Apple is exploring new technology to make iPhone batteries more replaceable by 2025.
Apple will extend software features to third-party iPhone components later this year.
This comes in response to regulatory pressures from the European Union and consumer demands.
Apple, the tech giant known for its innovative products, is making strides towards making iPhone batteries more replaceable in response to regulatory pressures. According to multiple sources, Apple is exploring a new technology that will make battery replacement easier for consumers by 2025. This comes as part of a European Union law requiring phone makers to ensure smartphone batteries can be replaced by their owners with easily accessible tools by the same year.
The EU's legislation is not the only factor driving Apple's decision. The company has faced criticism for its lack of repairability, particularly when it comes to battery replacement. While Apple has taken small steps towards making iPhones more repairable in recent years, self-repair remains a cumbersome process for consumers.
Apple is not alone in this endeavor. Later this year, the company will extend software features to third-party iPhone components, including True Tone display and battery health metrics. This move will allow customers to have more control over their devices and make repairs more accessible.
However, Apple's stance on third-party batteries remains cautious. The company has previously expressed concerns about the safety and accuracy of these batteries, citing instances where some third-party batteries sold as new were actually secondhand with manipulated battery health metrics.
Despite these challenges, Apple is committed to improving its repairability efforts. The company's whitepaper, titled
Apple is exploring a new technology to make iPhone battery replacement easier for consumers by 2025.
European Union passed a law requiring phone makers to ensure smartphone batteries can be replaced by their owners with easily accessible tools by 2025.
Accuracy
] Apple is exploring a new technology to make iPhone battery replacement easier for consumers by 2025.[
Apple published a whitepaper titled ‘Longevity by Design’ to explain its principles for designing for longevity and balance between product durability and repairability.
Parts for most repairs from Apple’s Self Service Repair program no longer require a device serial number to order.
Accuracy
]Apple disagrees that making the charging port individually replaceable would be a lower-carbon-emission choice as the actual service rate is below 0.1%[
One of the iPhone 16 models may debut a new easy-to-replace battery tech
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and appeals to authority. The author makes claims about Apple's environmental impact without providing specific evidence, relying on the reader's trust in Apple's self-reported data. Additionally, there is an appeal to authority when discussing the charge port issue, citing Apple's argument against individual replaceability based on their own research and data. The author also makes a sweeping generalization about cheap charging cables being a primary cause of charging port issues, which could be considered an appeal to common beliefs.
. . .Apple says it must consider the broader impact of its designs.
Apple claims that making the charging port individually replaceable would require additional components, including its own flexible printed circuit board, connector, and fasteners that increase the carbon emissions required to manufacture each device.
The author states Apple's claim about their environmental impact without providing specific evidence: 'Due to what Apple says is its unique combination of software support, resale value, and a focus on preventing the most common device failures, the company leads the industry in longevity as measured in products’ value holding, lifespans, and service rates.'
Apple may be working on a removable iPhone battery to comply with global requirements.
'electrically induced adhesive debonding' to remove the battery.
One of the iPhone 16 models may debut a new easy-to-replace battery tech.
Accuracy
]The most crucial element for smartphones is that you can easily swap out the battery for a new unit.[
Deception
(80%)
The article makes editorializing statements and uses sensational language to grab the reader's attention. The author states 'European regulation is surely doing a number on Apple's product line.' This statement is an example of editorializing as it implies that the regulations are negatively impacting Apple, but it does not provide any evidence or objective analysis to support this claim. Additionally, the title 'The iPhone 16 Might Get a Replaceable Battery' is sensational and may mislead readers into believing that the article contains new information about a confirmed replaceable battery in the iPhone 16 when in fact it is only speculation based on rumors. The author also uses selective reporting by focusing on the potential for Apple to comply with EU regulations through a replaceable battery, while omitting any mention of other possible compliance methods or alternatives.
European regulation is surely doing a number on Apple's product line.
The most crucial element for smartphones is that you can easily swap out the battery for a new unit.
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. It uses the loaded term 'Apple’s product line is “doing a number on” in reference to Apple complying with European regulation, implying that the company is being negatively affected by its own actions. Additionally, it makes an appeal to authority by stating that 'five people involved in the iPhone’s manufacturing' claim that one of the iPhone 16 models may have a new battery technology. This statement relies on unnamed sources and is not directly from the author.
Apple’s product line is surely doing a number on Apple’s product line. It mandated the company to adopt USB-C on the iPhone and then RCS so that Messages could more easily communicate with Android users worldwide.
Apple will soon allow True Tone display feature on third-party iPhone screens
Battery health metrics will be displayed for third-party batteries starting later in 2024
Accuracy
]Apple is extending its self-service diagnostics tool to Europe[
True Tone display feature can soon be activated on third-party screens.
Battery statistics like maximum capacity and cycle count will be available for third-party batteries later in 2024.
Deception
(95%)
The article by Chris Welch contains some deceptive practices. Firstly, he presents the information about Apple's new software features for third-party iPhone components as news when it is actually a part of a whitepaper that Apple has published. This can be considered selective reporting as the author chooses to focus on this specific detail while ignoring other important aspects of the whitepaper. Secondly, he uses emotional manipulation by describing some third-party batteries as 'manipulated to appear as new' and 'failed tests resulting in fire or explosions'. While it is true that there are risks associated with using non-OEM components, the author's language creates a sense of danger and fear without providing any context or evidence. Lastly, the article contains some sensationalism with phrases like 'renewed focus on its repairability efforts today' and 'presumably later in 2024'. These statements are not factual and create an exaggerated impression of the situation.
The company has extended its self-service diagnostics tool to Europe, giving customers in 32 countries an easier way to test products for potential issues.
The whitepaper underlines how wary Apple is of third-party batteries. It includes data on many tests that led to failures – sometimes resulting in fire or explosions.
But soon, Apple will allow customers to enable True Tone 'to the best performance that can be provided.'
In fact, an Apple internal analysis has found that some third-party batteries sold as new are actually secondhand, with battery health metrics manipulated to appear as new.
Fallacies
(95%)
The author provides information about Apple's new policies regarding third-party iPhone displays and batteries. There are no explicit logical fallacies in the text. However, there are some potential issues with the accuracy of third-party components mentioned.
] Apple has found that some third-party batteries sold as new are actually secondhand, with battery health metrics manipulated to appear as new.[/
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24931303/236791_Apple_iPhone_15_and_15_Plus_review_DSeifert_0006.jpg)
