{"id":36774,"date":"2022-08-15T17:04:07","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T21:04:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=36774"},"modified":"2022-08-15T17:04:07","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T21:04:07","slug":"products-useful-lifespans-should-be-longer-than-their-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2022\/08\/15\/products-useful-lifespans-should-be-longer-than-their-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Products’ Useful Lifespans Should Be Longer Than Their Batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nick Heer<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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An embedded, irreplaceable battery makes a lot of sense in many products. It means devoting less space to connectors and hatches, and does not require designers to work around available battery formats. For the length of time the batteries are usable, it can make for much better products. People clearly agree — AirPods are so good that many people who never spent more than $20 or $30 on headphones before are spending hundreds of dollars on a set. But it limits a product’s lifespan to its sole consumable part, which seems silly if you think about it.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

It sure seems as though the things I like about AirPods may not be possible if the batteries were more easily swappable, but it is hard to know for sure. Would they last nearly as long? Could they be so compact? Is it possible to design AirPods around easily-obtainable batteries? I wish Apple would prioritize that sort of thing, as it does seem irresponsible to sell such a disposable product.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Geoffrey Fowler<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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So let’s revive Neistat’s radical act of transparency and demand to know when gadgets are designed to die. If companies won’t come clean on their own, let’s require a label right there on the shelf that lists the battery recharge count and how much it costs to replace the battery.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n