In ten months, the global smartphone market will face an unprecedented seismic shift! According to the latest EU regulations, in ten months, all phones sold in the EU must allow ordinary users to easily replace the battery. This rule applies to all brands, including Apple.

​​Currently, most phones are sealed all-in-one units, with batteries glued tightly inside, and the back covers sealed very securely, making them impossible to open. However, the EU suddenly requires that phones launched after ten months must enable users to replace the battery without heating, without professional screwdrivers, and without visiting repair shops—simply using their hands or common household items.
All brands wishing to continue selling phones in the EU will have to redesign their products to meet this standard.
​​This requirement is completely opposite to the industry’s development trend over the past decade. Back then, manufacturers gradually removed removable batteries to make phones thinner and more waterproof. Now, the EU is forcing a reversal, which means major modifications to production lines and internal structures.
​​Apple faces the greatest pressure. Its integrated body design is already very mature, with internal space tightly packed. To comply with the new rules, it would need to change the fixed battery glue structure into a design with easily openable clips or pull tabs, and also replan the frame and motherboard layout. This would require halting production lines and making significant adjustments, incurring substantial costs.
​​A few years ago, when the EU forced Apple to switch from Lightning to Type-C ports, Apple was very reluctant but ultimately compromised. This time, changing the battery structure is similar—market size is huge, and no one can bypass the rules.
​​The EU’s move is mainly due to the increasing electronic waste in Europe. Many phones’ screens and motherboards are still in good condition, but because the battery ages and loses capacity, the entire device is discarded. Consumers find replacing batteries expensive and difficult to open, so they buy new phones instead—wasting money and resources.
​​In the past, phones with removable batteries were popular; you could carry a spare power bank and swap batteries in seconds. Now, while integrated designs look sleek and are waterproof, replacing a battery becomes troublesome. After the new rules take effect in ten months, users can buy a new battery for a few dozen dollars and replace it at home, extending the phone’s lifespan and saving money.
​​Of course, redesigning products costs money. Some worry that manufacturers might pass these costs onto consumers by raising prices. However, in Europe, strict price regulation and fierce competition make it difficult to significantly increase prices.
​​More importantly, this regulation isn’t just about Europe. Today’s smartphone supply chain is global, and manufacturers cannot produce separate lines just for Europe. As a result, smartphones worldwide are likely to adopt designs that make battery replacement easier.
​​Previously, the EU unified the Type-C port standard; now, they’re regulating batteries. The approach is the same: using market access rights to push the industry to abandon inconvenient practices. Products should not only look good and perform well but also consider how they can be repaired after a few years and how to be environmentally friendly.
​​While these changes may cause headaches for brands, in the long run, they are genuinely beneficial for ordinary users and can reduce electronic waste. Ultimately, technological progress should return to making devices durable, affordable, and long-lasting for everyday people.
​​Do you think mandatory user-replaceable batteries are an advancement or a hassle? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.