May 4, 2026
Battery drama is back
Removable batteries in smartphones will be mandatory in the EU starting in 2027
EU brings back pop-out phone batteries, but commenters say Big Tech may slip away
TLDR: From 2027, new phones in the European Union must have batteries users can swap themselves, a big win for cheaper repairs and less electronic waste. But commenters are already fighting over a possible loophole that could let top phone brands dodge the rule entirely.
Europe has decided your future phone battery should not feel like a sealed treasure chest. Starting in 2027, new phones and tablets sold in the European Union must let ordinary people remove and replace the battery themselves with normal tools like a screwdriver. No more glue that needs heat, no mysterious repair rituals, and brands must sell replacement batteries for at least five years at a fair price. The idea is simple: less waste, cheaper fixes, safer recycling, and fewer people tossing a whole phone just because the battery got tired.
But the real fireworks came from the comments, where the mood swung from "finally, common sense" to "nice law, shame about the loophole." The biggest drama? A rule that lets companies avoid the requirement if their battery still holds 80% of its original power after 1,000 charges. Several commenters instantly yelled the same name without even needing to say much more: Apple. One person flat-out said the company will be exempt, making the law "utterly pointless," while another called it a wild coincidence that iPhones and other premium phones may already qualify. In other words, the internet has already put on its detective hat and decided the loophole is the main character.
Not everyone was doomposting, though. Some commenters pushed back on the usual panic about thicker phones and water damage, basically saying, relax, waterproof phones with removable batteries are absolutely possible. The vibe was part repair-rights celebration, part anti-loophole rage, with a side of classic comment-section suspicion: if lawmakers didn’t define "removable" carefully, phone makers will absolutely try to pull a fast one.
Key Points
- •From February 18, 2027, new smartphones and tablets in the EU must allow end users to remove and replace batteries using standard tools.
- •Adhesives that can only be removed with heat or solvents will be prohibited, and manufacturers must provide any required special tool free of charge.
- •Replacement batteries must be available to end users at a reasonable price for at least five years.
- •The article says the policy is intended to reduce e-waste, lower consumer costs, improve recycling, conserve materials such as lithium and cobalt, and reduce fire risks during battery processing.
- •Exemptions may apply to specialized devices or to products whose batteries retain at least 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles and whose devices also meet IP67 protection; the EU will also introduce a digital battery passport via QR code.