The reform will help save up to €20 billion: Starting in 2027, all smartphones in the EU will have replaceable batteries
15 July 20:11
Starting February 18, 2027, all smartphones and tablets sold in the European Union must be equipped with batteries that users can replace themselves without special tools. The new rules were approved back in 2023—and the date for their entry into force is now approaching. This was reported by Olive Press, as cited by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to EU estimates, the reform will help consumers save a total of up to €20 billion by 2030.
Currently, batteries in smartphones and tablets are built-in in such a way that only a specialist can replace them. This forces people to buy a new device even when the old one is still working properly—simply because the battery is worn out.
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Under the new rules, the battery must be removable using “commercially available” tools. If special tools are still required for replacement, the manufacturer is required to provide them free of charge at the time of purchase. Replacement batteries for each model must remain available for at least five years after the last device of that model has been discontinued.
This is just part of a broader package of reforms being implemented in phases starting in 2023. Starting in 2025, manufacturers will be required to provide software updates for at least five years. A separate directive requires all manufacturers to switch to the USB-C charging port for devices produced after 2024.
About 150 million smartphones and 24 million tablets are sold in the EU each year—that’s roughly 5 million metric tons of electronic waste annually. Less than 40% of this waste is properly recycled.
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