If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ve likely seen headlines about the European Union’s move towards requiring smartphones to have easy-to-replace batteries by 2027. While this is true, there is more to the story than meets the eye. The EU has been working on multiple pieces of legislation that will impact when and how manufacturers will have to comply with these new regulations.
One of the legislations currently in the works is called the Ecodesign for Smartphones and Tablets. It aims to make smartphone batteries easier to replace and is expected to take effect in June or July 2025, earlier than the 2027 deadline most news outlets have been reporting. The Ecodesign regulation states that batteries should be replaceable with no tools, basic tools, or a set of tools that are provided with the product or spare part. Spare parts should also be available for up to seven years after a phone’s release, and the replacement process should be able to be carried out by anyone, not just professionals. This regulation is expected to pass into law in September 2021, with the battery replicability requirements coming into effect a year and a half later.
While the battery regulation voted on by the European Parliament this month is more stringent than the Ecodesign regulation, it is still important. The battery regulation does not offer a loophole that would allow manufacturers to avoid making their batteries easy to replace if they can make them long-lasting instead. Manufacturers will need to ensure that their batteries maintain 83% of their capacity after 500 cycles and 80% after 1000 cycles to qualify. This requirement ensures that devices will still have a significant amount of capacity even after years of use.
It’s unclear how many manufacturers’ smartphone batteries currently meet these requirements for longevity. Some manufacturers, like Fairphone and Oppo, have batteries that already fulfill these requirements. However, other manufacturers may need to make changes to their battery design to comply with the regulations.
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When it comes to what makes a battery easy to replace, the EU’s definition focuses on the use of commercially available tools and the avoidance of specialized tools, proprietary tools, thermal energy, or solvents. The goal is to prevent end-users from having to use specialized tools or complex processes to replace their batteries. However, there is some debate over what constitutes a “specialized tool.” Repair advocates like iFixit are pushing for lawmakers to define a device as user-repairable if it can be repaired using basic tools like screwdrivers.
There is also the issue of how user-replaceable batteries can coexist with waterproofing. The battery regulation includes an exemption for devices that are regularly subjected to water, but opponents argue that waterproofing could be compromised if a device is designed to be easily opened. Repair technicians and advocates point to examples of devices like underwater flashlights and smartphones with high water resistance that also have user-replaceable batteries.
Overall, the battery regulation passed by the European Parliament is seen as a step in the right direction for the right-to-repair movement. It ensures that batteries will be easier to replace and promotes durability, sustainability, and repairability. While there are still some details to be worked out, the regulation is expected to have a significant impact on the smartphone industry in the EU.
