After rooting my unlocked LG V20 (AT&T model H-910), I'd like to get something newer than the Android 8.0.0 that is on it now. I thought
about Lineage OS, but https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/#lg does not
list the V20, just the V30, and up. They have a clear warning "Devices
not listed are not supported." Yet I read where someone said they got LineageOS 21 on their LG V20 phone, but they didn't mention which model,
yet the following mentions LineageOS on the H-910 model:
https://xdaforums.com/t/official-lineageos-20-for-the-lg-v20.4618097/ https://xdaforums.com/t/closed-official-lineageos-21-for-the-lg-v20.4649861/
However, both note some significant failures of these OS versions in
handling all the hardware or proprietary libs used on my phone.
With the old Android 8.0.0 now on my phone, too many apps have severed
their usability by upping the minimum Android version they require
either to get installed, or to operate correctly. I'm losing too many
apps because they require a higher Android version, and there are some
apps I can't get at all because their manifest mandates a higher minimum Android version. I'm loathe to buying a pricey phone just to satisfy
the requirements of these apps which sometimes to be due to non-critical changes in functionality or simply a different UI.
What other Android replacements (maybe getting me to v15) could I put on
this phone? Unlike some ardent anti-Google users, I don't need a
de-Googled OS. Tis why I was uninterested in GrapheneOS, plus they seem geared to only Pixel phones.
crDroid is a fork of LineageOS, but they don't list LG. Havoc-OS is, I believe, another fork of LineageOS, and they don't list anything LG,
either.
One of the problem I've read about with the LG V20 is some models cannot
be rooted. There are several unlocked models which were factory
unlocked by the carrier, like Verizon. I have the H910 model unlocked
by AT&T.
After rooting my unlocked LG V20 (AT&T model H-910), I'd like to get something newer than the Android 8.0.0 that is on it now. [...]I'd be surprised if a snapdragon 820 has the horsepower to run v13/14/15 acceptably?
What other Android replacements (maybe getting me to v15) could I put on
this phone?
VanguardLH wrote:
After rooting my unlocked LG V20 (AT&T model H-910), I'd like to get something newer than the Android 8.0.0 that is on it now. [...]I'd be surprised if a snapdragon 820 has the horsepower to run v13/14/15 acceptably?
What other Android replacements (maybe getting me to v15) could I put on this phone?
Andy Burns <[email protected]> wrote:
VanguardLH wrote:
After rooting my unlocked LG V20 (AT&T model H-910), I'd like to get
something newer than the Android 8.0.0 that is on it now. [...]
What other Android replacements (maybe getting me to v15) could I
put on this phone?
I'd be surprised if a snapdragon 820 has the horsepower to run v13/14/15
acceptably?
What extra does v13-15 need in terms of horsepower?
(other than the AI stuff, which you won't get on an AOSP OS anyway)
4GB of RAM is likely to be more of a limiting factor.
VanguardLH <[email protected]> wrote:
After rooting my unlocked LG V20 (AT&T model H-910), I'd like to get
something newer than the Android 8.0.0 that is on it now. I thought
about Lineage OS, but https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/#lg does
not list the V20, just the V30, and up. They have a clear warning
"Devices not listed are not supported." Yet I read where someone
said they got LineageOS 21 on their LG V20 phone, but they didn't
mention which model, yet the following mentions LineageOS on the
H-910 model:
https://xdaforums.com/t/official-lineageos-20-for-the-lg-v20.4618097/
https://xdaforums.com/t/closed-official-lineageos-21-for-the-lg-v20.4649861/ >>
However, both note some significant failures of these OS versions in
handling all the hardware or proprietary libs used on my phone.
With the old Android 8.0.0 now on my phone, too many apps have
severed their usability by upping the minimum Android version they
require either to get installed, or to operate correctly. I'm
losing too many apps because they require a higher Android version,
and there are some apps I can't get at all because their manifest
mandates a higher minimum Android version. I'm loathe to buying a
pricey phone just to satisfy the requirements of these apps which
sometimes to be due to non-critical changes in functionality or
simply a different UI.
What other Android replacements (maybe getting me to v15) could I put
on this phone? Unlike some ardent anti-Google users, I don't need a
de-Googled OS. Tis why I was uninterested in GrapheneOS, plus they
seem geared to only Pixel phones.
