Surely you haven’t had a mobile phone with a removable battery for a long time. And it is not for less, since several years have passed since smartphones no longer use this type of battery .
But, although it may surprise you, replaceable batteries may return to your mobile. Why do we say it? Well, because the European Union wants all your devices to have removable batteries by 2024 . Stay and discover all the details of this news!
The EU could make brands install replaceable batteries in mobiles again
This was confirmed by the latest change in the EU Battery Directive . Specifically, this is a bill that the European Union has in mind since 2020 and that is part of the European Green Deal. In case you did not know, these new legislations want Europe to have a circular and sustainable economy where there is less pollution.
To achieve this, the tech industry must return to removable batteries . For this reason, the European Parliament will soon begin to discuss the final change in the law. If it is approved that non-replaceable batteries can no longer be used in the EU in 2024, it will be up to brands to adapt to the legislation.
This would affect companies that sell any device with a battery inside (such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops or electric bicycles).
There is no doubt that this change in the law would be a serious blow to all brands, especially those of smartphones. And it is that mobile phones in recent years have stopped being manufactured with replaceable batteries for several reasons :
- Achieve slimmer designs .
- Seal the back of the smartphone , which generates more security against dust and water. This has also helped mobile phones achieve IP68 certification.
- And, of course, make changing the battery messy and offer you an extra technical service for the repair of the smartphone. The EU will put an end to this situation by forcing brands to replace batteries easily with the tools you have at home.
What effects can the new EU Battery Directive have on the industry?
First of all, brands in Europe may need to launch very sustainable mobiles (as the Fairphone 4 5G did at the time).
In turn, this and other changes to EU law may cause manufacturers to stop enforcing planned obsolescence. In fact, Germany already asked for 7 years of updates on Android and iOS. This means that the new mobile market will not be the same as the current one for both hardware and software.
But remember that these are just bills that haven’t been passed yet . In addition, it is most likely that the EU will have to negotiate with the brands so that they gradually adapt to the changes. Therefore, we will have to wait to see how this whole situation ends.
And you, what do you think of this news? Do you think it’s a good idea to make mobiles with replaceable batteries again? Tell us in the comments .
