remove 6 torx screws to get the rear cover off and then replace a rubber gasket before putting everything back together- the necessary change in build materials and construction will result in a more durable, longer lasting device.
It feels like this fight is 5-7 years late. I am glad the EU actually tries to regulate on behalf of the consumer vs what the US has been doing lately(almost nothing), but the EU does it in a ham-handed way half the time.
I don’t necessarily want a user replaceable battery on my phone. I prefer it not be chonky and I prefer it to be water and dust proof. All of those features impact me sooo much more than being able to change the battery.
Also batteries have come so far this past decade it almost seems like a non issue.
and I prefer it to be water and dust proof.
Adding replaceable batteries does nothing to affect this. An o-ring with a clamping mechanism will make it just as water and dust resistant as before. Your phone’s charging port is more susceptible to water and dust than a replaceable battery will ever be
the main benefit of this, is that you can self-replace the battery when it becomes excessively degraded and doesn’t hold charge as good as a healthy battery. otherwise you’d still need a power-bank for your other tech, such as AirPods or similar stuff.