In general, for any phone, your best bet is to search XDA Forums and
see who has done a third party OS for your specific model number (and
I mean number, ie not just the marketing name Samsung Galaxy Note N,
but the number SM-GT1234).
In your case it's this subforum:
https://xdaforums.com/f/lg-v20-roms-kernels-recoveries-other-developm.5874/
Unless there is a build for your specific model there's no point
considering any OS because it won't run.
Many of those threads look like they're from 2019-21, even though
they might have more recent posts. So that's probably the kind of
age of OSes that might be available.
Be prepared for things not to work. Porting a newer OS to an old
device is comparatively easy, getting all the hardware to work
reliably is a long slog. You may find some components don't work -
the threads should say this.
One of the problem I've read about with the LG V20 is some models
cannot be rooted. There are several unlocked models which were
factory unlocked by the carrier, like Verizon. I have the H910
model unlocked by AT&T.
Carrier unlock is not the same as bootloader unlocking. Carrier unlock
means you can use a different carrier's SIM card. Bootloader unlock means you can use a different OS. Many phones sold in the US have locked bootloaders, which means no OS replacement. Although if you have rooted then maybe your bootloader isn't locked.
I don't want the network hardware in the phone slowing me down more, so
I just might start looking at new phones again. Or, even wait until 6G becomes mainstream with its higher frequencies which means high
bandwidth and much lower latency. Alas, I don't know if I can stand
using my old phone for another 5 years, or more. Rooting and a new OS
aren't going to change cellular radio hardware, or make faster the CPU.
I could be beating a nearly dead horse trying to mend my old phone.
In general, for any phone, your best bet is to search XDA Forums and see who has done a third party OS for your specific model number (and I mean number, ie not just the marketing name Samsung Galaxy Note N, but the number SM-GT1234).
I'd
suggest looking for new/used/refurbished phones that are a year or two old - with 7 years of support that only drops you down to 5 or 6 years, but the price can be cut in half or more.
For now, and until I decide to make this a test phone, I cancelled the proposed changed, so the unlock remains disabled (the default). From
what I've read, so far, that its bootloader is unlockable does not mean
it is a simple or even straightforward task. One mistake, and it's
toast.
On 11 Jun 2025 15:31:52 +0100 (BST), Theo
<[email protected]> wrote
I'd
suggest looking for new/used/refurbished phones that are a year or two old -
with 7 years of support that only drops you down to 5 or 6 years, but the price can be cut in half or more.
Which android brand or model is the most rootable, historically?
New phones are just ridiculously overpriced, especially when trying to
find those that have 6-7 update lifecycles.
New phones are just ridiculously overpriced, especially when trying to
find those that have 6-7 update lifecycles.
Well, they will last longer.
You have to decide if that is enough
compensation for the high price. For me, no: I don't like to carry
around such an expensive thing that I can drop or that can be stolen.
My current phone are a Motorola G52 or G62. I believe in the 200..300 � range.
VanguardLH <[email protected]> wrote:
I don't want the network hardware in the phone slowing me down more, so
I just might start looking at new phones again. Or, even wait until 6G
becomes mainstream with its higher frequencies which means high
bandwidth and much lower latency. Alas, I don't know if I can stand
using my old phone for another 5 years, or more. Rooting and a new OS
aren't going to change cellular radio hardware, or make faster the CPU.
I could be beating a nearly dead horse trying to mend my old phone.
Yes, I think that's the way to approach it - you can put effort into making the software new but if the hardware is getting old then it won't help. I'd suggest looking for new/used/refurbished phones that are a year or two old - with 7 years of support that only drops you down to 5 or 6 years, but the price can be cut in half or more.
The main issue is if the old phone has some hardware feature you love but doesn't exist on newer phones - then it's harder to 'upgrade' to something that's worse than what you had before. But eventually the pain of trying to keep the old going outweighs the draw of the old hardware.
Which android brand or model is the most rootable, historically?
Pixel. They have the best support for aftermarket OSes, meaning that
there's more choice for Pixel than for other brands. It's why OSes like GrapheneOS only support Pixels.
(but US carriers can still lock bootloaders if they want to, so if you get a carrier Pixel best to check it isn't bootloader locked)
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
New phones are just ridiculously overpriced, especially when trying to
find those that have 6-7 update lifecycles.
Well, they will last longer. You have to decide if that is enough compensation for the high price. For me, no: I don't like to carry
around such an expensive thing that I can drop or that can be stolen.
