European regulation will force Logitech to create a more repairable computer mouse, but only for customers on that continent. The rest of the world will receive a sealed, harder-to-fix version instead.
The split stems from new European Union battery rules set to take effect in February 2027. Those rules mandate that consumers must be able to replace batteries themselves. As a result, tech companies face a choice: redesign products globally or build separate versions for different markets. Logitech and Nintendo have both opted for the latter path, reserving their most repair-friendly hardware for European buyers.
Speaking to The Verge, Logitech’s head of gaming, Robin Piispanen, explained the tradeoffs clearly. Designing peripherals that open easily adds both cost and weight, he said. For the European market, the company will shift to rigid hard-pack batteries and sell certified replacements directly to consumers.
That marks a significant departure from the current design philosophy. Logitech now uses lightweight soft-pack lithium batteries, partly because most users never attempt to open the devices themselves. Piispanen framed the soft-pack approach as a safety measure too, arguing that handing those batteries to consumers for DIY replacement would be irresponsible. European customers get the safer, user-swappable option. Meanwhile, buyers in other regions will continue receiving the more disposable product.
Nintendo has drawn a similar line with the Switch 2, keeping its easier-to-swap battery configuration exclusive to Europe.
Batteries remain the weakest link in wireless electronics. When they fail and cannot be replaced, functional hardware turns into e-waste. The new European regulation aims directly at that problem, pushing manufacturers toward longevity rather than forced obsolescence.
Piispanen acknowledged the balancing act between cost, weight, and safety but noted a bigger challenge: designing products that genuinely last. For now, geography determines who benefits from that effort.
