2027: Smartphones in Europe to Be Mandated with Removable Batteries

The European Parliament has passed a new regulation mandating electronics manufacturers, including mobile phone producers, to introduce designs that are easier to repair, especially by allowing users to replace batteries themselves without visiting a service centre. This regulation will take effect in 2027 as part of the “Right to Repair” policy, aimed at addressing battery degradation while reducing electronic waste. One of its key points is that users must be able to replace batteries themselves without special tools or technician assistance. Thus, when a phone’s battery life begins to decline, users can easily purchase and install a new battery. So, is this practice feasible for new smartphones currently on the market or those to be released in the future? Earlier this year, HMD introduced two phones with easily replaceable batteries by their owners, including the Nokia G22. However, in practice, battery replacement requires supporting tools as recommended by iFixit, a community passionate about repairing various electronic devices and other gadgets. With the ability to repair devices themselves rather than buying new ones, it is hoped this practice can reduce electronic waste. “By empowering consumers with the ability to replace old batteries themselves, it means they can use their devices for longer,” said Lars Silberbauer, head of marketing at HMD Global, quoted by KompasTekno from Cnet. Silberbauer also stated that his company agrees with the European Union’s rules on easily removable phone batteries. Changing product designs to allow self-removable phone batteries is quite complex. This was also noted by Fairphone, a Dutch electronics manufacturer that prioritises an environmentally friendly concept. Ballester also assessed that the basic battery chemistry still degrades over time even as capacity increases. “That’s a fact and hasn’t changed since we had old Nokias where all batteries were replaceable,” he said.