Changes

In early 2015, [[Samsung]] Mobile, one of world's primary mobile phone vendors, transitioned into the non-replaceable battery [[design trend]] with the release of the Galaxy S6 as their first flagship mobile phone with non-replaceable battery, after being one of the final standing vendors to build high-specification devices with user-replaceable batteries.

In early 2015, [[Samsung]] Mobile, one of world's primary mobile phone vendors, transitioned into the non-replaceable battery [[design trend]] with the release of the Galaxy S6 as their first flagship mobile phone with non-replaceable battery, after being one of the final standing vendors to build high-specification devices with user-replaceable batteries.

As a result of said trend, the batteries in many in laptop computers and '''nearly all [[smartphone]]s''' released since then are not replaceable by the end-user, despite of increased user demands due to functionality such as ''PowerShare'' (wireless discharging), photography and videography, higher recharging speeds, and [[5G]] connectivity, all of which enormously stress the battery.<ref name=benefits-replaceable>[https://en.everybodywiki.com/Benefits_of_user-replaceable_batteries#History Article ''Benefits of user-replaceable batteries'' § History</ref><ref name=muldoon>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiQAtLqczAk Kevin Muldoon about irreplaceable batteries] — Right to repair</ref> This forces users who wish to keep their device functional longer to restrict their usage of advanced device functionality.<ref name=benefits-replaceable-heavy-usage>[https://en.everybodywiki.com/Benefits_of_user-replaceable_batteries#Weardown_from_heavy_usage Article ''Benefits of user-replaceable batteries'' § Weardown from heavy usage</ref><ref name=muldoon>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiQAtLqczAk Kevin Muldoon about irreplaceable batteries] — Right to repair</ref>

As a result of said trend, the batteries in many in laptop computers and '''nearly all [[smartphone]]s''' released since then are not replaceable by the end-user, despite of increased user demands due to functionality such as ''PowerShare'' (wireless discharging), photography and videography, higher recharging speeds, and [[5G]] connectivity, all of which enormously stress the battery.<ref name=benefits-replaceable>[https://en.everybodywiki.com/Benefits_of_user-replaceable_batteries#History Article ''Benefits of user-replaceable batteries'' § History]</ref><ref name=muldoon>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiQAtLqczAk Kevin Muldoon about irreplaceable batteries] — Right to repair</ref> This forces users who wish to keep their device functional longer to restrict their usage of advanced device functionality.<ref name=benefits-replaceable-heavy-usage>[https://en.everybodywiki.com/Benefits_of_user-replaceable_batteries#Weardown_from_heavy_usage Article ''Benefits of user-replaceable batteries'' § Weardown from heavy usage]</ref><ref name=muldoon>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiQAtLqczAk Kevin Muldoon about irreplaceable batteries] — Right to repair</ref>

The batteries are often soldered into the unit, making replacement almost impossible for the average user (some companies such as Apple do offer battery replacement for a considerable fee). Some of these batteries also contain circuits that regulate and limit the number of charging cycles the battery will take before it fails to charge, limiting the useful life of the battery, and consequently the unit itself. This strategy is even readily admitted by the product developers themselves; a product development firm states, "Cell phones have proprietary lithium batteries that can be charged and discharged for a limited number of times. After the battery stops retaining charge it has to be replaced. The cost of replacing the proprietary battery is often about the same as replacing the cell phone."<ref>http://www.fast-product-development.com/obsolescence-management.html</ref>

The batteries are often soldered into the unit, making replacement almost impossible for the average user (some companies such as Apple do offer battery replacement for a considerable fee). Some of these batteries also contain circuits that regulate and limit the number of charging cycles the battery will take before it fails to charge, limiting the useful life of the battery, and consequently the unit itself. This strategy is even readily admitted by the product developers themselves; a product development firm states, "Cell phones have proprietary lithium batteries that can be charged and discharged for a limited number of times. After the battery stops retaining charge it has to be replaced. The cost of replacing the proprietary battery is often about the same as replacing the cell phone."<ref>http://www.fast-product-development.com/obsolescence-management.html</ref>

*[[Vance Packard]]

*[[Vance Packard]]

*[[Consumerism]]

*[[Consumerism]]

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Economics]]

[[Category:Economics]]