New EU rule may bring back easily replaceable batteries in smartphones: What it means for users – Times of India

The European Union has proposed a new law that will make batteries easier to access and service once again. According to a report by Golem.de (spotted by Android Police), this new law will encourage users to replace batteries on their phones by themselves. The European Parliamenthas voted nearly unanimously to ban the use of adhesives and force companies to make devices that will allow users to “easily remove and replace” batteries.The report claims that this is a part of the EU’s broader strategy to make batteries friendly not just for the environment, but for users as well.
What this means for users
If smartphone makers stop using adhesives on their devices, it will help users to replace batteries by themselves. This new law will restrict manufacturers from selling smartphones that require special tools or training to open the phone for replacing or accessing the batteries. However, this change may not happen anytime soon as the new law may get enforced by 2027, the report notes.
What it means for phone makers
This regulation may impact companies from using adhesives in other parts of phone manufacturing as well. The report adds that due to this law, companies might be discouraged from glueing all their display parts together. This will make repairs more economical and environmentally friendly. The proposed law is also expected to improve older battery collection by rising the target for collecting portable batteries from 45% to 73% by 2030.

As per the report, such a ruling may also have a huge impact on phones that are being sold in markets outside the EU. Instead of spending more money to build phones differently for each market, manufacturers may adopt the new construction guidelines universally. For the uninitiated, the EU is trying to do something similar by enforcing USB-C as the standard for charging all phones, including Apple’s iPhones.