If you’ve owned a smartphone for more than a couple of years, you’ll know the pattern.
The battery starts lasting less and less. Suddenly you’re carrying a charger everywhere, turning off apps you never use, and wondering whether it’s time to buy a new phone.
From 2027, the European Union wants to change that.
New regulations will require all mobile phones, tablets and other portable electronic devices sold within the EU to be designed so that users can replace the battery themselves, without needing specialist tools or expensive repair services.
What Will Change?
The biggest difference is simple.
When your battery starts to wear out, you’ll be able to replace it rather than replacing the entire device.
Manufacturers will need to redesign products so batteries can be removed and replaced more easily by consumers.
Before anyone starts imagining a return to chunky mobile phones with plastic back covers, that’s not necessarily the case. Brands are expected to develop new designs that still offer the slim profiles and modern aesthetics people expect while complying with the new rules.
Tackling Planned Obsolescence
One of the main goals behind the legislation is reducing electronic waste and extending the lifespan of devices.
For years, battery degradation has been one of the biggest reasons people replace otherwise perfectly functional phones.
The EU hopes these measures will encourage manufacturers to focus more on durability, repairability and sustainability rather than products designed to be replaced every few years.
Spare Parts for 10 Years
The regulations go beyond batteries.
Manufacturers will also be required to:
- Make spare parts available for at least 10 years
- Provide repair manuals
- Design devices that can be dismantled using commonly available tools
- Allow consumers and independent repair shops to carry out repairs more easily
The intention is to make repairing a phone a realistic and affordable option rather than pushing consumers towards buying a new device.
Good News for Consumers
For Tenerife residents and consumers across Europe, the changes could mean lower long-term costs and fewer unnecessary upgrades.
Instead of replacing a perfectly good phone because the battery no longer holds a charge, owners will have the option of fitting a new battery and continuing to use the device for years longer.
Given the rising cost of smartphones, that’s likely to be welcome news for many households.