My current phone are a Motorola G52 or G62. I believe in the 200..300 � range.
Theo <[email protected]> wrote:
VanguardLH <[email protected]> wrote:
I don't want the network hardware in the phone slowing me down more, so
I just might start looking at new phones again. Or, even wait until 6G
becomes mainstream with its higher frequencies which means high
bandwidth and much lower latency. Alas, I don't know if I can stand
using my old phone for another 5 years, or more. Rooting and a new OS
aren't going to change cellular radio hardware, or make faster the CPU.
I could be beating a nearly dead horse trying to mend my old phone.
Yes, I think that's the way to approach it - you can put effort into making >> the software new but if the hardware is getting old then it won't help. I'd >> suggest looking for new/used/refurbished phones that are a year or two old - >> with 7 years of support that only drops you down to 5 or 6 years, but the
price can be cut in half or more.
A problem I've read about with "renewed" or "restored" phones is the
buyer ends up with a bricked phone after a couple months. They are told
that the phone was reported lost or stolen, or somehow the prior owner >reported a loss of their phone. The phone got on some "bad" list, so it
got disabled. The new owner gets screwed. Neither the seller nor the
phone maker will resolve the issue. Also, used is too often abused.
The main issue is if the old phone has some hardware feature you love but
doesn't exist on newer phones - then it's harder to 'upgrade' to something >> that's worse than what you had before. But eventually the pain of trying to >> keep the old going outweighs the draw of the old hardware.
I love that the batteries in the LG V20 are user serviceable. Batteries
are chemical, so they wane in capacity over time, and then become
unusable or dead. Not when you can replace them. There are no new
phones with replaceable batteries. You can crack open the case to
unsolder the old battery to insert a new one, but that voids the
warranty as well as the seal, and you risk the phone in the surgery.
Lithium batteries have a lifespan of 3 to 10 years. There are always >manufacturing defects. The phone makers want you buying more phones. >Replaceable batteries eliminates the only self-degrading consumable of
the product. Well, other than the OS itself as updated or newer apps
demand later versions of it.
I don't miss my phone breaking into 3 pieces (battery, battery cover, phone)
when dropped so really don't mind having an internal battery.
And I think for many folks when the battery fails the phone is
obsolete anyway. It certainly will be so in my case...
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
While I will use my old phone a little longer, I am looking at new
phones with new batteries will get updated many years into the future.
I'm not buying an old phone, and then realizing I've reached its end of lifespan prematurely. The Moto G52 and G62 came out 3 years ago.
Improvement in hardware has been incremental, and disappointing.
Meanwhile the door keeps moving with new OS versions.
On 2025-06-12 20:58, VanguardLH wrote:
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
...
While I will use my old phone a little longer, I am looking at new
phones with new batteries will get updated many years into the future.
I'm not buying an old phone, and then realizing I've reached its end of
lifespan prematurely. The Moto G52 and G62 came out 3 years ago.
Improvement in hardware has been incremental, and disappointing.
Meanwhile the door keeps moving with new OS versions.
Sure, if I were purchasing now I would look at the most recent successor
of the G62. I personally like Motorola, and the G62 has all the features
I need. But I would choose a newer version. The newer the better, for
longer support.
Soon the mandate to have replaceable batteries should come into effect
in the EU, and that should change things.
AJL <[email protected]> wrote:
I don't miss my phone breaking into 3 pieces (battery, battery cover, phone) >> when dropped so really don't mind having an internal battery.
I've always had a case on my phones. Not those thin decorative tin foil >covers, but a carbon-fiber back and TPU liner to survive falls. Unless
the phone managed to pop out of the armor case on a fall, it would be >impossible to fall into pieces.
However, one issue I've run into
lithium batteries in phones is them getting pregnant. They outgas, and >sometimes that makes the lithium battery swell. I'll notice capacity
(up time) has diminished, remove the phone from the armor case, open the
back (which I notice is already bulging out), and find a pregnant
battery.
An easy test if not visually apparent is to put the battery on
a flat table to see if you can spin it. If it spins, it is bulging. Go
buy a replacement battery. Easy to swap. Put back in the armor case.
In addition, an armor case provide much better tactile retention of the >phone. They have been making smart phones more slick, like using glass >instead of metal, and thinner.
