EU actual laws vs headlines about non excisting laws. Refering to other threads.
Great for consumers once again.
EU actual laws vs headlines about non excisting laws. Refering to other threads.
Great for consumers once again.
No requirements on replaceable batteries? That's the main thing that's missing here. That and making the USB-C port easy to repair, and suddenly you no longer need new phones, just extended software support and repairs.
User replaceable batteries are a part of the new battery directive and will be in force from sometime in 2027 if I recall correctly.
No requirements on replaceable batteries?
Its in there. At least for phones without a high enough waterproof rating
making the USB-C port easy to repair
As far as I know it should be in there too, or at least a „make significant parts replaceable”
Its in there. At least for phones without a high enough waterproof rating
Gonna guess all the phone manufacturers will coincidentally determine that waterproofing is a feature desperately needed by the European market on all tiers.
Also won't affect iPhones since they're already all "waterproof."
I don't know if the changes coming into affect today have something different about replaceable batteries, but the 2027 replaceable battery requirement has this as the exemption:
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the following products incorporating portable batteries may be designed in such a way as to make the battery removable and replaceable only by independent professionals:
(a) appliances specifically designed to operate primarily in an environment that is regularly subject to splashing water, water streams or water immersion, and that are intended to be washable or rinseable;
(b) professional medical imaging and radiotherapy devices, as defined in Article 2, point (1), of Regulation (EU) 2017/745, and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2017/746.
The only thing there Apple could even pretend is "washable or rinsable", and I'd be shocked* if they could get away with that.
*not that shocked
Wait, really? I'd love to see replaceable batteries make a comeback, but something tells me that companies will prefer to up the water resistance instead.
Damn, I just bought a tablet last month. But at least I stuck to my Nokia phone so the replacement, when it becomes necessary, will fall under these rules. This ought to be quite nice, can't wait for the reactions from the big manufacturers.
Replacing batteries in waterproof Phones isn't a great challenge by an tech service. Repairable don't necessarly mean DIY for the user. Most repair in phones need anyway an tech service. iPhone store certainly don't repat it, the want to sell a new Phone, but this don't mean that a tech service isn't capable to do it, there are infinite examples of repaired iPhones (changing a broken scree, battery, plugs and more). The only problem is to obtain replacement pieces from the brand, but this is what the EU will force, that the brand also sell this pieces, which Apple not always do.
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