US EditionThe EU Requires Phone Makers to Fit 'Readily Removable' Batteries From Next Year — but There May Be a Notable Exception
Many flagship phones may qualify through durability and battery-life standards, with devices meeting 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles and IP67 protection.
- As the 2027 implementation deadline for European Union battery regulations approaches, questions remain regarding whether OEMs like Google and Samsung must redesign Android devices to ensure batteries are easily replaceable.
- COMMISSION REGULATION defines a battery as removable if it requires no special tools or thermal energy, a standard that excludes many modern devices like the Galaxy S26 requiring heat to soften adhesives.
- Even if devices require specialized tools or thermal energy, they remain compliant if they meet an IP67 rating and maintain at least 80% capacity after 1,000 full charge cycles.
- Every Pixel device released recently already adheres to these endurance standards, as COMMISSION REGULATION mandates that batteries retain 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles.
- These regulations ensure that more devices sold within the European Union meet higher waterproofing standards and improved battery longevity, potentially reducing the frequency of necessary repairs for consumers.
24 Articles
24 Articles
The move comes against the backdrop of the EU's fight against the growth of e-waste.
The European Union is preparing an important change for companies that produce phones. As of February 2027, the phones will have to be built so that the battery can be easily replaced, without complicated interventions or mandatory visits in the service. Article EU, hit for smartphone manufacturers: users will be able to change their phone battery on their own first time in Romania TV.
Europe seems to be committed to changing the technological landscape, always with the users in its focus. It wants to increase the lifespan of the devices and simplify any and all repairs to be applied.
The European Union has set February 18, 2027, as the key date for implementing a change that will facilitate the recall and replacement of certain portable batteries embedded in products, as part of a broader reform on repair and durability. Read more
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