They are getting easier to slip out of
your grip. Almost every delivery person I see come to my door has a
cracked screen where I see their screen as their punching in and taking
a photo on making the delivery, or have me sign on their phone. I
haven't had any cracked screens ever although I admit to occasionally >whacking the phone on a table when I got severely pissed.
I've been quite surprised the screen has not cracked from all those
smacks. After 7 years of my abuse, the only damage to my old phone is a
bent back plate, but I just bought a replacement ($10) which will better >attach to the phone with no gaps or bent-out edges to snag. No matter
how much I bent the old one, I couldn't get the back plate to form
correctly and perfectly flat to the phone. It would attach, but too
easily pop off (and the battery drop out) on a drop. However, while
inside the armor case, nothing came apart on a drop or smack. I don't
use those decorative cases, or the ones that are just silicone, but the
type that has a rigid back half, the silicone TPU, and a front bezel
that snaps onto the back half. Without the armor case, I have fumbled
the shiny, smooth, slippery bare phone too often. Maybe my dexterity
has deteriorated with age, and the armor case helps to grab the phone.
And I think for many folks when the battery fails the phone is
obsolete anyway. It certainly will be so in my case...
That was the phrase I couldn't remember: planned obsolescence. Yeah,
lots of users don't even buy phones, or get them very cheap, but
bundling the deal with a carrier. So, they're used to swapping out or >trading in their phones about every 3 years, on average. I'm not
average. I'm also not nomophobic. All this 2FA security theater is
premised on smart phone dependency, like the thing is grafted to its
owner.
Only because my old Android 8 is getting abandoned by apps with higher >minimal OS requirements am I now considering replacing my 7 year phone
(which was released 9 years ago). I could manage without 5G, and
survive on just 4G (not even 4G LTE). Twould be nice to have a faster >chipset and CPU, and more RAM, but then I don't leave apps running nor
run many at the same time. I use web browsers that actually have an
Exit (unload) option instead of left loaded in memory in the background >awaiting for whenever the OS decides it needs the memory for a newly
loaded app (Android is just so rude regarding unloads all to pretend the >platform is faster than it really is), but then I don't leave the web >browser, or any other program, running on my desktop, either. There is
64 GB internal storage, and I added a 128 GB uSD card, yet over the 7
years only used half the internal RAM, and nothing on the uSD card. I
had offline maps stored on the uSD for awhile (for the Here[WeGo] map
app), which ate up 60 GB, but even then I had lots of storage space left >over. In looking at new phones, I'm not sure I want to pay the extra
$150+ to go from 256 GB to 512 GB. While I use a smart phone, I'm not
an avid fan of them. Seems more of technology trying to create a void
to then fill it rather than of it filling an existing void.
If I could get Android 12, or up, on my old smart phone, I wouldn't be >looking at a replacement. However, the likelihood of that happening,
and having full support of all hardware with no conflicts or newly
created deficiencies, seems dismal. I'm also getting old enough where I
shy away from doing it all myself. I stopped changing my engine oil and >filter eons ago, and instead pay someone else to do that drudge work
hence why I'm likely to look at getting a new phone instead of trying to
beat the old phone on an anvil to reshape it. And I'll be putting an
armor case on the new phone, too, but not a screen protector (I found
those have more friction, even the glass ones, than the glass screen on
the phone, and there are still some apps you have to swipe in from the
side to get at their menu, but screen protectors don't go to the very
edge of screens, or a wee bit beyond, so they interfere with side
swiping).
Sure, if I were purchasing now I would look at the most recent successor
of the G62. I personally like Motorola, and the G62 has all the features
I need. But I would choose a newer version. The newer the better, for >>longer support.
I worked for Motorola in the 1960's as a tech. At the time it was called the
Motorola Western Military Division in Scottsdale AZ USA. There were 3
Motorola plants in the Phoenix metro area. How things change, huh. And to
think it all started from a car radio.
I now return programming to normal scheduling...
On 2025-06-12 20:58, VanguardLH wrote:
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
...
While I will use my old phone a little longer, I am looking at new
phones with new batteries will get updated many years into the future.
I'm not buying an old phone, and then realizing I've reached its end of
lifespan prematurely. The Moto G52 and G62 came out 3 years ago.
Improvement in hardware has been incremental, and disappointing.
Meanwhile the door keeps moving with new OS versions.
