EU's New Battery Rules Won't Force Removable Batteries on Smartphones

Starting in 2027, the European Union will enforce new battery requirements for portable electronics. The rules officially require manufacturers to make batteries user-replaceable, but in practice, smartphones like the iPhone will likely remain almost unchanged. The catch is a key exemption specifically for phones and tablets.

The baseline rule is tough: a portable battery must be "easily removable" without special tools, heat, solvents, or proprietary equipment. For today's smartphones, this would mean a return to the era of removable back covers, since most current models are glued shut, water-resistant, and require professional repair for battery replacement.

However, smartphones and tablets get a pass. If the device has water and dust protection, and its battery retains at least 83% capacity after 500 charge cycles and at least 80% after 1000 cycles, the battery does not have to be easily replaceable by the average user. In that case, replacement can be left to official service centers and professional repair shops.

This is why iPhones, Galaxy and many modern flagships likely won't get removable batteries in the traditional sense. Manufacturers already know how to build water-resistant devices with durable batteries that satisfy EU requirements. For consumers, this means smartphone design and looks will likely stay the same, and battery replacement will remain a service-center procedure.

Foldable phones could theoretically fall under stricter rules if they lack adequate water protection. But major manufacturers are already moving in that direction: current Samsung foldable models carry an IP rating, and the first foldable iPhone, if it arrives, will almost surely have at least basic water resistance to stay within the exemption.

The new regulations could hit smaller gadgets far harder, such as wireless earbuds. In-ear models do not have the same exemption as smartphones, so manufacturers will have to find a way to make tiny batteries replaceable. This could lead to larger, heavier, and more expensive earbuds, but it would also extend their lifespan and reduce the amount of electronics thrown away due to dead batteries.