The EU requires phone makers to fit 'readily removable' batteries from next year — but there may be a notable exception | Tech Radar

Overview

News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Details

Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.

The EU requires phone makers to fit 'readily removable' batteries from next year — but there may be a notable exception

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The successors to the Galaxy S26 series may be affected by the new EU rule (Image credit: Samsung)

Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.

New EU repairability rules for phone makers are arriving in 2027

They mean phone batteries will need to be replaceable

A return to the full pop-out mechanism is unlikely, however

This article is part of a series of sustainability-themed articles we're running to observe Earth Day 2026 and promote more sustainable practices. Check out all of our Sustainability Week 2026 content.

Having ruled on age verification, device interoperability, and app store monopolies in recent times, European Union legislators are now turning their attention to phone repairability — and in particular, how easily a phone battery can be replaced.

As reported by The Olive Press, new laws are coming into force in 2027 that mean manufacturers are required to make it relatively easy to remove and replace batteries in mobile devices. These laws will only apply to the EU, but the mechanics of mass production means devices in other markets may well be affected too.

However, we're unlikely to see a return to the old approach to battery replacement — where a phone case could be popped off by hand, and the battery swapped out in a couple of seconds. As Sam Mobile points out, the regulations specifically refer to batteries that are "readily removable and replaceable" by the end user.

How the heck did phones become so boring? Looking at you, Apple and Samsung — but at least there’s hope on the horizon

Battery life just dethroned price as the biggest driver of smartphone purchases

Fairphone's Nature Report shows the worrying environmental impact of phones

That means batteries that can be taken out without using "specialized tools, unless provided free of charge with the product". So maybe it's less a case of pop-out batteries, and more a case of a couple of tiny disassembly tools included in the box — though we'll have to wait and see exactly how phone makers react.

As Bloomberg reports, this isn't just applying to phones and tablets either. Smart glasses are among the gadgets that are also going to be affected, while Nintendo has apparently already developed a Switch 2 console with a battery that can be changed.

EU to force replaceable batteries in phones and tablets from 2027 from r/apple

While current phone batteries can't be swapped out as easily as they could in the past, it's actually not that difficult if you know what you're doing. Apple already offers do-it-yourself repair kits for swapping out batteries and other components, for example, in part because of this incoming legislation and other laws around the world.

Indeed, it looks as though Apple may not have to worry at all: as noted on Reddit, batteries that can maintain an 80% capacity level after 1,000 cycles aren't covered by the new rulings. Apple meets that standard, as per its official support documents, on models starting from the i Phone 15 that launched in 2023.

Apple's incoming CEO John Ternus has previously said he supports the right to repair broadly, but thinks that "repairability in isolation" isn't always the best answer — and that making products that last is a bigger priority than making them repairable.

As for users, the reaction has been mostly positive: Redditors have called the incoming rules a "great consumer-friendly change", and a "good move" from the EU, with many noting that the battery is typically the first component to fail in a phone.

The legislation has actually been several years in the making, but is finally coming into force from February 2027. That means devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S27 could be among the first to have to comply with the new guidelines in the EU.

Follow Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow Tech Radar on Tik Tok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on Whats App too.

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on Tech Radar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, Pop Sci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

1 The EU requires phone makers to fit 'readily removable' batteries from next year — but there may be a notable exception

2'When it comes to performance, it really is a cut above other mini PCs': You won't want to miss this Geekom A6 mini PC deal for office work and photo editing

3 Adobe wants to help your brand get recognized even when search is getting replaced by AI

4A new ‘color’ Lidar breakthrough just made 'hands-off' self-driving cars a reality, experts say — Chinese tech will 'significantly enhance' spatial intelligence and reduce the need to 'guess' objects like traffic lights

5 Nord VPN wants to end VPN rush-hour slowdowns with 100 Tbps global capacity

Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• The EU requires phone makers to fit 'readily removable' batteries from next year — but there may be a notable exception

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission