SMARTPHONES and tablets sold in Europe will have to feature replaceable batteries starting next year, according to EU rules, amid efforts to slash electronic waste across the bloc.
The new rules, approved in 2023 as part of a broader package but coming into force on February 18, 2027, state that batteries in portable devices must be designed so users can remove and replace them without any specialised tools or assistance.
Replacement batteries for any model will have to remain available to users for at least five years after the last unit of the product is placed on the market, the regulation also states.
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The move comes amid EU-wide efforts to cut the continent’s carbon footprint and tackle mounting waste, in what officials say could help European consumers collectively save up to €20 billion by 2030.
Batteries in smartphones and tablets are currently built into devices in a way that only specialists can remove and replace them once depleted.
This leads to high replacement costs for users, who often opt to buy new devices even when their old ones are otherwise perfectly functional.
But when the new rules kick in next year, consumers will be able to buy new batteries once the old ones run down – and easily replace them themselves, cutting costs and reducing electronic waste across the EU, officials say.
The regulation states that batteries must be removable using ‘commercially available’ tools – and that if specialised tools are required, they must be provided free of charge when the phone or tablet is purchased.
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As part of the same package of measures, rolled out in stages since 2023, the EU has also mandated that all phones use more durable batteries and offer greater resistance to wear.
Since 2025, system updates must be available for at least five years from the date the last unit model is sold, according to the same regulation.
And a separate directive also mandated that all phones and tablets manufactured after 2024 be chargeable via universal USB-C ports.
According to EU data, around 150 million smartphones and 24 million tablets are sold across the EU each year.
This amounts to roughly 5 million tonnes of electronic waste a year – but less than 40% is properly recycled, officials warn.
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