EU Battery Rules Push Repairability Into Smartphones and Tablets

*Two regulations adopted in 2023 now require portable devices to support longer life, easier repairs, and better recycling.*

The shift in design rules

The European Union finalized two regulations in 2023 that directly address how batteries are integrated into portable electronics. One rule already applies to smartphones and tablets. The second will cover a wider set of battery-powered products beginning next year.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 entered into force last year and sets requirements for smartphones and tablets. Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 follows in 2027 and broadens the scope to additional portable devices. Both aim to improve longevity, repairability, and recyclability of products that contain batteries.

What the rules actually require

The regulations mandate design changes that make batteries accessible to users or independent repair shops. Manufacturers must ensure batteries can be replaced without specialized tools or permanent damage to the device. The measures also require clearer labeling and information about battery durability and replacement options.

These obligations replace the previous industry pattern of glued-in or soldered batteries that discouraged repairs. The rules apply across the EU market, affecting any company that sells covered devices in the region.

Reactions and remaining questions

Industry groups have not yet released detailed public responses to the timelines. Some manufacturers have already begun adjusting internal designs to meet the earlier smartphone and tablet requirements. Observers note that the second regulation’s broader reach may create additional compliance work for makers of laptops, headphones, and other portable gear.

Why it matters

For engineers and product teams, the regulations remove the option of permanent battery integration in many categories. Devices sold in Europe will need modular battery access as a baseline feature rather than an afterthought. Companies that treat repairability as a compliance checkbox will ship workable but uninspired solutions; those that redesign around it may reduce e-waste and extend product life in measurable ways. The rules set a concrete deadline that forces hardware decisions now rather than later.

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Sources:

• The Verge

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