ifixit Scores HTC One 1/10 Battery Not User Upgradable

[rhodetpm]

ifixit Scores HTC One 1/10 Battery Not User Upgradable
HTC One Teardown - iFixit

I have an HTC Evo LTE and I really like the aluminum shell. The aluminum shell is sturdy and lightweight. With a thin protective case, you get the best of both worlds (protected and light). The software on the HTC Evo LTE could have been done better (Sense will crash too much, poor restores in multi-tasking), but the hardware itself was really top notch and the best on the market last year. I would stack the hardware up against anything on the market last year. The HTC Evo LTE has a user upgradable battery (there are a couple of screws, but it is realistically possible to change out the battery). The new HTC One does not have this type of design. You are not going to be able to upgrade your battery one or two years later. HTC has chosen planned obsolescence like the iPhone.

All batteries lose their charge capacity over time. You are going to lose around 15-20% of the original capacity after heavy use over a year. After a year, I'd like to be able to put a new battery in and restore the phone to its original capability. If I buy a new phone after two years, I'd still like to use the old phone in an emergency. At the very least, I'd like for my kids to use it as a game phone. I rather not have to pass out external battery packs. Eventually my kids are going to break the power connector if an external battery pack is plugged in.

For a company that is struggling to survive, HTC is limiting their addressable market. I would like nothing better to continue to buy an HTC, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost. If you are out of warranty, you are not going to have the option of repairing the HTC One at any cost that makes sense. Samsung doesn't have a very attractive phone, but they understand how to attack Apple and HTC from the point of view of basic economics.

 

[Russ Smith]

ifixit Scores HTC One 1/10 Battery Not User Upgradable
HTC One Teardown - iFixit

I have an HTC Evo LTE and I really like the aluminum shell. The aluminum shell is sturdy and lightweight. With a thin protective case, you get the best of both worlds (protected and light). The software on the HTC Evo LTE could have been done better (Sense will crash too much, poor restores in multi-tasking), but the hardware itself was really top notch and the best on the market last year. I would stack the hardware up against anything on the market last year. The HTC Evo LTE has a user upgradable battery (there are a couple of screws, but it is realistically possible to change out the battery). The new HTC One does not have this type of design. You are not going to be able to upgrade your battery one or two years later. HTC has chosen planned obsolescence like the iPhone.

All batteries lose their charge capacity over time. You are going to lose around 15-20% of the original capacity after heavy use over a year. After a year, I'd like to be able to put a new battery in and restore the phone to its original capability. If I buy a new phone after two years, I'd still like to use the old phone in an emergency. At the very least, I'd like for my kids to use it as a game phone. I rather not have to pass out external battery packs. Eventually my kids are going to break the power connector if an external battery pack is plugged in.

For a company that is struggling to survive, HTC is limiting their addressable market. I would like nothing better to continue to buy an HTC, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost. If you are out of warranty, you are not going to have the option of repairing the HTC One at any cost that makes sense. Samsung doesn't have a very attractive phone, but they understand how to attack Apple and HTC from the point of view of basic economics.

This is true a broken screen or old battery will be a sod to sort. Second hand HTC one won't be worth buying if theyre a bit old and roughed up. Shame it's an awesome phone...

I've bought insurance with it for ?5 a month so after a year I'll drop it 'accidently' and pay ?50 for a brand new one given within 30 mins of walking through the door. Plus any manufacturer issue means instant replacement free with Phones4u.

Sent from my HTC One

 

[Traveler62]

I'm not sure if the design would allow it, but it might be a good idea for HTC to offer one free labor battery replacement within the 2 year period for the original purchaser. You would pay the cost for the OEM battery and send the phone to have it replaced. That would help the discussion about battery worries. The design most likely won't make this possible as disassembly may be near impossible. They might even by then have a higher capacity battery that would fit the same dimensions after a year or two.

 

[BigDinCA]

First off, the 1/10 is the repairability score. And they're probably dead-on with that. I took my EVO LTE apart last night and, while fun, was also a bit of a pisser. But it could still be disassembled at home, therefore making the battery replaceable locally. The One... not so much. That being said, I haven't had any battery issues with my EVO so I would expect the same for the One.

Secondly, I love that site. I try to take every electronic thing I get apart as soon as I can. It's probably some sort of illness but I don't care.

 

[sprinttouch666]

Trying to find the source, but I remember reading that HTC would replace the battery in the One (for free I think!) for two years.

 

[JHBThree]

ifixit Scores HTC One 1/10 Battery Not User Upgradable
HTC One Teardown - iFixit

I have an HTC Evo LTE and I really like the aluminum shell. The aluminum shell is sturdy and lightweight. With a thin protective case, you get the best of both worlds (protected and light). The software on the HTC Evo LTE could have been done better (Sense will crash too much, poor restores in multi-tasking), but the hardware itself was really top notch and the best on the market last year. I would stack the hardware up against anything on the market last year. The HTC Evo LTE has a user upgradable battery (there are a couple of screws, but it is realistically possible to change out the battery). The new HTC One does not have this type of design. You are not going to be able to upgrade your battery one or two years later. HTC has chosen planned obsolescence like the iPhone.

