Moto G 3rd Generation 8GB - Non-Removable Battery?

peterfoster · 08-01-2016, 11:36

I gather that the battery included with this model is non-removable and non-replaceable. This being the case, should I be concerned as a user who would wish to keep the phone for a period well in excess of two years!

Rossby41 · 08-01-2016, 11:52

The Moto G (and E) models batteries have never been removable (in a fashion). To be honest it doesn't bother to much nowadays, portable chargers relatively cheap.

peterfoster · 08-01-2016, 13:02

Ok, but if the immovable battery becomes defective and won't hold a charge then it won't matter that you have a portable charger?

I'm just looking forward to around three years time when I come to sell the Moto G on Ebay and have to explain that the battery is defective in that it no longer holds a charge and that you can't fit a new replacement. I wouldn't imagine the winning bidder would be prepared to pay much for the phone.

I'm choosing between a new Moto G 8Gb 3rd Generation (£89 PAYG Vodaphone then a cheap unlocking jobbie) or a circa three year old Samsung SIII in excellent condition for the same sort of money. A lot of the sellers of three year old Samsung SIIIs state that they have fitted new batteries in the previous year so it seems that two years may well be the average useful lifespan for a battery....

d123 · 08-01-2016, 13:27

The battery on the Moto G is an easy job to replace if required, a replacement battery is only around £10-15. I would presume the Moto 4G is pretty similar.

swb1964 · 08-01-2016, 14:14

As I said elsewhere the lack of a replaceable battery led me to reject the Moto G and choose the Galaxy Core Prime instead. And I've no regrets.

Echo1 · 08-01-2016, 15:02

I'm still using my 2013 Moto G which I've been using for 22 months now. Battery life is still pretty decent and I'd consider myself a heavy user.

Who would buy a used Moto G from ebay in a few years, anyway? No one's that cheap, right?

peterfoster · 08-01-2016, 15:13

Most reviews of the 3rd generation model seem to state, inter alia-

"Although the rear panel is removable, the battery is sealed in place and therefore isn’t designed to be user replaceable."

There is a video on Youtube of a 3rd generation model being stripped down. The 14 screws which you have to undo are only accessible if you remove the screen and this looks a very tricky operation which took the guy quite a few minutes and he needed extensive use of a heat gun! When he got the screen off he was able to remove the 14 screws but need to cut the sealing adhesive (for which you need to buy replacement and later have to re-apply to ensure that the phone remains water-resistant) to lift off part of the phone to enable access to the battery. Apparently the generation one and two models allowed access to the battery simply by undoing the 14 screws thereby not requiring the cutting of seal adhesive and not requiring use of a heat gun to remove the screen.

Here's the Youtube video. You can see the battery being removed at about 12.53.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X8vueCX7vo

Having watched the operation, as a retired accountant I doubt my competence to replace the battery so I would need to pay someone else to do it.

In fact, just before posting this I noticed the following remark on the Motorola UK website which I guess wraps it up-

Can I replace the battery in my device?
This product uses a non-removable battery.
The battery should only be replaced by a Motorola-approved service facility.
Any attempt to remove or replace your battery may damage the product and will void your warranty.

Rodney McKay · 08-01-2016, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterfoster

Ok, but if the immovable battery becomes defective and won't hold a charge then it won't matter that you have a portable charger?

I'm just looking forward to around three years time when I come to sell the Moto G on Ebay and have to explain that the battery is defective in that it no longer holds a charge and that you can't fit a new replacement. I wouldn't imagine the winning bidder would be prepared to pay much for the phone.

I'm choosing between a new Moto G 8Gb 3rd Generation (£89 PAYG Vodaphone then a cheap unlocking jobbie) or a circa three year old Samsung SIII in excellent condition for the same sort of money. A lot of the sellers of three year old Samsung SIIIs state that they have fitted new batteries in the previous year so it seems that two years may well be the average useful lifespan for a battery....

In 3 years the phone will be obsolete and worth 50p

swb1964 · 08-01-2016, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney McKay

In 3 years the phone will be obsolete and worth 50p

Well the first gen Moto G is still sort after, although admittedly it isn't 3 years old yet.

Echo1 · 08-01-2016, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

Well the first gen Moto G is still sort after, although admittedly it isn't 3 years old yet.

It really isn't.

d123 · 08-01-2016, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

Well the first gen Moto G is still sort after, although admittedly it isn't 3 years old yet.

If sought after means its worth from around £22, I suppose some might see it that way

.

Other's might say something worth around £20-30 isn't even worth the effort and hassle of selling.

peterfoster · 08-01-2016, 17:15

I supposed it's all down to the marginal utility of money....

swb1964 · 08-01-2016, 17:15

Ah come on. We all know CEX rip you off. Ebay prices are nearer 50 quid.

d123 · 08-01-2016, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

Ah come on. We all know CEX rip you off. Ebay prices are nearer 50 quid.

Just checked eBay, a large number have sold in the £30-£40 range. So then you deduct the eBay and PayPal charges and add the possibility of being ripped off by a dishonest buyer all for an extra £10-15?

