All smartphones, including iPhones, must have replaceable batteries by 2027 in the EU

The European Union is officially requiring all smartphones to have replaceable batteries by 2027.

This week, the European Council adopted the regulation designed to reduce waste and break up monopolistic practices from tech companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google that make it difficult to replace parts without having to buy a brand new phone.

This is a big win for the right-to-repair movement. While it only applies to the EU, the regulation has global ramifications, since it wouldn’t make sense to make two different smartphones — one for Europe, one for everywhere else. Regulation will likely impact the global market, changing the design of smartphones for all users. The EU passed a regulation 2022, requiring iPhones to have a USB-C port, which will have a similar global effect.