European Union removable batteries for smartphones and tablets from 18 February 2027: what you need to know

Back to the 2000s: from next year, smartphone batteries will have to be removable within the European Union. Here’s what you need to know.

In recent years, the European Union (EU) has been busy tightening the rules around tech. Online age checks, platform interoperability, app store monopolies, mandatory USB-C… lawmakers have rolled out a steady stream of measures to rein in a sector that was long left to set its own standards.

This new regulation follows the same approach. From 18 February 2027, smartphone and tablet manufacturers selling devices in Europe will be required to include removable batteries.

What the law actually requires

In practical terms, batteries must be "easily removable and replaceable" by the end user. That does not necessarily mean a full return to the clip-on backs of the 2000s; instead, it points to devices that can be opened without specialist tools or, where tools are needed, with tools provided free of charge in the box.

Brands will also be required to ensure replacement batteries remain available for seven years after a model stops being sold. In other words, consumers cannot be left without an option if their battery starts to lose performance.

According to 01.net, the legislation has two aims. The first is environmental: by extending device lifespans, the EU wants to cut electronic waste and curb planned obsolescence. The second is tied to the right to repair. Even without technical skills, an average user should be able to swap a battery without going through after-sales service.

Two criteria to avoid the rule

Some manufacturers will still be able to opt out of the requirement, but only if they meet two conditions at the same time. First, the device must be certified at least IP67, meaning it is resistant to water and dust. Second, its battery must retain at least 80% of its capacity after 1,000 full charge cycles.

These are demanding conditions, and in practice they align with what you typically find in premium smartphones. For instance, Apple says its models from the iPhone 15 onwards meet the second criterion. That could allow the company to avoid the obligation-provided its devices also maintain their IP certification.

Our analysis

This legislation forces manufacturers into a genuine strategic decision: rework hardware design to comply, or invest in batteries that perform well enough to qualify for an exemption. That could widen the gap between high-end and entry-level phones, since the latter would, by default, be subject to the removable-battery constraint.

For European consumers, however, it is a tangible step forward. Being able to replace a battery yourself could realistically add two or three years to a device’s usable life-and save the cost of buying a new phone sooner.

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