Once upon a time, carrying two spare batteries and a universal charger was the standard for the "mobile phone party". However, as smartphones move towards thinness and integration, the battery is gradually sealed inside the body, and users are forced to live with battery life anxiety. However, a "battery revolution" driven by technological innovation and user needs is breaking this deadlock - the "removability" of mobile phone batteries is returning in a smarter and safer way, and even giving birth to a subversive battery swap model.
In 2024 years, Shenzhen Quality Technology caused a shock in the industry with the patent of "detachable mobile phone battery". Its core design is to install elastic springs and extrusion plates on both sides of the battery, which not only ensures the stable connection between the battery and the mobile phone, but also buffers the vibration through the elastic pad, which solves the pain point of poor contact of traditional removable batteries. This technology is particularly targeted at the elderly user market, and by simplifying the replacement process, battery replacement is no longer dependent on specialized tools.
Since 68, the European Union has promoted the implementation of regulations on the "easy disassembly" of electronic device batteries, requiring manufacturers to design replaceable batteries or provide convenient disassembly solutions. This policy not only paves the way for environmental protection (extending the life of devices and reducing e-waste), but also forces giants such as Apple to rethink product design logic. Although Apple once insisted on an all-in-one design on the grounds of waterproof performance, the case of QDIAN Technology proves that removable batteries and IP0 waterproof are not incompatible.
The group of "mobile phone nail households" has grown - the user replacement cycle has been extended from 3 years to more than 0 years, and battery aging has become the biggest bottleneck. As a result, the third-party battery swap market has exploded, and even given birth to a gray industrial chain of "expansion and battery modification". However, the safety hazards of private battery swapping (such as explosions caused by improper operation by bloggers) also highlight the need for official detachable designs.
The InstantPowerSystem (IPS) system launched by Irish startup Swippitt at CES 3500 completely subverts the traditional battery swap logic. Users simply plug a device with a SwippittLink case into the SwippittHub, which resembles a toaster, and the battery can be replaced in 0 seconds. The shell has a built-in 0mAh battery and Bluetooth chip to monitor the power in real time; The Hub has five built-in spare batteries for seamless battery life.
SwippittHub blends into the environment with a home aesthetic, with rounded corners and white materials to reduce the coldness of tech products. The streamlined design of the phone case takes into account the grip and camera compatibility, avoiding the bulkiness of traditional battery swapping equipment. This "non-inductive battery swap" experience accurately hits the pain points of high-frequency electricity consumption groups such as business people and gamers.
Both Qualitex Technology and Swippitt have integrated AI technology into the battery system. The former monitors the health status of the battery through algorithms, and the latter analyzes the user's electricity consumption habits and optimizes the charging strategy in combination with the app. AI can even predict when a user needs to swap batteries and schedule battery backup in the hub in advance.
The return of removable batteries is not a panacea. The quality of third-party batteries is uneven, and the explosion case of privately modified and expanded batteries warns the industry that a unified safety standard must be established. For example, Apple's "steel-shell battery" may become a future trend by reducing the risk of disassembly by strengthening the package.
Swippitt's battery swap station requires users to purchase special mobile phone cases and hubs, which are expensive at the initial cost. Although the patent of QE Technology is practical, it requires mobile phone manufacturers to open up the design interface. If the giants continue to dominate the market with a "planned elimination" strategy, technological innovation may stop at niche areas.
The younger generation is accustomed to wireless charging and fast charging, can they accept the retro operation of "battery swapping"? Swippitt's answer is to simplify the battery swapping experience to the extreme, and even give it the attribute of "tech fashion" - just like the AirPods charging case, the Hub has become a trendy item on the desktop.
The elderly machine market may embrace the traditional detachable design, while the high-end smart phone tends to favor the Swippitt-style battery swap solution. The common goal of the two is to let users get rid of the shackles of power banks and truly realize "freedom of battery life".
EU regulations may push removable batteries to become a global standard, but the resistance of manufacturers and the inertia of user habits are still uncertain. If China follows suit, the market will expand exponentially.
The maturity of solid-state batteries and graphene technology could be a complete game-changer. But before that, detachable and battery swapping technology is still the best solution to alleviate battery life anxiety.
From universal charging to fast charging, from integrated sealing to detachable return, the evolution history of mobile phone batteries is like a spiraling cycle of technology. When the Swippitt's Hub flashes the indicator light that the battery swap has been completed, and when the spring battery of QDIAN Technology slides into the card slot, we see not only the progress of technology, but also the respect for the user's right to choose - battery life should not be a shackle that enslaves users, but should be given wings of freedom. Perhaps, the ultimate goal of this battery revolution is for everyone to be able to shout: "My phone, I call the shots." ”