I think 90% chance of apple going for the EU-Specific model just like they did for Digital markets act, 10 chance of screws, 0% chance of actually popping the back cover off with bare hands.
For Samsung, 50% chance EU-Specific models 40% chance screws, 10% chance back cover tool-less removal. (Edit: typo)
As for other smaller manufacturers, probably just 50%/50% either screws or tool-less back cover removal.
Weaker glue, solder-less battery connector and a kit with tools and new glue/tape.
Waterproof certifications will be dropped.
The waterproof IP rating is a misdirect. We had waterproof phones with replaceable batteries, they just weren’t required for most people. Batteries fail at a predictable rate, and decreasing or dead batteries are the primary reason people upgrade their phones.
Phone manufacturers wanted to seal their devices to make people buy a new phone when the battery dies. They started making a big deal about IP ratings, because it was a byproduct of gluing everything shut. But how often do you actually get your phone wet? Everyone has one story about dropping a phone in the toilet, or falling in a pool, but those instances are rare. not every phone will get wet or dusty, but every phone battery will die eventually.
Which will be absolutely dumb. It’s been proven a few times that removable batteries are possible with waterproof certifications.
Not sure about that…
I mean, its technically do-able:
See: Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro - Removable battery, headphone jack, IP68 rating, “Military Grade” (MIL-STD-810H compliant), expandable storage (sd card slot), 1080p 6.6-inch LCD display, Gorilla Glass victis+, USB 3.2 25W charging, fingerprint sensor. The whole package.
Only downside is the shitty cameras and slow processor.
You seal everything but the battery in one watertight compartment. The battery is a sealed, self-contained package, in a second compartment. Dunk the phone, the only thing that gets wet are the battery contacts, which are protected the same way that earbuds with magnetic chargers are protected: if the contacts get wet, the battery shuts itself off until it has been dried off.