Smartphones and tablets must be replaced with removable batteries
Smartphones and tablets must be replaced with removable batteries
- Why Enterprise RAID Rebuilding Succeeds Where Consumer Arrays Fail?
- Linus Torvalds Rejects MMC Subsystem Updates for Linux 7.0: “Complete Garbage”
- The Man Who Maintained Sudo for 30 Years Now Struggles to Fund the Work That Powers Millions of Servers
- How Close Are Quantum Computers to Breaking RSA-2048?
- Why Windows 10 Users Are Flocking to Zorin OS 18 Instead of Linux Mint?
- How to Prevent Ransomware Infection Risks?
- What is the best alternative to Microsoft Office?
Smartphones and tablets must be replaced with removable batteries.
The European Union will require that by 2027 , a new generation of smartphones must allow consumers to easily replace the battery themselves.
The European Parliament has earlier approved new regulations covering the design, production and recycling of all rechargeable batteries sold in the EU.
Requires removable replacement battery
The new regulations require all electric vehicles, light vehicles (such as electric scooters) and rechargeable industrial batteries (above 2kWh) to be accompanied by mandatory carbon footprint declarations, labels and digital passports.
In addition, easily self-replaceable batteries are required in devices such as smartphones, tablets, and cameras.
This will require major design changes by manufacturers, as most phone and tablet makers currently seal batteries and require specialized tools and knowledge to remove and replace them safely.
Towards environmental protection
The new regulations also set strict targets for the collection of old battery waste and material recycling.
These percentages will increase at set intervals between now and 2031, when a waste collection rate of 61% must be achieved and 95% of the material from old portable batteries must be recovered.
New batteries are also required to use a minimum percentage of recycled materials, but only “eight years after the regulations come into effect”.
Support for the new regulations is extremely high
Members of the European Parliament overwhelmingly supported the new rules, with 587 in favour, just nine against, and 20 abstentions.
It is expected that more detailed provisions will be announced shortly to bring them into force. The law will come into force in early 2027, but the EU can extend that deadline if manufacturers indicate they need more time to comply.
In addition, the European Parliament has also put non-rechargeable portable batteries on the agenda and will assess whether they should stop using them completely by December 31, 2030.
iphone11 promax battery
New challenges for tech giants
Apple has been forced by the European Union to switch from Lightning to USB-C, and it is expected that the iPhone 15 will be the first model to make the switch. It now appears that Apple needs to figure out how to allow future iPhone battery replacements.
In addition to the iPhone, I believe that most mobile phone manufacturers will also face this new challenge.
