New requirements promise longer-lasting phones, lower repair costs and less electronic waste, while challenging manufacturers to rethink product design and business models.
The European Union is preparing to reshape the smartphone industry with regulations designed to make batteries easier to replace, devices more durable and consumers less dependent on expensive repairs. From February 18, 2027, new requirements under the EU’s battery framework are expected to strengthen the shift towards repairable electronics, challenging the sealed-device designs that have become standard across much of the smartphone market.
Under the new rules, smartphones covered by the requirements must allow consumers to remove and replace batteries using commercially available tools, without proprietary tools, heat or specialised solvents. Manufacturers will also face restrictions on difficult-to-remove adhesive bonds and obligations to maintain replacement battery availability for at least five years after a model is withdrawn from sale.
The durability requirements are equally significant. Batteries must generally retain at least 80 per cent of their original capacity after 800 full charge cycles, subject to provisions and exemptions for qualifying devices that meet more demanding durability and water-resistance standards.
The implications extend beyond engineering. The policy represents a broader European effort to shift consumer electronics away from a disposable-product culture towards a circular economy in which products remain useful for longer.
To the mass number of consumers, the reform could make smartphone ownership more affordable and less wasteful. Replacing a battery rather than purchasing a new device may help households extend the useful life of expensive electronics, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty and rising living costs.
The cultural implications are equally important. Smartphone manufacturers have increasingly prioritised slim designs, integrated components and seamless finishes. Although these features can improve aesthetics and water resistance, they can also make repairs more difficult. The EU’s intervention challenges the assumption that technological progress must come with shorter product lifespans.
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