Earlier this week, the European Council introduced new legislation requiring users to be able to remove and replace mobile phone batteries. Major devices, including the iPhone, may undergo a dramatic makeover to meet the criteria, possibly reverting to a removable battery design, according to rumors sparked by the decision.
Apple and other smartphone manufacturers have, at least temporarily, found a way to comply with the new EU standards while maintaining their current integrated battery architecture, according to a study by international media source 9To5Mac.
By 2027, according to the legislation, “portable batteries embedded in devices should be removable and replaceable by users”. Apple can argue that the legal standards set out in the bill are already met by its current “self-service repair program”. Apple can comply with the letter of the law by extending its initiative to all 27 EU countries and its entire product range. Apple has plenty of time to implement this strategy, as the law won’t come into force until 2027 at the earliest.
However, a former iFixit employee noted that despite the length of the 129-page bill, the term “easily replaceable” is not defined anywhere in the text.
In addition, the report claims that since integrated batteries enable the creation of slimmer and more waterproof devices, smartphone manufacturers like them and companies like Apple are likely to resist any changes to their current battery designs. It’s interesting to note that several European iPhone owners have expressed their preference for the current battery architecture, calling the EU regulations “ridiculous”.
The worst-case scenario, according to the research, is that Apple decides to take the European Union to court, blocking any changes for several years after the law comes into force in 2027. Even if Apple loses the case, it would likely choose to offer free specialized repair tools or seek alternative solutions to comply with the EU’s legal obligations.
