I get that the goal of this design is to ensure that the battery does not move once it's fixed into the case. And I understand why that's necessary. What I don't understand is why it can't practicably be achieved by a combination of closer dimensional tolerances and the application of some thin elastomer to the parts of the case that contact the battery. Given the complexity of the assembly process, I can't imagine that such a design would be more difficult to assemble than the one that shipped, and it would provide a considerably more approachable battery replacement process - I'm not shy about performing my own device repairs, and I'm good enough at it that I haven't ruined anything yet, but this is one where I'd rather pay the $79 to have it done in an Apple store, and the adhesive is about 95% of why.
The expressed concern around environmentalism suggests we're discussing this in a context of replacing batteries rather than throwing phones away, instead of hot-swapping batteries to keep using a device while away from a charger.
You're right, they technically do. I guess I was imagining something more akin to it being designed to be user-servicable, instead of it just being a technicality that it is possible, subject to having the right tools and nerve to attempt it.
I'm right with you there; it's just that I think we probably have different definitions of "user-serviceable". I'm happy to accept the need for a detailed guide, a set of small screwdrivers, and a pair of steady hands to replace a phone battery - in exchange for having that phone be rock solid before I take it apart and after I put it back together. Maybe it's possible to make a phone with a back that pops off to a fingernail and yet manages not to feel flimsy, but if so, I've never yet met one...
I successfully replaced the battery in an iPhone 3GS once because the battery had inflated like a bag of microwave popcorn. A few months later the replacement battery also did the same.
Close dimensional tolerances sounds like a bad idea for batteries that are likely to expand as they age (which causes home buttons and force touch to stop working)
But Apple sets the bravery bar extremely high. The process of replacing a battery in e.g. my SE is insane: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+SE+Battery+Replacement/6... describes the teardown, and https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+Battery+Adhesive+Strips+... the process of applying adhesive to the replacement battery - yes, that second task is complex and difficult enough to require an entire separate guide of its own.
I get that the goal of this design is to ensure that the battery does not move once it's fixed into the case. And I understand why that's necessary. What I don't understand is why it can't practicably be achieved by a combination of closer dimensional tolerances and the application of some thin elastomer to the parts of the case that contact the battery. Given the complexity of the assembly process, I can't imagine that such a design would be more difficult to assemble than the one that shipped, and it would provide a considerably more approachable battery replacement process - I'm not shy about performing my own device repairs, and I'm good enough at it that I haven't ruined anything yet, but this is one where I'd rather pay the $79 to have it done in an Apple store, and the adhesive is about 95% of why.