According to Neowin , the new rules are part of a larger effort by the EU to reduce e-waste and promote repairability. Currently, most other smartphones have sealed batteries that are difficult or impossible for consumers to replace. This means that when the battery starts to degrade, users have to buy a new phone or take it to a repair shop. The EU's new removable battery regulations will make it easier for consumers to extend the life of their smartphones by replacing the battery.
iPhone must have removable battery by 2027 at the latest if it wants to be sold in the EU
The new rules will apply to all smartphones sold in the EU, regardless of where they are manufactured. This means Apple, Samsung, and other OEMs will all have to comply with the new regulations.
"The regulation sets targets for manufacturers to collect waste mobile batteries (63% by the end of 2027 and 73% by the end of 2030), and also sets out specific collection targets for waste batteries for light-duty vehicles (51% by the end of 2028 and 61% by the end of 2031).
The EU has been at the forefront of the fight against e-waste. In 2019, the bloc introduced new regulations requiring all electronic devices to be designed to be easily disassembled. The new smartphone battery regulations are a further step in that direction. As part of that move, Apple said it would start using 100% certified recycled cobalt in all of its batteries by 2025.
The new EU rules will also require OEMs to design their devices so that consumers can easily remove and replace the battery by 2027. Removable batteries will also have to be labelled with clear instructions on how to replace them.
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