Phones and Battery Bulge
Three months ago, I wrote a blog post regarding how I wasn’t going to replace my phone because I was pretty much done with the endless treadmill that is “upgrade culture”. At the time my Google Pixel 6 was three years old but continued to serve all my smartphone needs. So I signed up for a new “SIM only” contract with Vodafone and went about my business, feeling somewhat pleased with myself. However, “needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle”, to quote Blackadder. I recently noticed that the screen on my phone was coming away from the main enclosure. There was a distinct curve along the right hand edge, as if there was something inside the phone applying pressure outwards. Sadly, that is precisely what was happening. I searched online to see if this was a known issue and was subsequently introduced to the problem known as battery bulge.
Three months ago, I wrote a blog post regarding how I wasn’t going to replace my phone because I was pretty much done with the endless treadmill that is “upgrade culture”. At the time my Google Pixel 6 was three years old but continued to serve all my smartphone needs. So I signed up for a new “SIM only” contract with Vodafone and went about my business, feeling somewhat pleased with myself. However, “needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle”, to quote Blackadder. I recently noticed that the screen on my phone was coming away from the main enclosure. There was a distinct curve along the right hand edge, as if there was something inside the phone applying pressure outwards. Sadly, that is precisely what was happening. I searched online to see if this was a known issue and was subsequently introduced to the problem known as battery bulge.
Battery bulge, often referred to as “swelling”, is a condition where a lithium-ion battery case expands or deforms due to the build-up of gases inside. This is a result of the battery's internal components degrading over time or being damaged. It can also occur if the battery becomes excessively hot. The most common reason is overcharging. Since the advent of wireless induction charging, phones often spend time being charged regardless of whether the battery is fully drained. This continuous process can accelerate the battery's deterioration. Although any device powered by a lithium-ion battery can suffer from this problem, it would appear that the Pixel 6 is particularly prone to it. Furthermore, the process cannot be reversed and the only solution is to replace the battery. If left, the swelling can potentially damage components within the phone or crack the screen. The faulty battery is also a fire hazard.
When I investigated having my phone repaired, the overall cost was sufficiently high to make it more economically prudent to buy a new handset. Hence, I ordered a new unlocked Pixel 8a, which arrived today. I have already wirelessly migrated all my apps and data onto the new phone, which was a very straightforward and easy process. Reconnecting my Google Watch was not so seamless. Despite a transfer option being available, it failed and I had to do a hard reset of the watch and reconnect to the Pixel 8a from scratch. It is also worth noting that although apps are copied over, you have to log back into them all before you can use them. I have three banking apps, 10 email accounts and a dozen or so other services that are password protected. Hence migrating to a new phone is not quite as easy as the marketing claims. However, compared to setting up a new PC it’s a walk in the proverbial park.
Thanks to battery bulge, I had to spend £380 on a new handset and Spigen case, which wasn’t something I was anticipating. However, I am sufficiently old enough to have learned that all technology has a shelf life and often it is a lot shorter than you expect. So there’s no point crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. My Pixel 6 lasted two and a half years. However, I have learned a lesson and as a result I shall now only be charging my phone when the battery is exhausted. I suspect that the habit of constantly topping it up via a charging cradle, when the battery is over 50%, contributes to reducing its overall lifespan. In fact, I think I shall be reviewing the charging habits of all of the electrical items that I own. Devices that run on lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in our homes these days. Although broadly safe, they all have the potential to be a fire hazard if managed incorrectly, so more care is needed.
New Phone? No Thanks
I last bought a new phone in March 2022. At the time I decided to move away from Samsung after a decade of brand loyalty and try the Google Pixel 6. Let it suffice to say that I have found this handset to be most satisfactory. I like the size. It fits into the front pocket of my jeans. Its overall performance is very good and it has no issue running any of the apps that I regularly use. Subsequent software updates have improved some aspects of the camera, which initially had a poor zoom. Overall the good points of the Google Pixel 6 outweigh its flaws. Hence despite being 3 years old I am happy to keep using it. I have looked at what the subsequent iterations of the Google Pixel have to offer and I really don’t see any significant improvements or benefits. So despite being offered a handset upgrade by Vodafone, I have decided against one.
