How the EU is transforming the mobile industry for the benefit of consumers
The European Union has instructed smartphone makers to alter their product lines in a number of ways over the past few years in order to better serve customers. Making USB-C the industry standard connector for a variety of consumer goods, such as laptops, tablets, phones, and cameras, is part of this. It even compelled Apple to allow sideloading of programs and third-party App Stores. Later this month, the EU will implement a new guideline under the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign Regulation that will increase the lifespan of smartphones and tablets as a whole.
The following design specifications (provided by the European Commission) must be met by smartphones and tablets marketed in the EU as of June 20, 2025:
- Resistance to accidental drops or scratches and protection from dust and water
- Sufficiently durable batteries which can withstand at least 800 charge and discharge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their initial capacity
- Rules on disassembly and repair, including obligations for producers to make critical spare parts available within 5-10 working days, and for 7 years after the end of sales of the product model on the EU market
- Availability of operating system upgrades for longer periods (at least 5 years from the date of the end of placement on the market of the last unit of a product model)
- Non-discriminatory access for professional repairers to any software or firmware needed for the replacement
These days, practically every mid-range and high-end phone has an IP rating, making it simple for them to comply with the EU’s new design guidelines. For a maximum of seven years following the discontinuation of a device’s sale, the European Union will now mandate that companies supply essential spare parts within ten working days. This modification should greatly increase a phone or tablet’s lifespan and facilitate user repairs.
Additionally, according to Heise Online, the Ecodesign Regulation mandates that software updates be provided for a minimum of five years following the product’s last day of retail sale. For their flagship phones, Google and Samsung offer seven years of OS updates; however, their chronology starts on the day of the device’s debut.
These businesses might have to either stop selling older flagship models after two years or provide substantially more software support under the new EU regulations. Since Xiaomi and Honor presently only provide upgrades for a maximum of five years after the device’s launch date, the new guideline will have a big influence on both brands.
Existing smartphones and tablets will not be affected by these changes; they will only be applicable to new models that go on sale on or after June 20, 2025.
In the EU, smartphones and tablets will have an energy label.
The EU’s Energy Labelling regulations also take effect on June 20 of this month. It requires manufacturers to include an energy label on their tablets and smartphones that includes information about repairability, battery longevity, dust and water ingress protection, and energy efficiency.
A scale from A to G will be used to rate energy efficiency, with A representing the highest efficiency and G representing the lowest. Similarly, battery endurance in hours and minutes per full battery charge cycle must be stated by manufacturers.
According to the European Union, by 2030, phones and tablets that comply with its new energy requirements will contribute to an annual savings of around 14 terawatt-hours.
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