The EU mandates user-replaceable smartphone batteries by 2027

[AC News]

The EU adopted a new rule, stating replaceable and removable batteries must be within smartphones by 2027.

The EU mandates user-replaceable smartphone batteries by 2027 : Read more

 

[Jeremy8000]

It stands to reason that, while this is a EU mandate, it will essentially be effected everywhere as OEM's won't be producing largely different physical designs just for them. And, imo, it's long overdue both from a perspective of reducing both early obsolescence and general battery life anxiety.

"Back in the day" battery anxiety was never a big issue as those for whom a full charge wouldn't be expected to last through a given day could simply maintain a spare that could be swapped out in a matter of seconds as needed (though this did mean having to reboot the phone). While some might argue that someone so concerned who doesn't have the ability to recharge it during the day via a wall or car charger can simply carry a portable battery pack charger, those are substantially bulkier and suffer from the massive inefficiency of process in transferring that power to the phone's embedded battery - and if someone really wanted to, they still could, as many are forced to today.

As to obsolescence, while the more mechanically adept of us might be able to replace an existing battery in a contemporary phone, the vast majority of people who would need it to be done by a professional are either oblivious to the fact it can be done or are inclined to simply buy a new phone rather than incur that additional expense, meaning there is a lot of earlier-than-necessary e-waste that could be prevented. Also, removable batteries will, of course, be much more likely to be recycled.

The only substantive drawback I see is that it could diminish the effectiveness of establishing a high level of water resistance, though I suspect that that can still be achieved.

 

[Laura Knotek]

It stands to reason that, while this is a EU mandate, it will essentially be effected everywhere as OEM's won't be producing largely different physical designs just for them. And, imo, it's long overdue both from a perspective of reducing both early obsolescence and general battery life anxiety.

"Back in the day" battery anxiety was never a big issue as those for whom a full charge wouldn't be expected to last through a given day could simply maintain a spare that could be swapped out in a matter of seconds as needed (though this did mean having to reboot the phone). While some might argue that someone so concerned who doesn't have the ability to recharge it during the day via a wall or car charger can simply carry a portable battery pack charger, those are substantially bulkier and suffer from the massive inefficiency of process in transferring that power to the phone's embedded battery - and if someone really wanted to, they still could, as many are forced to today.

As to obsolescence, while the more mechanically adept of us might be able to replace an existing battery in a contemporary phone, the vast majority of people who would need it to be done by a professional are either oblivious to the fact it can be done or are inclined to simply buy a new phone rather than incur that additional expense, meaning there is a lot of earlier-than-necessary e-waste that could be prevented. Also, removable batteries will, of course, be much more likely to be recycled.

The only substantive drawback I see is that it could diminish the effectiveness of establishing a high level of water resistance, though I suspect that that can still be achieved.

I suspect that user replaceable will only apply to installing a brand new battery if the old one goes bad, not swapping batteries on a regular basis.