EU Law to Bring Back User Replaceable Batteries on Smartphones by 2027
The European Union has approved new regulations requiring replaceable batteries in smartphones by 2027. The new rules are part of a broader effort to reduce e-waste and improve maintainability.
The jurisdiction of the European Council, obviously, extends only to the European Union, but global electronics manufacturers like Apple and Samsung do not release radically different devices for different regions – it is unlikely that European iPhones will provide removable batteries, while American ones will do without them. The norm applies not only to smartphones, but also to tablet computers, laptops, electric scooters, electric vehicles and other battery-powered equipment.
Until 2027, manufacturers will be able to change the design of their devices so that the consumer can replace batteries without any special knowledge or tools. Given that the vast majority of modern smartphones are designed as a “glass sandwich” with components glued together, the new normal will change the very foundations of technology development.
The law aims to create a circular economy for batteries, meaning that components should be reused as much as possible. It will not be possible to achieve full processing by 100%, but the region wants to get closer to this indicator.
