In praise of removable batteries.

[scottbeamer]

I was a long time Samsung Galaxy person. I owned the S, S2, S3, S5, and Note 4.

Then Samsung abandoned the removable battery, and I felt like a rug had been pulled out from underneath me.

Then I discovered LG.

Several months before I discovered the V20, I began researching what my next phone would be as I was eligible for a an upgrade at the end of September.

Long story short, I ended up with a V20.

I've had it for a week now, and I love it.

So then, why can't I live without removable batteries?

A better question should be, why can you live without them?

The secret is a spare battery and a charging cradle for the spare.

I *never* plug my phone in. I constantly have a battery charging. When the battery in my phone gets low, I just swap batteries. I'm never without my phone, or tethered to a charger.

I can't imagine any other way.

You can get the spare batteries with charging cradles here: BCK-5200 | eBay.

 

[Jewels81]

Great

 

[Aquila]

Everyone has different priorities. I personally despise removable batteries in mobile devices. I feel that they're a design blunder. At the same time, I am glad that someone is still doing them because there are quite a few people out there that really need that option to get through their use case and I know everyone's use case varies significantly from mine.

 

[scottbeamer]

Everyone has different priorities. I personally despise removable batteries in mobile devices. I feel that they're a design blunder. At the same time, I am glad that someone is still doing them because there are quite a few people out there that really need that option to get through their use case and I know everyone's use case varies significantly from mine.

A design BLUNDER?

 

[nahoku]

Yes, the phone looks great too! Imagine that... a beautiful phone with a removal battery - without a stupid glass back! LOL!

 

[Aquila]

A design BLUNDER?

Yes, IMO, anyone who is trying to design a phone that they want me to buy will recognize that the battery has to be sealed and that not doing so will make it incredibly improbable that I'll have any interest in their device - even if they put out an otherwise great device with industry leading audio, etc. A removable battery is a sign that their head just isn't in the game, if their goal is designing a phone for me. It means that a huge number of compromises in build, opportunity cost, design and device philosophy - almost every one of which I find unacceptable. But no one is designing phones specifically for me and I'm very glad someone is making phones that you love to use

 

[scottbeamer]

Yes, IMO, anyone who is trying to design a phone that they want me to buy will recognize that the battery has to be sealed and that not doing so will make it incredibly improbable that I'll have any interest in their device - even if they put out an otherwise great device with industry leading audio, etc. A removable battery is a sign that their head just isn't in the game, if their goal is designing a phone for me. It means that a huge number of compromises in build, opportunity cost, design and device philosophy - almost every one of which I find unacceptable. But no one is designing phones specifically for me and I'm very glad someone is making phones that you love to use

That's the strangest thing that I've read in a while.

Different strikes, for different folks.

 

[Aquila]

That's the strangest thing that I've read in a while.

Different strikes, for different folks.

Yes, I think that it is easier for me to understand wanting the utility of a removable battery than it is for people to understand the reasons that I wouldn't want one. And I am sincerely glad that LG makes a phone with the removable battery and I'm glad you like it - just saying it's not for me; two different points.

 

[talon1189]

I personally am coming from a Note 4 with a removable battery. I gave up the water resistance for a removable battery with the V20...... It is well worth it and I can reboot the V20 with just removing the battery for 20 seconds or so ...... Manufactures will have learned their lesson from the Samsung Note 7 mistakes...... I can almost guarantee that the next flagship phone from Samsung will have some cutting edge removable battery to make up for their HUGE downfall on the Note 7 and be water resistant .......

 

[nahoku]

I can almost guarantee that the next flagship phone from Samsung will have some cutting edge removable battery

I doubt this will happen. Samsung will have to unlearn a lot of stupid before they realize what a mistake in direction they're making... might take years, or never.

 

[talon1189]

Yes, I think that it is easier for me to understand wanting the utility of a removable battery than it is for people to understand the reasons that I wouldn't want one. And I am sincerely glad that LG makes a phone with the removable battery and I'm glad you like it - just saying it's not for me; two different points.

If the phone is 2 years old and the battery decides to die? The phone is useless...... ........ I don't understand your thinking here...If it is a battery issue......Ebay can be your friend.
Good luck with what you decide.......

 

[Aquila]

I doubt this will happen. Samsung will have to unlearn a lot of stupid before they realize what a mistake in direction they're making... might take years, or never.

Though I'd phrase it differently, I agree. Samsung is in the business of making flagship phones for mainstream people - so everything they make that AC readership will care about will be set up for mainstream consumers, which means sealed battery, etc.

 

[Aquila]

If the phone is 2 years old and the battery decides to die? The phone is useless...... http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d114/slave2_ragdolls/violent-smiley-056.gif ........ I don't understand your thinking here...If it is a battery issue......Ebay can be your friend.http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d114/slave2_ragdolls/icon_cconfused.gif

Which I think is the exact point I was making If I only used one phone on a daily basis and had any intention of using any one phone for more than 9-15 months I'd probably have more concern about that point. As it is, I've only had one battery fail in any device and that was in a galaxy nexus.

 

[talon1189]

I doubt this will happen. Samsung will have to unlearn a lot of stupid before they realize what a mistake in direction they're making... might take years, or never.

