The European Council has announced a new regulation that mandates portable batteries integrated into appliances, including Android phones and even Apple’s iPhone, need to be removable and replaceable by end-users. This move aims to give consumers more control over self-repair, enabling them to access and replace dysfunctional batteries with ease.
OEMs operating in the European region have been given until 2027 to comply with these new criteria, ensuring that devices produced after that date will meet the removable battery requirement. This regulation gives consumers the ability to perform battery replacements themselves without having to rely on specific kits or outsourcing the repair to a company. It represents a significant step towards enhancing user autonomy and sustainability in the tech industry.
The EU’s recent adoption of new rules regarding portable batteries is part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental impact of battery waste in the region. Another step taken was the mandate to have a standard charging port for every device.
One key rule of this new mandate requires producers to collect a certain percentage of portable battery waste by specific deadlines: 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030. For lithium portable battery waste, the targets are set at 50% by 2027 and 80% by 2031.
Before these rules become official, they must be signed off on by both the European Council and the European Parliament and then published in the EU’s Official Journal. Once published, the regulations will take effect 20 days later.
One of the notable rules is the requirement for devices, such as smartphones, to have removable and replaceable batteries. This move is expected to have a significant impact on smartphone design trends, as it will bring back user-replaceable batteries for consumers. This is the second “major” shift in smartphone design mandated by the EU, following the previous decision to make USB-C the standard charging port for Android phones, iPhones, and laptops.
As a result, OEMs will need to make alterations to their device designs to meet the new charging port criteria and, later on, adapt to the removable and replaceable battery mandate. These changes are part of the EU’s commitment to promoting sustainability and reducing electronic waste in the region.
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Bethany Wilson 
