Manufacturers will be required to offer spare parts and publish security updates for an extended period. Energy labels will show a repairability index as well as energy efficiency.
Replacing batteries in waterproof Phones isn’t a great challenge by an tech service. Repairable don’t necessarly mean DIY for the user. Most repair in phones need anyway an tech service. iPhone store certainly don’t repat it, the want to sell a new Phone, but this don’t mean that a tech service isn’t capable to do it, there are infinite examples of repaired iPhones (changing a broken scree, battery, plugs and more). The only problem is to obtain replacement pieces from the brand, but this is what the EU will force, that the brand also sell this pieces, which Apple not always do.
No requirements on replaceable batteries? That’s the main thing that’s missing here. That and making the USB-C port easy to repair, and suddenly you no longer need new phones, just extended software support and repairs.
User replaceable batteries are a part of the new battery directive and will be in force from sometime in 2027 if I recall correctly.
No requirements on replaceable batteries?
Its in there. At least for phones without a high enough waterproof rating
making the USB-C port easy to repair
As far as I know it should be in there too, or at least a „make significant parts replaceable”
Its in there. At least for phones without a high enough waterproof rating
Gonna guess all the phone manufacturers will coincidentally determine that waterproofing is a feature desperately needed by the European market on all tiers.
Also won’t affect iPhones since they’re already all “waterproof.”
I don’t know if the changes coming into affect today have something different about replaceable batteries, but the 2027 replaceable battery requirement has this as the exemption:
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the following products incorporating portable batteries may be designed in such a way as to make the battery removable and replaceable only by independent professionals:
(a) appliances specifically designed to operate primarily in an environment that is regularly subject to splashing water, water streams or water immersion, and that are intended to be washable or rinseable;
(b) professional medical imaging and radiotherapy devices, as defined in Article 2, point (1), of Regulation (EU) 2017/745, and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2017/746.
The only thing there Apple could even pretend is “washable or rinsable”, and I’d be shocked* if they could get away with that.
*not that shocked
Wait, really? I’d love to see replaceable batteries make a comeback, but something tells me that companies will prefer to up the water resistance instead.
Highlights
- sufficiently durable batteries which can withstand at least 800 charge and discharge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their initial capacity
- rules on disassembly and repair, including obligations for producers to make critical spare parts available within 5-10 working days, and for 7 years after the end of sales of the product model on the EU market
- availability of operating system upgrades for longer periods (at least 5 years from the date of the end of placement on the market of the last unit of a product model)
- non-discriminatory access for professional repairers to any software or firmware needed for the replacement
It applies from 20 June 2025.
God I fucking love the EU. I hope the UK adopts most of these, but safe to say the EU will force the industry in a certain direction globally.
EU actual laws vs headlines about non excisting laws. Refering to other threads.
Great for consumers once again.
It really sounds great, but I’ve also read that the law contains zero directions/rules on prices for the replacement parts. So you might be able to get a replacement battery for your 200€ phone, but having to pay 200€ for it.
I man I hope not, and maybe not every company will go out of their way to follow the most malicious interpretation of the law they can (competitors might not, it’s still a somewhat competitive market).
you might be able to get a replacement battery for your 200€ phone, but having to pay 200€ for it.
On the assumption that consumers are somehow rational and have some memory, that “trick” only work once.
Next time a consumer get stuck with a practically irreplaceable battery because it’s too expensive from a company, they will look at other companies selling equivalent products, AND how much they are charging for batteries. I also imagine a business of spare parts because just having to give the right data, e.g. specifications like cell, module, pack, C-rate, E-rate, SOC, DOD, voltage, capacity, energy, cycle life, but also connectors and just size, will probably open up dedicated spare part vendors.
Next time a consumer get stuck with a practically irreplaceable battery because it’s too expensive from a company, they will look at other companies selling equivalent products, AND how much they are charging for batteries.
No. Just look at the current phone market. The average consumer doesn’t care enough about repairs down the road, or at least it doesn’t affect their purchasing decisions, they are mostly driven by convenience and familiarity. If what you’re saying was true, everyone would be buying fairphones.
I also imagine a business of spare parts because just having to give the right data, e.g. specifications like cell, module, pack, C-rate, E-rate, SOC, DOD, voltage, capacity, energy, cycle life, but also connectors and just size, will probably open up dedicated spare part vendors.
Those specs are already widely available for many phones and in fact you can buy aftermarket 3rd-party batteries for most of them. The problem is that battery replacements are painful, require specialized equipment (at least a hotplate, suction cup, spudger for most phones) and skills (not breaking the screen/glass back, unglueing the battery without exploding it, then carefully glueing everything back together etc). This is what the law should be addressing first; if it were easy to replace batteries (like a 1-minute job instead of 30-minute job), you would see a lot more DYI replacements and probably way longer lasting phones on average.
That may be overestimating how much most customers look up anything about a phone before buying it and how much they care throwing their phone away every 3 years
Well this next example isn’t about phones but e-bikes. Unfortunately unwise me bought a fancy designer bike made by a national startup (CowBoy, to name and shame them) and I’m now stuck with a fancy metal frame on wheels because the belt is not in stock. Ordered in February, supposed to arrive 60 days later, I’m still waiting, not even an email received, nothing in now late June.
So… yes my next e-bike will be very VERY boring, in the sense of relying on built that have easy to source replacement part.
Yes, it did take few a first relatively large mistake (even though I did use that bike daily for years already) but that’s what I meant by “only work once”. You try, make painful mistake, don’t repeat.
Damn, I just bought a tablet last month. But at least I stuck to my Nokia phone so the replacement, when it becomes necessary, will fall under these rules. This ought to be quite nice, can’t wait for the reactions from the big manufacturers.
