The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge from Samsung were shown off at long last at Mobile World Congress last week, and when we got our first look at the new glassy, aluminium exterior, we were left without features that have been a hallmark of every Samsung smartphone: a removable battery and an external storage slot. While a removable battery isn’t a deal breaker for some consumers, Samsung device loyalists have been used to it for years and not having these features in a device could feel unfamiliar. According to the user manual for the Galaxy S6, it was found that while not traditionally removable like with smartphones that carry a removable backplate, the Galaxy S6 battery can be removed.
The Galaxy S6 is the first Samsung flagship to part with both the option to replace the battery when it’s depleted or too small for the user’s liking and to add extra or inter-device storage with a Micro SD card. And, from what many who love Samsung products for exactly those two features have expressed since the announcement, it seems like Samsung isn’t aiming for the fans of Samsung products, they’re going for the fans of Samsung and their design(s), which is just fine. However, for those of us that still want Samsung’s Galaxy lineup to be in our pockets and purses, the user manual displays that removing the battery is possible with the Galaxy S6, and it describes how this process can be done.
First, as noted in the manual, the steps and actual procedure of removing the back and battery are not meant for normal consumers, and are for the Samsung service folks, so it means they can charge you for it. Also worth noting is that you’ll probably be able to get a hold of some extra replacement batteries once the S6 launches globally to keep yourself charged, or prepared in case your battery is faulty. The issue though, lies in that you have to carefully remove the glass back panel / door of the Galaxy S6, unscrew 13 screws, remove the back guard from the main logic board, and then undo the ribbon cable that attaches the battery to the board, then reverse the process to get it back in ready-to-run condition.
Though you won’t likely see people whip out a Phillips head and replacement battery on the train or bus to work, you can be sure people will do this if their battery actually dies for any serious reason. Even though the feature that many loved is gone, we know that Samsung devices are still relatively easy to get into and fix if something does go awry. Do you think the removable battery is a fad that has outstayed its welcome, or is it something that is genuinely a value-add? Is a more high-quality build worth the sacrifice of a removable battery, or would polycarbonate be okay for that reason alone? Let us know down below.
