Nokia admits some N73 batteries have put on a little weight

Nokia's fessed up to the fact that "a limited number" BP-6M batteries used in the N73 have, over time, swollen up -- apparently in some cases to about three-times their original size. The worst of these cases have resulted in handsets with a battery cover that won't close at the back -- rendering the phone totally not cool. It's a fairly common lithium-ion battery occurence after a few years, but don't worry -- it's not dangerous, just annoying. Look at this way: at least the batteries aren't exploding.

[Ed @ Jan 10th 2009 7:31AM]

Aww my N73 just got replaced for a G1 this Christmas. Was still working mostly fine excepting the lag

[CJ @ Jan 10th 2009 8:45AM]

Well, to be fair, Nokia are well-known for their durability above-and-beyond.

My mother, whom I love, technophobic as she may be, still uses the 3310 (yes, 3310) that she got partway through 2000, apart from a battery change, the screen LEDs replaced, and a new cover every now-and-again, it still works as well as it did the day she got it. Eight years for a mobile phone (and counting); that's impressive by anyone's standards.

And don't get me started on the 3210 I have stored away for whenever I get the irrepressible urge to play first-generation Snake.

[kastonie @ Jan 10th 2009 10:07AM]

I love your mom too.....

[kadajawi @ Jan 10th 2009 11:41AM]

@CJ: My Motorola A925 still lives, though it dropped quite a bit, and nothing at all has been replaced (apart from the battery... but I'm mainly using the original one because the replacement is crap). And that's a 5 year old smartphone that has everything including 3G and GPS, probably one of the most advanced phones of its time. (The software bugs make this absolutely clear...)

[Mike P. @ Jan 10th 2009 1:23PM]

Yep, sounds about right. My mom loved the 3310 (we had one from Fido)--did everything a phone should, well, and nothing more. Then her work required her to go CDMA and now she has a Samsung that lasts about 1.5 days on a charge, reboots daily, and mysteriously changes itself to vibrate. If my mom had her way, she'd go back to the Ericsson (yep, no Sony prefix) brick she had with the flip-down plastic number pad cover.

As for me, I have a couple Nokia 3220s tucked away in my drawer. It's still one of my favourite phones, and I use it whenever I'm doing something prolonged and outdoorsy. Rock solid battery life, excellent call quality, daylight-visible display, and... it survived a spill into salt water. What more can I say?

[chriscross @ Jan 10th 2009 7:33AM]

what about BP-6MT? are those batteries the same ? :|

[Adderz @ Jan 10th 2009 7:34AM]

"swollen up -- apparently in some cases to about three-times their original size"

Is that an n73 battery in your pocket or are you just happy to see me.

ahhh i had to do it, so sorry. Ill go back to my corner now.

[CJ @ Jan 10th 2009 8:40AM]

You do that.

However, for the funny you made, you're allowed to sit facing AWAY from the wall.

[Major4Play @ Jan 10th 2009 7:41AM]

Word of advice since this article seems to think a battery 3x its size is safe ! If your battery chages shape at all, replace it, it may burst and you don't need that stuff on your hand or in your pocket.

[kadajawi @ Jan 10th 2009 7:56AM]

Damn, I was thinking... oh, great! I replaced the battery of my old Motorola smartphone, but the replacement battery went from 6 hours battery life to 1 1/2 hour in about 4 months, while the old one works great... just a bit... fat.

[Dr_Drewww @ Jan 10th 2009 9:04AM]

I have an N81 and it did the same thing so the back wouldnt close with a BP-6MT. took it back to carphone wharehouse and they said tough, the battery is only covered for six months. then they tried to sell me a new battery at top dollar. needles to say I declined, and got one else where. it p*ss*d me off signing up for 18 months for a phone that effectivly only worked for under a year.

[Muhammed @ Jan 10th 2009 7:59AM]

Put some ice on the battery and give it some rest, if the swelling persists contact a Naturopathic Physician.

[Rauhaa @ Jan 10th 2009 8:14AM]

"BP-6M batteries used in the N73 have, over time, swollen up -- apparently in some cases to about three-times their original size"

There's gotta be something wrong with that. How could the battery swell up to 3x orginal size without either the battery or the phone literally 'exploding'?!?

[dan @ Jan 10th 2009 8:27AM]

That's what I thought - at 3x its original size it would be bigger than the phone!

[dan @ Jan 10th 2009 8:28AM]

Ah, the original article is from The Register. No wonder it contains ridiculous exaggeration.

[Aaron @ Jan 10th 2009 8:15AM]

Good thing that the battery is replaceable, eh?

[catter12 @ Jan 10th 2009 8:18AM]

Apple, take note. ;-)

Also, my n73 hasn't "swollen" up yet. Thank goodness, too; Nokia charges far too much for a spare battery, and eBay has em for not much... before shipping them from Asia. D:

[Sticks @ Jan 10th 2009 11:47AM]

It's called, dealextreme.

[Dave @ Jan 10th 2009 8:31AM]

Nokia are replacing affected batteries free of charge. I don't know whether they will replace batteries before this happens, but the interwebs will tell you if you ask nicely.

[ace587 @ Jan 10th 2009 12:20PM]

that slow N73 ddnt even last 1 month.

[Pieter @ Jan 10th 2009 3:06PM]

Whats up Engadget? Just about every time you report on Nokia its negative spin. Don't believe me - look at the last 5 times you mentioned Nokia. Can't your American souls allow for Europeans to also be leaders in the tech world?

[Brett @ Jan 11th 2009 3:24PM]

What are you talking about? Of course Nokia is one of the leaders in the tech world, Engadget isn't saying otherwise. They put out some faulty batteries so it got reported on. Same thing would've happened if it was an American manufacturer. Stop vilifying Americans and get a new scapegoat.

[Al @ Jan 10th 2009 8:34PM]

Lithium Polymer, not Lithium Ion.

[Gikku @ Jan 19th 2009 10:17PM]

Nokia make some great phones, but the N73 wasn't one of them.
crude, slow, laggy, ugly, fat, fragile, when it promised so much more. 4/10