The European Union is significantly increasing pressure regarding replaceable batteries

The European Union (EU) is reportedly orchestrating a revival of a once-dominant feature that has nearly vanished from the smartphone market: user-replaceable batteries. The EU is advocating a new regulation that would demand the reintroduction of this attribute.

Recently, the European Parliament sanctioned a new mandate revolving around the production, design, and recycling of all rechargeable batteries sold within its jurisdiction. The rule has broad applications, spanning electric vehicles to mobile device batteries for smartphones, tablets, and the like. It necessitates alterations in product designs that would empower users to remove and replace batteries independently, reaffirming our previous discussions on the resurgence of removable batteries.

The European Union is significantly increasing pressure regarding replaceable batteries

At present, the trend of removable batteries has nearly faded into oblivion, replaced by sealed battery packs demanding specialized tools and expertise for removal. This development follows closely on the heels of the EU’s enforcement of USB Type C standardization, compelling companies like Apple to comply for their future products. This move aims to streamline the recovery and recycling of spent batteries while minimizing overall waste.

This game-changing regulation is set to come into force by early 2027. However, there's room for possible delay depending on manufacturers' capacity to implement such a significant redesign. It's important to remember that sealed smartphones have been advantageous in offering enhanced protection against environmental factors and have also been viewed as a cost-saving measure by companies. The industry’s reaction to this directive remains a matter of speculation, so stay tuned for further updates.

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