It had been in the works for a while, but now it has formally been adopted. From the article:
The regulation provides that by 2027 portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end-user, leaving sufficient time for operators to adapt the design of their products to this requirement.
They don’t need to be replaced. They need 30 minutes of handy work that cost $10 if you can’t do it yourself.
Except that doesn’t happen, no matter how much you want it to.
And you think forcing everyone to have removable batteries is going to stop that? It’s never been about cost. It’s about having the latest features.
What is so different about my Pexel7a that’s any different to my 5?
Nothing that I even notice. Except for missing convenience such as the rear finger sensor.
And that’s the same for most models.
In fact in a desperate bid to make phones exciting again, manufacturers are trying to bring back the folding concept. And that’s just going to be a total fad since it doesn’t actually bring anything functional to the market.
Better camera, better battery life, better screen, latest versions of GA with the most up to date features (eg sleep data). The jump from 60 to 90 or 120 is a huge quality of life improvement.