EU battery regulations originally published in 2023 are starting to make the rounds again, as the 2027 implementation deadline is fast approaching. With renewed attention, there are a few things to clear up regarding what the “new” regulations mean for Android devices.
In 2023, the European Union unveiled a new plan for managing batteries to prevent waste. Part of the document addresses mobile devices, among other things, and has been revised with the most notable changes in 2025. In essence, the regulation sets a precedent for mobile manufacturers to develop devices with “repairability” and “replaceability” in mind to ensure batteries remain recyclable within reason.
While this isn’t news, the regulations have been making the rounds once more. On February 17, 2027, these new rules will go into effect, and some on social media and other publications have claimed that OEMs will need to redesign Android and iOS devices to include replaceable batteries.
The general assumption seems to be that devices like Google’s Pixel phone or Samsung’s Galaxy phone will need to be equipped with batteries that can just be removed without any tools. If you remember phones from the 2010s and before, think of something like that with a removable rear panel.
That assumption may be wrong for a couple of reasons.
The EU regulation document specifically uses language that exempts batteries in many of the Android devices currently on the market. The document notes that a battery is considered removable when it can be removed without special tools or thermal energy. Devices that sit somewhere under IPX5 will fall into this category, since a special tool likely refers to something only device repair services could obtain easily, and thermal energy, like a heat gun, isn’t necessarily needed. A torx screwdriver isn’t a special tool, but some of Apple’s proprietary screwdrivers are.
And would anything a company like iFixit sells be considered a “specialised” tool, even if it’s so readily available?
A portable battery should be considered to be removable by the end-user when it can be removed with the use of commercially available tools and without requiring the use of specialised tools, unless they are provided free of charge, or proprietary tools, thermal energy or solvents to disassemble it.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
However, for devices like the Pixel 10 or Galaxy S26, even if special tools aren’t needed, thermal energy is typically required to soften the adhesive between the frame and the rear panel. That would mean the battery inside these devices might not be categorized as “removable.” That may be true even if Samsung extended recent efforts to equip batteries with pull-tabs for easy removal.
If you continue digging into the EU’s regulations, though, further stipulations regarding battery health appear to do more to exempt those devices. Even if devices required specialized tools, solvents, or thermal energy, they would be acceptable under the EU’s new regulations if they meet a battery capacity of 80% after 1,000 charging cycles. These devices also seemingly need to be rated IP67 or higher.
manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives may provide the battery or batteries referred to in point (i)(a) only to professional repairers if manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives ensure that the following requirements are met:
(a) after 500 full charge cycles the battery has, in a fully charged state, a remaining capacity of at least 83 % of the rated capacity;
(b) the battery endurance in cycles achieves a minimum of 1 000 full charge cycles and after 1 000 full charge cycles the battery has, in a fully charged state, a remaining capacity of at least 80 % of the rated capacity;
(c) the device meets IP67 rating.
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2023/1670
Every Pixel device since the Pixel 8a has been rated for at least 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles. Samsung’s devices tend to rate higher, leaving little room for each to be restricted under these new regulations.
So, what does this mean?
With the nuance surrounding what the EU categorizes as “replaceable,” it’s unclear if OEMs like Samsung or Google will need to rethink phone design by 2027. Even if the rules were put into place today, it appears that many devices would already abide by them.
Even if these regulations don’t change much about flagships, they would guarantee that more devices in the EU (not the US) would need to be brought up to a higher standard. That means higher waterproofing and better battery ratings, so the need to repair is low. And if a device doesn’t meet those conditions, it would need to have construction that facilitates easy removal without the need for solvents or heat.
We hope that clears things up.
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