Overview
- The regulation requires phones to let users remove and replace batteries without professional tools or heat starting in 2027.
- It bans strong adhesives and software locks that hinder battery swaps to ensure a straightforward replacement process.
- Manufacturers must provide spare parts and clear repair information for years, including scannable repair passports that explain parts and service.
- The rules apply to every smartphone sold in the EU, so global brands will need redesigns to keep selling in the bloc.
- Apple and Samsung are reported to be testing changes as companies weigh trade-offs like thinness and water resistance and as the broader batteries law pushes higher collection and lithium recovery targets.