It's a cheap old phone that is only sought after by a single person in the UK, who probably also thinks a swb Landy is a sought after pick up

.

jchamier · 08-01-2016, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

Ah come on. We all know CEX rip you off. Ebay prices are nearer 50 quid.

Don't forget eBay fees are high for technology items, so you end up with the same amount of money in your pocket as selling to CEX. And without the ebay fraudsters and hassle of posting.

Orbitalzone · 08-01-2016, 18:11

If it's a choice between a slow bloat ridden Samsung with removable battery or Moto G with a battery that isn't too easy to replace after several years then for me it's Moto every time.

It's also entirely possible that the Moto G battery will last 5 years or more, we'll know for sure in about 3 years time.

swb1964 · 08-01-2016, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orbitalzone

If it's a choice between a slow bloat ridden Samsung with removable battery

OT, but I actually quite like touch wiz, and the core prime isn't slow.

Like I say I don't regret it, although my core prime is only a month old. I personally wouldn't buy a phone with a non removable battery.

But everyone's priorities are different. My ideal phone would have 64gb of storage, a removable battery, a micro (not nano) sim, an FM radio and an LED flash that makes a decent flashlight. The last four of those are probably things 99% of people don't give a spit about. ..

Orbitalzone · 08-01-2016, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by swb1964

OT, but I actually quite like touch wiz, and the core prime isn't slow.

Like I say I don't regret it, although my core prime is only a month old. I personally wouldn't buy a phone with a non removable battery.

But everyone's priorities are different. My ideal phone would have 64gb of storage, a removable battery, a micro (not nano) sim, an FM radio and an LED flash that makes a decent flashlight. The last four of those are probably things 99% of people don't give a spit about. ..

I may have been rather unfair there, perhaps the budget Samsungs are better than they were a couple years ago when they had only just enough ram to work with a few apps and screens that were pretty appalling

swb1964 · 08-01-2016, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orbitalzone

I may have been rather unfair there, perhaps the budget Samsungs are better than they were a couple years ago when they had only just enough ram to work with a few apps and screens that were pretty appalling

Yes my impression of the core prime is that it is much improved on the budget Samsungs of years gone by.

peterfoster · 08-01-2016, 23:39

Thanks for everyone's contributions.

I've bought the Moto G 8gb from Vodafone for £89 and will get it unlocked for £1.35 via Ebay....

08-01-2016, 11:36	#1
peterfoster Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 717	Moto G 3rd Generation 8GB - Non-Removable Battery? I gather that the battery included with this model is non-removable and non-replaceable. This being the case, should I be concerned as a user who would wish to keep the phone for a period well in excess of two years!

08-01-2016, 11:52	#2
Rossby41 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 844	The Moto G (and E) models batteries have never been removable (in a fashion). To be honest it doesn't bother to much nowadays, portable chargers relatively cheap.

08-01-2016, 13:02	#3
peterfoster Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 717	Ok, but if the immovable battery becomes defective and won't hold a charge then it won't matter that you have a portable charger? I'm just looking forward to around three years time when I come to sell the Moto G on Ebay and have to explain that the battery is defective in that it no longer holds a charge and that you can't fit a new replacement. I wouldn't imagine the winning bidder would be prepared to pay much for the phone. I'm choosing between a new Moto G 8Gb 3rd Generation (£89 PAYG Vodaphone then a cheap unlocking jobbie) or a circa three year old Samsung SIII in excellent condition for the same sort of money. A lot of the sellers of three year old Samsung SIIIs state that they have fitted new batteries in the previous year so it seems that two years may well be the average useful lifespan for a battery....

08-01-2016, 13:27	#4
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	The battery on the Moto G is an easy job to replace if required, a replacement battery is only around £10-15. I would presume the Moto 4G is pretty similar.

08-01-2016, 14:14	#5
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	As I said elsewhere the lack of a replaceable battery led me to reject the Moto G and choose the Galaxy Core Prime instead. And I've no regrets.

08-01-2016, 15:02	#6
Echo1 Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Home Posts: 5,864	I'm still using my 2013 Moto G which I've been using for 22 months now. Battery life is still pretty decent and I'd consider myself a heavy user. Who would buy a used Moto G from ebay in a few years, anyway? No one's that cheap, right?

08-01-2016, 15:13	#7
peterfoster Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 717	Most reviews of the 3rd generation model seem to state, inter alia- "Although the rear panel is removable, the battery is sealed in place and therefore isn’t designed to be user replaceable." There is a video on Youtube of a 3rd generation model being stripped down. The 14 screws which you have to undo are only accessible if you remove the screen and this looks a very tricky operation which took the guy quite a few minutes and he needed extensive use of a heat gun! When he got the screen off he was able to remove the 14 screws but need to cut the sealing adhesive (for which you need to buy replacement and later have to re-apply to ensure that the phone remains water-resistant) to lift off part of the phone to enable access to the battery. Apparently the generation one and two models allowed access to the battery simply by undoing the 14 screws thereby not requiring the cutting of seal adhesive and not requiring use of a heat gun to remove the screen. Here's the Youtube video. You can see the battery being removed at about 12.53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X8vueCX7vo Having watched the operation, as a retired accountant I doubt my competence to replace the battery so I would need to pay someone else to do it. In fact, just before posting this I noticed the following remark on the Motorola UK website which I guess wraps it up- Can I replace the battery in my device? This product uses a non-removable battery. The battery should only be replaced by a Motorola-approved service facility. Any attempt to remove or replace your battery may damage the product and will void your warranty.

