Manufacturers will be required to offer spare parts and publish security updates for an extended period. Energy labels will show a repairability index as well as energy efficiency.
EU actual laws vs headlines about non excisting laws. Refering to other threads.
Great for consumers once again.
It really sounds great, but I’ve also read that the law contains zero directions/rules on prices for the replacement parts. So you might be able to get a replacement battery for your 200€ phone, but having to pay 200€ for it.
I man I hope not, and maybe not every company will go out of their way to follow the most malicious interpretation of the law they can (competitors might not, it’s still a somewhat competitive market).
you might be able to get a replacement battery for your 200€ phone, but having to pay 200€ for it.
On the assumption that consumers are somehow rational and have some memory, that “trick” only work once.
Next time a consumer get stuck with a practically irreplaceable battery because it’s too expensive from a company, they will look at other companies selling equivalent products, AND how much they are charging for batteries. I also imagine a business of spare parts because just having to give the right data, e.g. specifications like cell, module, pack, C-rate, E-rate, SOC, DOD, voltage, capacity, energy, cycle life, but also connectors and just size, will probably open up dedicated spare part vendors.
That may be overestimating how much most customers look up anything about a phone before buying it and how much they care throwing their phone away every 3 years
Highlights
- sufficiently durable batteries which can withstand at least 800 charge and discharge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their initial capacity
- rules on disassembly and repair, including obligations for producers to make critical spare parts available within 5-10 working days, and for 7 years after the end of sales of the product model on the EU market
- availability of operating system upgrades for longer periods (at least 5 years from the date of the end of placement on the market of the last unit of a product model)
- non-discriminatory access for professional repairers to any software or firmware needed for the replacement
It applies from 20 June 2025.
No requirements on replaceable batteries? That’s the main thing that’s missing here. That and making the USB-C port easy to repair, and suddenly you no longer need new phones, just extended software support and repairs.
Damn, I just bought a tablet last month. But at least I stuck to my Nokia phone so the replacement, when it becomes necessary, will fall under these rules. This ought to be quite nice, can’t wait for the reactions from the big manufacturers.
