The European Union (EU) has issued a new regulation that will take effect in 2027. This regulation requires that batteries in smartphones and electronic devices must be easily replaceable.
Many people think this will mean returning to the old way of removing the phone's back cover and replacing the battery by hand. However, in reality, manufacturers are required to design phones so that users can easily open and repair them without needing special tools.
However, not all phones fall under this regulation. High-quality phones that still have 80 percent battery capacity remaining even after 1,000 charging cycles, as well as phones with IP67 water and dust resistance ratings, can be exempt from this law.
Instead, these phones must provide software updates for at least 5 years, and even after the phone is no longer manufactured, spare parts must be made available for up to an additional 7 years.
The EU has introduced such strict regulations because approximately 5 million tons of electronic waste are generated annually. Thanks to this regulation, the phones we use in the future will last longer, have fewer battery issues, and will be easier to repair and reuse without needing to buy new phones.
Ref: Bangkokpost