08-01-2016, 15:26	#8
Rodney McKay Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7,793	Quote: Originally Posted by peterfoster Ok, but if the immovable battery becomes defective and won't hold a charge then it won't matter that you have a portable charger? I'm just looking forward to around three years time when I come to sell the Moto G on Ebay and have to explain that the battery is defective in that it no longer holds a charge and that you can't fit a new replacement. I wouldn't imagine the winning bidder would be prepared to pay much for the phone. I'm choosing between a new Moto G 8Gb 3rd Generation (£89 PAYG Vodaphone then a cheap unlocking jobbie) or a circa three year old Samsung SIII in excellent condition for the same sort of money. A lot of the sellers of three year old Samsung SIIIs state that they have fitted new batteries in the previous year so it seems that two years may well be the average useful lifespan for a battery.... In 3 years the phone will be obsolete and worth 50p

08-01-2016, 15:34	#9
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	Quote: Originally Posted by Rodney McKay In 3 years the phone will be obsolete and worth 50p Well the first gen Moto G is still sort after, although admittedly it isn't 3 years old yet.

08-01-2016, 15:52	#10
Echo1 Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Home Posts: 5,864	Quote: Originally Posted by swb1964 Well the first gen Moto G is still sort after, although admittedly it isn't 3 years old yet. It really isn't.

08-01-2016, 16:57	#11
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by swb1964 Well the first gen Moto G is still sort after, although admittedly it isn't 3 years old yet. If sought after means its worth from around £22, I suppose some might see it that way . Other's might say something worth around £20-30 isn't even worth the effort and hassle of selling.

08-01-2016, 17:15	#12
peterfoster Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 717	I supposed it's all down to the marginal utility of money....

08-01-2016, 17:24	#14
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by swb1964 Ah come on. We all know CEX rip you off. Ebay prices are nearer 50 quid. Just checked eBay, a large number have sold in the £30-£40 range. So then you deduct the eBay and PayPal charges and add the possibility of being ripped off by a dishonest buyer all for an extra £10-15? It's a cheap old phone that is only sought after by a single person in the UK, who probably also thinks a swb Landy is a sought after pick up .

08-01-2016, 17:35	#15
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	Quote: Originally Posted by swb1964 Ah come on. We all know CEX rip you off. Ebay prices are nearer 50 quid. Don't forget eBay fees are high for technology items, so you end up with the same amount of money in your pocket as selling to CEX. And without the ebay fraudsters and hassle of posting.

08-01-2016, 18:11	#16
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	If it's a choice between a slow bloat ridden Samsung with removable battery or Moto G with a battery that isn't too easy to replace after several years then for me it's Moto every time. It's also entirely possible that the Moto G battery will last 5 years or more, we'll know for sure in about 3 years time.

08-01-2016, 18:43	#17
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	Quote: Originally Posted by Orbitalzone If it's a choice between a slow bloat ridden Samsung with removable battery OT, but I actually quite like touch wiz, and the core prime isn't slow. Like I say I don't regret it, although my core prime is only a month old. I personally wouldn't buy a phone with a non removable battery. But everyone's priorities are different. My ideal phone would have 64gb of storage, a removable battery, a micro (not nano) sim, an FM radio and an LED flash that makes a decent flashlight. The last four of those are probably things 99% of people don't give a spit about. ..

08-01-2016, 18:52	#18
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Quote: Originally Posted by swb1964 OT, but I actually quite like touch wiz, and the core prime isn't slow. Like I say I don't regret it, although my core prime is only a month old. I personally wouldn't buy a phone with a non removable battery. But everyone's priorities are different. My ideal phone would have 64gb of storage, a removable battery, a micro (not nano) sim, an FM radio and an LED flash that makes a decent flashlight. The last four of those are probably things 99% of people don't give a spit about. .. I may have been rather unfair there, perhaps the budget Samsungs are better than they were a couple years ago when they had only just enough ram to work with a few apps and screens that were pretty appalling

08-01-2016, 18:58	#19
swb1964 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 2,455	Quote: Originally Posted by Orbitalzone I may have been rather unfair there, perhaps the budget Samsungs are better than they were a couple years ago when they had only just enough ram to work with a few apps and screens that were pretty appalling Yes my impression of the core prime is that it is much improved on the budget Samsungs of years gone by.

08-01-2016, 23:39	#20
peterfoster Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 717	Thanks for everyone's contributions. I've bought the Moto G 8gb from Vodafone for £89 and will get it unlocked for £1.35 via Ebay....

DS Forums

Moto G 3rd Generation 8GB - Non-Removable Battery?