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Read this line in iPhone 2G specification http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_2G

Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery 3.7 V 1400 mAh

So, "Built-in battery" means "battery is not user-replacable"?

Is that true?

Or, "built-in" means "hard-welded" (ie fixed forever) & "not user-replacable" means "user can replace if using special tool but Apple does not encourage user to do that"

Tim
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  • by "not user-replaceable" do you mean "not-user-replaceable without extraordinary effort"? http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+1st+Generation+Battery+Replacement/448 – dwightk Jun 04 '14 at 15:50
  • yes, "not user-replacable" means "user can replace if using special tool but Apple does not recommend" – Tim Jun 04 '14 at 15:51

1 Answers1

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I presume you mean the original iPhone, and the 2G is referring to the antenna capabilities, rather than the 2nd Generation iPhone (which was the 3G.... yeah, confusing)?

Either way, all iPhones have a built in battery. The wording is there to suggest that it is not user replaceable via a simple swap in/out method by removing a panel or similar user appropriate action that does not require disassembly. The iPhone 5 still uses broadly similar language "Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery".

You can swap it out, but it's not a simple job. Just like cars have a built in engine, you can get that sucker out, but you need the tools, parts and skills for the job. If I recall, there is a lot og glue involved in earlier iPhone models. And sticky tape. It's not just a case of unscrewing some stuff and swapping. But even then, the glue can be removed, the tape replaced etc etc. The phrasing user-replaceable or more commonly user-serviceable often means it's a supported solution, and there is no way that taking any iPhone to bits is covered under warranty.

So, in short, built in means it's not meant to be removed, but that doesn't mean you cannot do it if you tried hard enough.

stuffe
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  • iphone 2G = iphone 1st generation; iPhone 3G=iPhone 2nd generation – Tim Jun 04 '14 at 15:56
  • so "built-in" does not mean "hard-welded" forever? it mean if the battery got malfunctioned then we have to throw away the phone? in iPhone 3G they say "not user-replaceable", they did not say "built-in" – Tim Jun 04 '14 at 15:58
  • The original battery is has its contacts soldered, then covered in glue, and further more it is stuck to the internals with adhesive tape. That's pretty built in. But clearly, you can remove it and replace it, if you have the skills. Later phones used more friendly clamp based connections without the glue and solder, but were still taped in and still required full disassembly of almost every part of the phone to get to them. Marginally easier in total, removing the skill with a soldering iron required, but still what I would call built in. Non user-replaceable is just a cover term. – stuffe Jun 04 '14 at 16:03
  • so, "built-in" is harder to take it out than "not user-replaceable". In the "not user-replaceable", there is no glue & adhesive tape, but in "built-in" case it has glue & adhesive tape & thus it harder to take it out. – Tim Jun 04 '14 at 16:06
  • In this instance, but those terms really are just interchangeable stuff for You are not allowed to mes with this if you want your warranty intact The wording may have flip flopped over time; even a battery that is user replaceable via a removable cover is built in, maybe they changed the wording to make it clearer. – stuffe Jun 04 '14 at 16:21
  • ok, thax you very much – Tim Jun 04 '14 at 16:29