Sure, if I were purchasing now I would look at the most recent successor
of the G62. I personally like Motorola, and the G62 has all the features
I need. But I would choose a newer version. The newer the better, for
longer support.
Soon the mandate to have replaceable batteries should come into effect
in the EU, and that should change things.
What the average usable lifespan of lithium batteries in smart phones?
Since they are not user serviceable by design, the phone becomes useless because the battery is not replacement, and batteries are chemical, so
they die, and lose capacity before then. The battery doesn't catastrophically and immediate die. It loses capacity over time (can't
hold as many Coulombs). Built in self destruction. Lifespan could be 3
to 10 years. 10 years sounds like a long time, but not 3 years. My car
is 23 years old, and still running very well and in great condition.
My ancient LG V20 has user-serviceable batteries. It lasted this long because I could replace the batteries. I could even carry a spare
battery in my pocket for added up-time rather than lug around a power
bank or hunt and hope to find an outlet. The LG V20 was introduced in
2016, and 9 years later I'm starting to ponder a replacement -- and
primarily due to the lack or discontinued support of an old Android
version by apps.
While I will use my old phone a little longer, I am looking at new
phones with new batteries will get updated many years into the future.
I'm not buying an old phone, and then realizing I've reached its end of lifespan prematurely. The Moto G52 and G62 came out 3 years ago.
Improvement in hardware has been incremental, and disappointing.
Meanwhile the door keeps moving with new OS versions.
For now, I've gone into the Play Store app to disable auto-updating on
all apps. The only malevolent actions I've ever encountered on my phone
is the covert disabling of apps that, when updated, mandate a later
version of the OS than where they were working just fine before. Alas,
some apps will disable themselves by ceasing to function if you don't
get their newer version, like no longer communicating with their server,
but then they aren't usable or installable unless I somehow got a newer version of Android on my phone.
Sure, if I were purchasing now I would look at the most recent successor
of the G62. I personally like Motorola, and the G62 has all the features
I need. But I would choose a newer version.
The newer the better, for longer support.
Soon the mandate to have replaceable batteries should come into effect
in the EU, and that should change things.
On Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:57:57 -0000 (UTC), AJL wrote :
Sure, if I were purchasing now I would look at the most recent successor >>>of the G62. I personally like Motorola, and the G62 has all the features >>>I need. But I would choose a newer version. The newer the better, for >>>longer support.
I worked for Motorola in the 1960's as a tech. At the time it was called the >> Motorola Western Military Division in Scottsdale AZ USA. There were 3
Motorola plants in the Phoenix metro area. How things change, huh. And to >> think it all started from a car radio.
I now return programming to normal scheduling...
I worked with the Motorola do-or-die PowerPC project team in Scottsdale!
On 2025-06-12 20:58, VanguardLH wrote:
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
...
While I will use my old phone a little longer, I am looking at new
phones with new batteries will get updated many years into the future.
I'm not buying an old phone, and then realizing I've reached its end of
lifespan prematurely. The Moto G52 and G62 came out 3 years ago.
Improvement in hardware has been incremental, and disappointing.
Meanwhile the door keeps moving with new OS versions.
Sure, if I were purchasing now I would look at the most recent successor
of the G62. I personally like Motorola, and the G62 has all the features
I need. But I would choose a newer version. The newer the better, for
longer support.
Soon the mandate to have replaceable batteries should come into effect
in the EU, and that should change things.
I was at Motorola from 1962 to 1968. Don't recognize PowerPC
and since it has PC in the title I expect it was a little later.
The key is to buy a phone with the biggest starting capacity you can get.
Soon the EU rules will require phone makers to make replaceable batteries.
Gelato wrote:February (but I couldn't find a date).
Soon the EU rules will require phone makers to make replaceable batteries.
"by 2027" (but when in that year is unclear).
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-12 20:58, VanguardLH wrote:
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
...
While I will use my old phone a little longer, I am looking at new
phones with new batteries will get updated many years into the future.
I'm not buying an old phone, and then realizing I've reached its end of
lifespan prematurely. The Moto G52 and G62 came out 3 years ago.
Improvement in hardware has been incremental, and disappointing.
Meanwhile the door keeps moving with new OS versions.
Sure, if I were purchasing now I would look at the most recent successor
of the G62. I personally like Motorola, and the G62 has all the features
I need. But I would choose a newer version. The newer the better, for
longer support.
Soon the mandate to have replaceable batteries should come into effect
in the EU, and that should change things.
