Re: Alternate OS for LG V20?

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Gelato wrote:
 

The EU replaceable battery rules go into effect February 18, 2027.
https://prodlaw.eu/2025/02/eu-battery-regulation-removability-and-
replaceability-requirements-explained/

 
Which probably means most phones on the EU/UK market around Autumn 2026
will have replaceable batteries, and the remnants of the fixed-battery
stock will get shipped to Africa shortly afterwards ...

Just because the EU comes up with regulations, and then assigns councils
or committees to establish guidelines, doesn't mean the rest of the
world has to comply.  There are already differences in manufacturer
regarding whether a phone is for US or global.  Nothing the EU mandates
is enforceable elsewhere, so phone makers could make phones with
replaceable batteries to distribute in the EU, and continue making and
distributing phones elsewhere with non-removable batteries.  The EU is
just 5.6% of the world's population.  No one else has to comply.

Manufacturers often streamline their production by making a product the
same no matter where it gets distributed, but there can be differences
based on region.  I've seen assembly lines where the head of the line
makes everything the same, but the line splits up to produce variations.

Has the USA, India, Japan, or anywhere else asserted they will implement
regulations to the EU regarding replaceable batteries?  The EU enforces
their rules against importer and retailers, because those are within
their jurisdiction.  They can't force the phone makers to do anything,
because the phone makers are not in the EU.

Because batteries are chemical, so they wane in capacity and eventually
die (or are so low on recharge to be nearly unusable), and because smart
phone makers are only required to supply batteries for 5 years for a
particular phone, they would just change the physical layout for
batteries in new models.  You couldn't use a common battery across all
models, or even outside a particular model, but have to buy their
proprietary configuration.  Keep moving the target, and the target is
gone after 5 years.

I'd take replaceable batteries over water resistence in a heartbeat.
Swapping out a spare full charged battery in a few seconds sure beats
having to wait for a full charge taking hours.

I might put off getting a new phone for another 20 months, but I suspect
there will still be old stock of non-replaceable phones sold outside the
EU, and I might end up waiting only to find out my country thumbed their
nose at the EU, so phone makers might still produce phones with
non-replaceable batteries to distribute in my region.  Plus, the phone
makers could charge more for phones with replaceable batteries, so EU
citizens, or anyone getting a phone with a replaceable battery, could
end up paying a higher price.  "Yeah, we complied, in your country, but
you'll pay more for our conpliance."  I don't recall the EU regulation
or ensuing guidelines mandates there be no premium pricing on phones
with removable batteries.  "batteries should be offered at a reasonable
and non-discriminatory price", but without further explanation.  Is it
discriminatory to charge more for a phone that requires a better method
of sealing to continue providing water resistance while also allowing
the replacement of the battery?  Before and now, you get a choice: the
battery was replaceable, but the phone was not water resistent, or the
battery was non-removable, and the phone was water resistent.  You don't
think there will be a premium to incorporate both features?  Uh huh.