Pixel has bypass power. It's unfortunate that it's paying Google. I've been very happy with my used 8 on Graphene.
this post was submitted on 15 May 2026
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Asklemmy
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Huh? They do? Is there a setting for this ?
It's a toggle that limits the battery to 80%. So it wouldn't work with the battery removed like some laptops as OP is looking for. Not aware of any like that.
Just take out the battery of any phone like a fairphone and most will work.
If you're somewhat technically inclined, maybe the extra pins on the battery contacts are for NTC thermisters?
Perhaps attach a fixed resistor in its place to fool the phone?
Now that's a legit idea!
I don't exactly have spare devices to experiment with, but that's an awesome idea ๐
The Samsung phones up to S5 did when I had them
I have one phone that can do that, an old Android One phone codenamed seed. With qualcomm's MSM8916 chipset. It also runs mobile linux, and still gets support.
Ive often wondered this too. A tablet with no battery would make a good Lyrion client.
I think, either the LG p990 or the galaxy alpha, do work without battery
Have you tried removing the battery out? I assume you did, but have you tried taking it to a repair shop and ask to short the charging pin to the battery power pin?
Yep, been there, tried that. I used to work as a mobile device hardware tech for over a decade, though I didn't exactly get the opportunity to experiment with every device that came across my bench ya know..
Then I had to wonder, does the cellphone still refuse to work even though the battery Vcc pin is wired to the wall charger? Do you think it was trying to talk to the battery in a protocol? I don't remember third-party batteries being so sophisticated.
I remember doing this on an old Moto Atrix when it died midway through flashing Cyanogenmod
Hard to say, but good curious question..
Note quite what you're use case is, but if you're looking to have something permanently plugged-in without risk (or, at least microscopic risk) of battery swelling/fire, recent models of Samsung phones+tablets have a "Maximum battery protection" mode where you can limit charging to 80%. I use an old Galaxy S22 as a control panel for the solar+inverter+security systems in my travel trailer - its permanently plugged in and just happily hangs on the wall keeping cool and doing its thing.
Nah, more thinking towards repurposing old devices with bad batteries for around the house permanently plugged in, without any battery at all.
Not every device absolutely has to be portable, but sadly in all my years of tech, so far (to my knowledge), have I ever run across a mobile device that'll function without a battery :(
I think most phones work with a battery removed. I think your best bet would be phones with removable batteries.
Nope, so far never seen one work that way, and both me and my roommate have phones with removable batteries, so of course I've tried, but no dice, they instantly shut off when power is plugged in but you remove the battery :(
Strange. I think I remember back in the first years of android this was standard. Probably that changed. Do you need it to be a phone? You can run android on a computer, old laptop or virtual machine or single board computer like raspberry pi.
My question/idea is to repurpose old devices for home use, even after the battery done went to shit..
Whatever devices that can function without a battery at all would be ideal. You know, something you can use at home to watch videos or whatever..
https://electronics.alibaba.com/buyingguides/mobile-phone-without-battery-real-world-guide
Based on this artice and some searching it seems that it should work with some phones out of the box. And it seems other phones can be powered with power supply and a step down converter wred directly to pads/pins meant for a battery.
Some gaming phones have passthrough
If I remember correctly, some of the ROG phones could actually run directly from the cable bypassing the battery. I think the idea was that it could be plugged in and gaming without wearing down the battery.