Yeah, I read about that a little while ago, and also hoped that phone
makers would be required to provide user-serviceable batteries. After
all, for a phone to be water resistent does not mandate the battery
cannot be removable, just that the seal be more than just 2 plastic
shell halves that snap together. The past argument was that
non-removable batteries afforded larger-sized batteries for longer
up-time. Really? Has anyone contested or verified that premise?
Versus, say, making the dimensions of the battery bigger, but thinner,
and attaching to the back plate to have a battery almost as big? I've
even seen where you could buy a new back plate with an integral and much bigger battery to significantly increase up-time. Of course, that was
back in the heyday of smart phones that had replaceable batteries.
I think the EU's deadline is April 2027 for smart phone makers to come
up with new designs that permit user-serviceable batteries. However,
I'm sure the definition of user-serviceable may not necessitate easy to replace, just possible to replace. "Easy" depends on expertise and equipment. It's easy to replace BGA chips if you have the equipment.
February (but I couldn't find a date).Soon the EU rules will require phone makers to make replaceable batteries. >>"by 2027" (but when in that year is unclear).
I was at Motorola from 1962 to 1968. Don't recognize PowerPC
and since it has PC in the title I expect it was a little later.
Introduced in 1991, the contrived acronym would have you believe that
"PC" stands for "Performance Computing" ...
The EU replaceable battery rules go into effect February 18, 2027. https://prodlaw.eu/2025/02/eu-battery-regulation-removability-and- replaceability-requirements-explained/
On 11 Jun 2025 22:02:38 +0100 (BST), Theo
<[email protected]> wrote
Which android brand or model is the most rootable, historically?
Pixel. They have the best support for aftermarket OSes, meaning that there's more choice for Pixel than for other brands. It's why OSes like GrapheneOS only support Pixels.
(but US carriers can still lock bootloaders if they want to, so if you get a
carrier Pixel best to check it isn't bootloader locked)
Does the news Google no longer supports a Pixel AOSP make a difference?
The op misunderstood me when I suggested the biggest lifetime determinant
is to buy a phone with the biggest capacity. I didn't mean expansion cards, although being able to increase room for photos & videos does help a lot.
I had meant the biggest battery since it's the most important factor. https://www.powerbankexpert.com/how-long-do-cell-phone-batteries-last/
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
New phones are just ridiculously overpriced, especially when trying to
find those that have 6-7 update lifecycles.
Well, they will last longer. You have to decide if that is enough compensation for the high price. For me, no: I don't like to carry
around such an expensive thing that I can drop or that can be stolen.
My current phone are a Motorola G52 or G62. I believe in the 200..300 € range.
What the average usable lifespan of lithium batteries in smart phones?
Since they are not user serviceable by design, the phone becomes useless because the battery is not replacement, and batteries are chemical, so
they die, and lose capacity before then. The battery doesn't catastrophically and immediate die. It loses capacity over time (can't
hold as many Coulombs). Built in self destruction. Lifespan could be 3
to 10 years. 10 years sounds like a long time, but not 3 years. My car
is 23 years old, and still running very well and in great condition.
My ancient LG V20 has user-serviceable batteries. It lasted this long because I could replace the batteries. I could even carry a spare
battery in my pocket for added up-time rather than lug around a power
bank or hunt and hope to find an outlet. The LG V20 was introduced in
2016, and 9 years later I'm starting to ponder a replacement -- and
primarily due to the lack or discontinued support of an old Android
version by apps.
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 ...
Gelato <[email protected]> wrote:
The op misunderstood me when I suggested the biggest lifetime determinant is to buy a phone with the biggest capacity. I didn't mean expansion cards, although being able to increase room for photos & videos does help a lot.
I had meant the biggest battery since it's the most important factor. https://www.powerbankexpert.com/how-long-do-cell-phone-batteries-last/
Online articles proposing to effuse news or information MUST be date
stamped to quality their current validity. Information is time
sensitive.
VanguardLH <[email protected]> wrote:
"Carlos E.R." <[email protected]d> wrote:
On 2025-06-11 15:46, VanguardLH wrote:
New phones are just ridiculously overpriced, especially when trying to >>>> find those that have 6-7 update lifecycles.
Well, they will last longer. You have to decide if that is enough
compensation for the high price. For me, no: I don't like to carry
around such an expensive thing that I can drop or that can be stolen.