Samsung will come up with a new phone in 2017. I feel that it will be their way to buy back the inconvenienced owners from the Samsung Note 7 disaster.......

 

[silverfang77]

For as long as I can, I'll seek phones with removable batteries. I think it's a huge disrespect to the customer to make the battery off limits.

 

[Purple Spy]

The idea of a spare battery still seems clunky to me, but i cant live without a removable battery.

I always keep products like this on my phone.

https://www.amazon.com/Zerolemon-Ze...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU5550538

I prefer to NEVER have to worry about my battery life. Lasting me friday from when i get up for work at 5am until i go to bed past midnight without a problem, thats what i want from my device, and i dont mind the extra bulk at all.

 

[vasekvi]

Every smartphone I've ever owned had a removable battery. It's critical for me. I prefer a physical keyboard and if the Priv had a removable battery I'd likely be using that. I went from Palm to Samsung to LG. When the Palm (HP) Pre3 was out I bought a spare phone just to have a spare battery, and I used the second phone to charge the spare battery. I went to the S4 when there were no more webOS devices for me to use. But when my Galaxy Note Edge started acting up out of warranty, I traded it in early for the V10. That phone went and bootlooped so I sold the warranty replacement t when this V20 became available.

Obviously there are design compromises when designing a removable battery system. Both the V10 and V20 do a nice job implementing them. I really hoped the V20 would be water resistant, but there are cases one can buy for this purpose.

Those who don't need or care to have a phone with a removable battery, more power (well actually less but that's beside the point) to them. But I have important reasons for it that should be considered by anyone in the market for a new phone.

1. Battery health. If you plan on keeping your phone for a year or more, the battery will not hold a charge as well over time. Despite improvements in battery technology, every phone I have ever owned, I notice that the batteries don't hold a charge as long. This includes the V10 that I bought in March of this year. With the last two phones (V10 and Note Edge), this became evident in the phones powering down earlier and earlier over time before reaching zero percent. I put white dots on my batteries to be able to tell them apart, and I notice which batteries suffer from this more than others. So this means that if you own a sealed phone, you have no choice but to live with the battery the phone came with, and you have no way to change your battery with degrading health. If you take your phone and have the battery changed by a service center, do not assume your phone will maintain its factory water resistance. My last point on battery health is just as having multiple pairs of shoes. You spread the usage cycles between multiple units, thereby increasing their longevity. And while I understand that it's better to charge lithium ion batteries early and often, your phone is designed to work for you, not you for it.

2. Convenience. While it may be argued that you trade one convenience for another in that you have to carry the spare charger with you, I prefer that over having a battery case that doubles the phones thickness. And I despise having to carry around a phone attached to a USB power pack by cable, which is what people do with phones that have sealed batteries. I do have a 11,000 mAh USB battery pack. What to I use it for? To charge my spare battery in a standalone charger. That and to let friends borrow who have iPhone and Galaxys who are always low on battery.

3. Charging port wear. This is less and less of a factor with wireless charging, which I do wish was available on the V20. But most people don't take their wireless chargers everywhere and still need to plug in. But a spare battery can be taken everywhere and is ready to pop in at any time its needed.

4. Instant charge. No matter how fast phones charge, you cannot beat having 100% in less than a minute.

5. Use your phone how you want. I just got my V20 3 days ago and I do see a noticeable improvement in battery life. And while I'm waiting on my spare battery system to arrive, it is nice to have the phone last longer than the V10. But even at that, I still have anxiety that when the phone gets low, I'll have to charge it somehow and wait for it to charge. So I have things turned off that I would normally leave on. Like bluetooth and life 360. And I let my screen be dimmer than I prefer.

But the whole point of having a smartphone is that it is your every day life tool. You should be able to use it how you want. What's the point of having a fast processor if you use battery saver to slow it down? A nice bright and vivid display that you can barely see? A nice thin phone that you hold a battery block with to charge on the go?

They can take away my physical keyboard. They can take away my waterproofing. But they can never take away my freedom. Give me a phone with a removable battery or give me death.

 

[Mike Dee]

Yes, IMO, anyone who is trying to design a phone that they want me to buy will recognize that the battery has to be sealed and that not doing so will make it incredibly improbable that I'll have any interest in their device - even if they put out an otherwise great device with industry leading audio, etc. A removable battery is a sign that their head just isn't in the game, if their goal is designing a phone for me. It means that a huge number of compromises in build, opportunity cost, design and device philosophy - almost every one of which I find unacceptable. But no one is designing phones specifically for me and I'm very glad someone is making phones that you love to use

The could make a water resistant phone with a removable battery very easily but it might add a bit to the cost. All they would need to do is make the battery part of a removable back which is how some if the older phones were designed. Similar also to how the Moto mods work.

 

[SupraLB]

Although I love the LG V20, I would be more enthused about swappable batteries if there was a mini battery inside the phone, that would power the phone for up to 5 minutes while you swap the main battery. Seems like a no brainer, easy feature to add.

 

[sayf777]

The could make a water resistant phone with a removable battery very easily but it might add a bit to the cost. All they would need to do is make the battery part of a removable back which is how some if the older phones were designed. Similar also to how the Moto mods work.

Samsung Galaxy s5 IP67