All batteries lose their charge capacity over time. You are going to lose around 15-20% of the original capacity after heavy use over a year. After a year, I'd like to be able to put a new battery in and restore the phone to its original capability. If I buy a new phone after two years, I'd still like to use the old phone in an emergency. At the very least, I'd like for my kids to use it as a game phone. I rather not have to pass out external battery packs. Eventually my kids are going to break the power connector if an external battery pack is plugged in.

For a company that is struggling to survive, HTC is limiting their addressable market. I would like nothing better to continue to buy an HTC, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost. If you are out of warranty, you are not going to have the option of repairing the HTC One at any cost that makes sense. Samsung doesn't have a very attractive phone, but they understand how to attack Apple and HTC from the point of view of basic economics.

The market for people looking for a phone with a replaceable battery is insignificant enough that they're right not to care. Samsung only does it because they're cheap, and its cheaper to have removable batteries.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[L1V3RB1RD]

lol its 2013 do people really actually fix their phones ?

 

[Suda]

lol its 2013 do people really actually fix their phones ?

A screen can break regardless of the year.

 

[JHBThree]

A screen can break regardless of the year.

Normal people don't fix it themselves.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[The Hustleman]

Normal people don't fix it themselves.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

And they don't want to pay extremely high shop costs to get them fixed either

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Suda]

Normal people don't fix it themselves.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

Exactly, they take it to people like iFixit and get it fixed. What happens when professionals like iFixit can't fix it, who's left?

Has HTC formally commented about repair of the phone?

 

[JHBThree]

Exactly, they take it to people like iFixit and get it fixed. What happens when professionals like iFixit can't fix it, who's left?

Has HTC formally commented about repair of the phone?

Did you read their breakdown? They even said they weren't trying very hard not to damage the phone.

Most people don't go to places like ifixit either. They'll go to the carrier, who will give them options which include replacing the device or sending it to htc for repair

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[JHBThree]

And they don't want to pay extremely high shop costs to get them fixed either

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

They go through their carrier.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[DroidXcon]

The market for people looking for a phone with a replaceable battery is insignificant enough that they're right not to care. Samsung only does it because they're cheap, and its cheaper to have removable batteries.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

Oh I didn't know it was cheaper. What about it makes it cheaper to make?

From my Galaxy Note 2 via Tapatalk

 

[Suda]

Did you even read their breakdown? They even said they weren't trying very hard not to damage the phone.

Most people don't go to places like ifixit either. They'll go to the carrier, who will give them options which include replacing the device or sending it to htc for repair

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

I have indeed read it and I didn't see anywhere in that teardown where they say they intended on damaging the phone, if you could show that to me it'd be fantastic. All I've seen from it even looking at it right now is that the conventional ways they take phones apart without damaging them didn't work for this phone.

 

[JHBThree]

I have indeed read it and I didn't see anywhere in that teardown where they say they intended on damaging the phone, if you could show that to me it'd be fantastic. All I've seen from it even looking at it right now is that the conventional ways they take phones apart without damaging them didn't work for this phone.

They never said they were trying to damage the phone. They said they weren't trying NOT to damage it.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[JHBThree]

Oh I didn't know it was cheaper. What about it makes it cheaper to make?

From my Galaxy Note 2 via Tapatalk

Cheaper to produce, cheaper to design. The engineering required for a built in battery is more complicated (and expensive), because you have a whole different set of issues than with a device with a removable battery. Its also significantly cheaper to build because it isn't as complicated.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[DroidXcon]

Cheaper to produce, cheaper to design. The engineering required for a built in battery is more complicated (and expensive), because you have a whole different set of issues than with a device with a removable battery. Its also significantly cheaper to build because it isn't as complicated.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

oh I see. How did you come across engineering and manufacturing costs?

From my Galaxy Note 2 via Tapatalk

 

[JHBThree]

oh I see. How did you come across engineering and manufacturing costs?

From my Galaxy Note 2 via Tapatalk

Basic knowledge about manufacturing. The more complicated it is, the more expensive. Same reason Samsung chose plastic instead of metal.

Oh, and if you don't stop following me around harassing me you'll be reported.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[DroidXcon]

Basic knowledge about manufacturing. The more complicated it is, the more expensive. Same reason Samsung chose plastic instead of metal.

Oh, and if you don't stop following me around harassing me you'll be reported.
Please feel free.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

Reported for what exactly? asking you your sources?

From my Galaxy Note 2 via Tapatalk