Planned Obsolescence in Bluetooth Speakers Due to Their Batteries
The heart of portability in a quality Bluetooth speaker is its internal battery. This component, which is usually permanently integrated into the circuit, suffers inevitable wear with each charge and discharge cycle. Over time, this process severely limits the device's lifespan. 🔋
The Inevitable Decline of Battery Life
After accumulating hundreds of cycles, the battery capacity drops drastically. The user notices that the cordless usage time shortens, going from several hours to just a few minutes. At this stage, the device loses its main quality: being portable. Chemical degradation is a natural process that no circuit can avoid.
Factors that accelerate the problem:- The battery is soldered directly to the motherboard; it is not a removable module.
- Manufacturers rarely design these products so that the user can replace the battery easily.
- The heat generated during charging and use also contributes to damaging the internal cells.
A device born to free us from the cable ends up, paradoxically, chained to it.
The Technical and Economic Barrier to Repair
Replacing this battery is not an operation within everyone's reach. It requires skill with a soldering iron, basic electronic knowledge, and finding an identical replacement. For most, the most viable option is to go to a technical service, but another obstacle arises here. Many brands do not offer this service officially, or its price is close to the cost of a new device. This difficulty turns an apparently simple repair into an almost insurmountable challenge. 🛠️
Consequences of not being able to replace it:- Speakers are discarded whose drivers and electronic components still work perfectly.
- More electronic waste (e-waste) is generated prematurely.
- The user bears the economic loss of a product that did not fulfill its expected lifespan.
The Final Result: Portability Nullified
When the battery no longer stores enough energy, the only way to use the speaker is to connect it permanently to the power outlet. It stops being a wireless device and becomes a fixed desktop speaker. This total dependence on the cable goes against the purpose for which it was designed. The user loses the freedom to move the device around different spaces, the same freedom that motivated its initial purchase. Thus, the promise of autonomy fades, leaving a device tethered to a plug. ⚡