I last bought a new phone in March 2022. At the time I decided to move away from Samsung after a decade of brand loyalty and try the Google Pixel 6. Let it suffice to say that I have found this handset to be most satisfactory. I like the size. It fits into the front pocket of my jeans. Its overall performance is very good and it has no issue running any of the apps that I regularly use. Subsequent software updates have improved some aspects of the camera, which initially had a poor zoom. Overall the good points of the Google Pixel 6 outweigh its flaws. Hence despite being 3 years old I am happy to keep using it. I have looked at what the subsequent iterations of the Google Pixel have to offer and I really don’t see any significant improvements or benefits. So despite being offered a handset upgrade by Vodafone, I have decided against one.
I cannot see any sense in just getting a new phone for the sake of it. Why saddle myself with a £500 debt, spread out over 3 years for something that isn’t required? Phones no longer hold any appeal for me beyond their inherent functional purpose. The handset I currently have does the job and therefore it will suffice for another year or so. Hence, I called Vodafone and negotiated a new tariff. I’ve increased my data allowance to 5 GB, while retaining the unlimited calls and texts. I still have access to 5G and the benefits of Vodafone Secure Net. After obtaining a 30% discount the monthly cost is £12.60, just 0.30 pence more than what I was previously paying. The only extra cost I foresee in the immediate future is an ad hoc data package when I travel to Croatia, in June for my holiday.
I grew up in the seventies and eighties, in a world where you replaced electrical devices when they stopped working. You seldom replaced something just because a better version became available. Perhaps if your family grew in size, you may consider buying a larger freezer but the benefits of such a decision were easy to evaluate. Such a mindset is now obsolete. Phones and other devices are no longer marketed based upon their purpose. They’re aspirational, lifestyle accessories that apparently say something about you. Exactly what that is, other than you have a line of credit, I have yet to determine. It all seems to feed into that great myth of capitalism that conspicuous consumption will somehow make you happy. It doesn’t. However, we all have to determine this for ourselves. Fortunately I have, which is why I got a new tariff and not a new phone.
New Phone, New Tariff
Technically, I don’t need a new phone. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G I have already works fine and despite being over 2 years old is still a robust handset. However, my current contract with Vodafone has expired. So I have decided not only to upgrade my phone but to revise my phone tariff. The latter was based upon call and data usage from when I was still working fulltime and reflected how I used my phone back in 2015. Nowadays, I have more incoming calls than outgoing and communicate mainly by text and WhatsApp. I use very little data outside of my home and when I do, I use a lot of the free Wi-Fi coverage that is available locally. Hence I have chosen a new package that suits my phone use and doesn’t come with superfluous trinkets and baubles that I’ll never use.
Technically, I don’t need a new phone. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G I have already works fine and despite being over 2 years old is still a robust handset. However, my current contract with Vodafone has expired. So I have decided not only to upgrade my phone but to revise my phone tariff. The latter was based upon call and data usage from when I was still working fulltime and reflected how I used my phone back in 2015. Nowadays, I have more incoming calls than outgoing and communicate mainly by text and WhatsApp. I use very little data outside of my home and when I do, I use a lot of the free Wi-Fi coverage that is available locally. Hence I have chosen a new package that suits my phone use and doesn’t come with superfluous trinkets and baubles that I’ll never use.
I was paying £52 a month for my previous tariff which came with 5G coverage, 5GB of data and unlimited local calls and texts. I have now managed to cut this down to £24 a month. The data allowance has been reduced to 2GB but as I seldom use this, it makes no difference. I still have the unlimited calls and texts and this tariff is devoid of free subscriptions to Disney + and Spotify. Furthermore, 5G coverage in my local area has improved substantially in the last two years and is still included. I have also broken with my tradition and decided not to get a Samsung handset. I have chosen a Google Pixel 6 mainly out of curiosity. If I find that the handset is not to my liking I can always resume using my old phone and sell the new one. However, from what I’ve read the Google Pixel 6 should suit my needs and not present any major problems.
It is curious how in the space of 15 years, smartphones have gone from functional technology to fashion accessories, as well as an integral part of our daily lives. I must admit, if I do not have my phone with me when I’m out and about, I do feel anxious and “undressed”. It is a similar feeling to when I’m not wearing my watch, although I suspect that may be a generational thing. Overall, I am happy with the new phone tariff I have secured. A saving of this magnitude is beneficial, especially in light of the ongoing cost of living in the UK. If I do find myself returning to the job market later this year, which is a real possibility, then this tariff is sufficiently flexible to accommodate any changes to my call pattern and overall phone usage.