The European Union is officially requiring all smartphones to have replaceable batteries by 2027.
This week, the European Council adopted the regulation designed to reduce waste and break up monopolistic practices from tech companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google that create it difficult to replace parts without having to acquire a brand new phone.
This is a huge win for the right-to-repair relocatement. While it only applies to the EU, the regulation has global ramifications, since it wouldn’t create sense to create two different smartphones — one for Europe, one for everywhere else. Regulation will likely impact the global market, altering the design of smartphones for all applyrs. The EU passed a regulation 2022, requiring iPhones to have a USB-C port, which will have a similar global effect.
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Smartphones must be “removable and replaceable by the finish-applyr,” meaning it must be simple to replace a battery without any kind of technical expertise. Manufacturers have until 2027 to adapt the design of their smartphones in order to comply with the EU law. The regulation applies to all batteries, including those in EVs and e-bikes, in the hopes of creating a “circular economy” where waste batteries can be recycled and reapplyd to power electronics.
The regulation includes requirements for smartphone manufacturers to collect 50 percent of lithium from waste batteries by 2027 and ramps up to 80 percent by 2031. Manufacturers will also be required to label batteries with its internal components, amount of recycled material, and a QR code. So within five years, you’ll finally be able to replace your battery, hassle free.
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