The European Union has drawn a clear mandate on how smartphones should be built, and more importantly, how long they should last. A new set of regulations, rolling out in phases between June 2025 and February 2027, puts durability and repairability front and centre, which could change the way smartphones are built.
The new rules ask brands to rethink the basics: batteries that don’t degrade quickly, parts that remain available for years, and devices that can actually be opened and repaired without specialised tools. By 2027, users should be able to replace their own battery at home, as per the new rules.
Phase one of the new regulations, which began in June 2025, already sets the tone. Phones sold in the EU must meet stricter durability benchmarks. Brands are required to keep spare parts available for years and cannot block independent repair services. The more visible change comes in February 2027. From then on, smartphones must be designed so that users can replace the battery themselves, using basic tools and without relying on a service centre. For many users, the reason to upgrade isn’t a broken device but a worn-out battery that no longer holds up through the day. In essence, this regulation is about extending the usable life of smartphones. For many users, the reason to upgrade isn’t a broken device but a worn-out battery that no longer holds up through the day.
The framework is broad and covers how devices are built, supported, and repaired over time:
User-replaceable batteries using basic, commercially available tools.
Batteries must retain at least 80 percent capacity after 800 charge cycles
Spare parts must be available for up to 10 years after launch.
Key components should be supplied within roughly 5-10 working days
Public access to repair manuals.
No restrictions on third-party or independent repairs.
Devices designed for easier opening and servicing.
There’s also a consumer-facing layer. Phones sold in the EU will carry labels showing battery life, efficiency, durability, and a repairability score, bringing this information into the buying decision.
For brands, the pressure is real. Companies like Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and others will need to rethink how phones are assembled, moving away from heavily glued construction toward modular designs that still feel premium. Expect some brands to position repairability and longevity as features rather than compliance checkboxes, turning regulatory necessity into a marketing pitch.
For buyers, the implications are largely positive. Battery degradation is one of the most common reasons people replace a phone that’s otherwise working fine. If that battery can be swapped easily and affordably after two or three years, the same device can reasonably last five or six. It could also lower long-term costs. Easier repairs and better part availability mean fewer full device replacements and more incremental fixes.
There are trade-offs. Devices may get slightly thicker, and certain design elements like water resistance may need reworking depending on implementation. Some categories could also see limited exemptions where safety or durability is affected.
It’s important to clarify that while this is an EU policy, it’s unlikely to stay EU-only. Most major brands build phones for global markets, not just one region. Maintaining separate hardware lines for Europe and the rest of the world adds cost and complexity, so compliance in one major market often ends up shaping products everywhere. For instance, when the EU mandated USB-C, Apple eventually adopted it across the board with the iPhone 15, including markets where the rule didn’t apply.
