Overview
- The European Union will require smartphones to use batteries that users can replace with basic tools starting in February 2027.
- This is not a return to snap-out batteries, and outlets repeating that claim are misreporting the mandate.
- Phone makers must supply original spare parts to professional repairers and end-users for at least seven years after a model leaves the market, including battery packs, back covers, display assemblies, protective foil for foldables, chargers, and SIM or memory trays.
- Reporting also notes related rules that call for public repair manuals and battery durability targets, such as retaining most capacity after many charge cycles.
- Key details remain unsettled, with questions over waterproofing, phone ruggedness, service delays, and whether high-priced parts could discourage battery swaps.