My current phone are a Motorola G52 or G62. I believe in the 200..300 �
range.
What the average usable lifespan of lithium batteries in smart phones?
Since they are not user serviceable by design, the phone becomes useless
because the battery is not replacement, and batteries are chemical, so
they die, and lose capacity before then. The battery doesn't
catastrophically and immediate die. It loses capacity over time (can't
hold as many Coulombs). Built in self destruction. Lifespan could be 3
to 10 years. 10 years sounds like a long time, but not 3 years. My car
is 23 years old, and still running very well and in great condition.
My ancient LG V20 has user-serviceable batteries. It lasted this long
because I could replace the batteries. I could even carry a spare
battery in my pocket for added up-time rather than lug around a power
bank or hunt and hope to find an outlet. The LG V20 was introduced in
2016, and 9 years later I'm starting to ponder a replacement -- and
primarily due to the lack or discontinued support of an old Android
version by apps.
The trouble with user replaceable batteries that for most phones, by the
time the battery needs replacing, OEM batteries are unavailable. For
Samsung they used to only make them for 1 year, so 5/6/7/... years down the track you only had old stock that had been on the shelf for half a decade (not good for a lithium cell) or 'genuine' fakes that died in weeks. Best I could suggest is to buy an branded battery that isn't branded Samsung/etc.
At least you know it isn't fake (nobody fakes store-brand items, there's better returns faking big brands).
So, unless it's iPhones with their small number of models and huge market, quality aftermarket batteries effectively don't exist. The only thing that might change it is if the EU mandates spares must be available for N years, at which point OEM batteries might be made for longer.
Theo
the older my phone gets, the harder to find batteries with
mfr dates within the last couple of years. If not from a store where I
can see the battery before purchase, or before payment, to note the mfr
date, I contact the seller since often they use stock photos, not pics
of the actual product they are selling. I establish a chat which I can
use a proof of the seller delivering an invalid or non-agreed product to
get a refund (I've done that at Newegg and eBay).
I just checked Amazon for replacement batteries for my 5 year old Galaxy
S10+. I got 75 hits. So there's apparently no shortage. I looked at the
first 20 and they were priced between $9 and $25 US including the
replacement tools. So they're not all that expensive. Even if one only
lasted a year it might be worth it. The ones I've replaced in the past took
less than an hour to replace and my labor is free. Lets see. A new Galaxy
at around a grand or a new 20 buck battery? Well, when my current battery
does finally go bad I'll have to think on it...
The trouble with user replaceable batteries that for most phones, by the
time the battery needs replacing, OEM batteries are unavailable.
Andy Burns <[email protected]> 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.
On Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:18:01 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:
February (but I couldn't find a date).Soon the EU rules will require phone makers to make replaceable batteries. >>>"by 2027" (but when in that year is unclear).
The EU replaceable battery rules go into effect February 18, 2027. https://prodlaw.eu/2025/02/eu-battery-regulation-removability-and-replaceability-requirements-explained/
The op misunderstood me when I suggested the biggest lifetime determinant
is to buy a phone with the biggest capacity. I didn't mean expansion cards, although being able to increase room for photos & videos does help a lot.
I had meant the biggest battery since it's the most important factor. https://www.powerbankexpert.com/how-long-do-cell-phone-batteries-last/
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.
I like waterproof, even if it is for a limited time and depth.
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.
I didn't say they did, there are already examples where they don't, e.g.
does Apple allow side-loading outside of the EU?
I no longer consider expansion cards. In my phone (Motorola G 52) the
space for the mem card is the same as for the second SIM, which has
actual use for me when travelling. And the holder is very flimsy.
There is ONE THING an sdcard gives you that you can't get anywhere else. Portable storage.
You can pop out the SD card from one phone and pop it into another phone
and it just works seamlessly. The second phone has no idea you did that.
You can pop out the SD card from one phone and pop it into another phone
and it just works seamlessly. The second phone has no idea you did that.
Provided you don't use the SD card for adoptable storage, that is ...
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.
But why?
What's the actual*advantage* of not having an sd slot?
On Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:55:09 +0200, Carlos E.R. wrote :
I like waterproof, even if it is for a limited time and depth.
I'll take a removable big fat beautiful battery over waterproof any day.
If it's raining, I can put the phone in a zip lock bag.
Although I'd like both too. :)
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