Revolutionizing Cell Phones: The Impact of EU’s Directive on Removable Batteries

In the repair landscape, one of the most common and recurring smartphone issues is related to the battery. Many users of old smartphones often need help deciding whether to switch to a new device or get their phone battery replaced.

But wait, there’s good news for the consumers. 

In a consumer-friendly turn of events, the European Council passed a regulation requiring all smartphones to have removable batteries by 2027. 

The industry has debated the pros and cons of user-replaceable batteries for quite some time. Removable batteries mean easier repairs and convenient access to spare parts from the manufacturers. 

On the other hand, some argue that replaceable batteries will compromise fast charging and make phones thicker due to changes in design configurations. While many leading smartphone manufacturers are grudgingly moving towards a more circular economy in batteries and repair, Apple has hit back with an argument. 

“You can make an internal component more maintainable by making it discrete and removable, but that adds a potential point of failure,” said the SVP of hardware engineering.

With that said, here’s how repair businesses can benefit from the EU’s initiative:

Given that 42% of smartphone repairs are battery-related, it’s clear that removable batteries will encourage customers to simply get new batteries installed. Today’s devices come with embedded battery units that are nearly impossible to remove. 

This forces consumers to buy new phones instead of getting their existing devices repaired, which isn’t great for repair businesses. Not only that, but the complexity of today’s devices means you need to hire specialist technicians to perform the repairs effectively.

All things considered, the EU’s move is not just about replaceable batteries; it is aimed at empowering consumers, saving resources, and empowering the repair industry.