Apple is expected to release the first USB-C iPhone later this year, and we have Europe to thank. After decreeing that most personal electronics should use the USB-C port, the European Council has turned its attention to smartphone batteries, advancing a proposal from last year. A new proposal appears headed for approval that would require all smartphones to have removable batteries by 2027.
If passed by the European Council and Parliament, the regulation would leave smartphone makers with four years to decide how to change their products. According to the proposed rules, smartphone owners should be able to remove the batteries in their phones without any special tools or expertise. All of today's most popular phones require both of those. This also applies to other products with batteries like e-bikes, electric vehicles, laptops, and more.
Most smartphones (like the Galaxy S23 above) have standardized on the flat glass slab form factor—glass screen, glass back, and a frame of aluminum or some other material in the middle. To get into these devices, you usually need a heat source and something to pry the frame apart. And once you get in there, the battery will probably be obscured by other components and glued in place. It sounds like none of that will be allowed under the new EU rules.
Of course, we all had phones with removable batteries in days gone by, but Apple eventually got its way, and everyone started building phones with non-removable batteries. The advantages for OEMs are clear—if you don't need to worry about getting the battery out, you can design a sleeker phone with water and dust resistance. However, batteries degrade over time and usually need to be replaced every few years. As the EU pushes to reduce e-waste, the rules will create a "circular economy" in which OEMs collect and recycle these easily removed batteries. Consumers will also find it easier to keep their phone going with a battery swap, reducing the number tossed in the bin.
Technically, the new rules will only apply in Europe, but smartphone makers will not bother to produce special hardware SKUs for the EU. As we saw with Apple's decision to migrate to USB-C, Europe has enough clout to change how these devices are designed. And there might be a lot of redesigning in the coming years.
The stipulation that batteries come out sans tools could mean a return to battery doors and snap-on back panels, which isn't all good. This could make phones bulkier or reduce battery capacity, and we may see fewer mid-range devices with IP ratings or wireless charging. Engineers will probably be working overtime to figure out how to make foldables compliant, as these devices often have more than one cell linked together across the hinge. However, many feel these changes are a worthy tradeoff for an easily swappable battery.
