This may be old shit for all the techno geeks, but for me, it's a revelation.

First, it was my wife's phone, a Samsung Galaxy S6. Mine is same. Both were bought new, when they were still all that. They both have been doing fine, until recently, when my wife's phone started to swell up. The screen became partially separated from the body. Mine then started to do the same, although not as bad. Took them to the repair place around the corner. The guy said this is very common. With old phones, the battery started to swell up and push everything out. Put in a new battery, and everything is good as new. So, tech guys, is this really true, or just BS?

Yeah, I've certainly seen it happen before. On Samsung and Apple phones.

I’m not a tech guy, but the same thing happened to mine and my wife’s iPhones a few years ago.

Tech is correct.

The batteries in cell phones are soft wrapped. Its like a little square of hard playdoh that's been wrapped in plastic with stickers holding it together.

The batteries are usually taped into the battery tray. Removing the battery typically destroys the old one, as you have to "peel" the flexible battery away from the tray.

Sometimes, the batteries swell up when they fail.

The one drawback of lithium batteries is that when they get old and die they can swell up and even catch fire.

I don't remember the manufacturer but a few years ago they had to recall a bunch of phones because the batteries would catch on fire.

It happened to me. Wound up with a brand new iPhone 5.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:

I don't remember the manufacturer but a few years ago they had to recall a bunch of phones because the batteries would catch on fire.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 I believe

Yup. Apple replaced my wife's iPhone and my watch, both at no cost, for this problem.

Yes. Recently happened on my wife's S5. She also had lousy battery life. We replaced it and no more problems. I suspect it's a reason you can't replace the battery on most phones anymore. It forces you to upgrade.

Yessir, 100% correct.

I had no idea.

quote:

Originally posted by ranger312:

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:

I don't remember the manufacturer but a few years ago they had to recall a bunch of phones because the batteries would catch on fire.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 I believe

You are correct.

Interestingly, on the Android side, Samsung has had more issues with batteries (i.e. batteries blowing up and/or lousy battery life) than any other cellphone vendor.

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:
I suspect it's a reason you can't replace the battery on most phones anymore. It forces you to upgrade.

Just to clarify, you most certainly 'can' replace the battery in your cellphone, but it takes some skills to do it. You're right though from the perspective that it's not like the old days where battery swaps were simple and designed for the user to handle them.

Advice:
-Don't let the phone sit in the sun.
-Overcharging cam cause this, although the phone should automatically cease charging once charged.
-Repeatedly letting the battery discharge to nothing and then charging it can cause this
-Or it could be just defective and/or cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
Advice:
-Don't let the phone sit in the sun.
-Overcharging cam cause this, although the phone should automatically cease charging once charged.
-Repeatedly letting the battery discharge to nothing and then charging it can cause this
-Or it could be just defective and/or cheap.

You didn't mention that the lifespan may have just run out.
The things don't last forever.

Bob

Correct.

Any battery going bad can swell.

Laptops, too.

Not just cell phones, laptops can have this same issue. Either the bottom swells or the keyboard pops up.

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:
I suspect it's a reason you can't replace the battery on most phones anymore. It forces you to upgrade.

More likely- People expect the smallest, thinest form factor so makers Have to produce the thinnest, smallest battery.

Having a removable, replaceable battery would make the device larger- Removable cover, connectors, and a case for the battery.

I've seen cell phone batteries do it, along with an iPad Air, and our IT guys recycling bin has about 5 Dell laptop flat batteries in the recycling bin that are swollen. I read that this variety are designed to be able to swell to reduce the chance of them bursting or venting, releasing toxic gases. The older style cylindrical Li-ions like 18650's are designed to vent so that they do not explode. Venting is a trade off since an explosion is seen as a much worse calamity in the more solidly constructed steel tube design.