EU to Require Replaceable Batteries in All Phones Sold in the Region Starting 2027

Starting February 18, 2027, smartphones and tablets sold in the EU must be designed so that users can remove and replace the battery themselves without professional tools or outside help.

Any tools needed to remove the battery must be commercially available tools, and if special tools are required, they must be provided free of charge with the device purchase.

Replacement batteries for each model must be available for at least 5 years after the last unit of that model is sold on the market.

This measure is part of the EU's policy to reduce electronic waste and shrink carbon footprint, and includes projections that consumers could save a total of 20 billion euros by 2030.

The EU explains that about 150 million smartphones and 24 million tablets are sold there each year, and this volume translates into roughly 5 million tons of e-waste annually. Of this, less than 40% is properly recycled.

The same regulatory package also includes the following:

• Starting 2025, system updates must be provided for at least 5 years from the last model's sale date
• All phones and tablets manufactured from 2024 onward must be chargeable via USB-C
• Batteries in portable devices must have greater durability and wear resistance