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Fairbuds are Fairphone’s proof that we really could make better tiny gadgets (arstechnica.com)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

206 comments fedilink hide all child comments

But of course we all know that the big manufacturers don't do this not because they can't but because they don't want to. Planned obsolescence is still very much the name of the game, despite all the bullshit they spout about sustainability.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I am wary of the value-add of the internal batteries since charging a lithium battery is largely “solved” and these have an external controller (the case) that can preserve the battery.

Li-ion batteries wear out with normal use, or even sitting on a shelf fully charged. I suspect the battery is the primary reason most devices with onboard charging become unusable over time, and ensuring that it is user-replaceable will greatly increase average service life.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

The wear and tear is greatly exaggerated (more specifically, it is based on older tech and before we had chargers that cycled correctly) and the technology (bluetooth has made leaps and bounds the past few years) is likely to be outdated long before the battery fails.

It is one of those things that I want on principle but very much question the value of. And considering that this is a zero sum game where the time and cost of the replaceable battery comes from somewhere else (in the case of cost: the consumer's pocket because holy crap these are expensive...).

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

My Sony linkbuds S only last two hours now. It's a product from 2022. When did they solve batteries? Because it wasn't in 2022

The product in question is not outdated because they rolled out updates for the new features, like Bluetooth LE audio

[–] [email protected] -5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Honestly? it sounds like you bought a stinker then. Because I have some (I forget if they are anker or jabra) earbuds that are MAYBE a few minutes off of what they were when I got them before the pandemic (so 2019/2020).

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

It depends on how many hours a day you use them, not comparable between people

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Could you please elaborate on these improvements to Lithium battery chemistry that have alleviated the problem with battery wear?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

To my understanding, the underlying chemistry/material science has not made significant advancements.

But all the stuff we used to have to do to avoid damaging said batteries (e.g. Never fully charging it, discharging it a bit periodically, etc) is now more or less automated by controllers. Which goes a long way to reduce the impact of "wear" and stretch out the lifespan of a battery.