Google Patents A Game-Changing Way To Swap Phone Batteries

Google has filed a patent for a glue-free, mechanically interlocked battery system that could make future Pixel repairs dramatically simpler. If this concept makes it to production, it'd be a major right to repair win for the company (and users).

The patent (filed in April last year and discovered by Hypertxt.ai) describes a mechanical system that could debut as early as the Pixel 11 Pro series. For the most part, smartphone manufacturers have relied on high-strength adhesives to secure batteries, a practice that makes repairs hazardous and often results in punctured cells or damaged components.

Google’s new approach ditches the glue in favor of a rigid metal subassembly. In this design, the battery is housed within a dedicated chassis that slides into the phone’s frame and locks into place using shear stops and mechanical interlocks. This ensures the battery remains rock-solid during a drop while allowing ...