From 18 February 2027, Article 11 of a European regulation will come into force which will oblige manufacturers of electronic devices to make integrated portable batteries replaceable directly by the end user, without having to resort to technical assistance. However, the requirement will not be universal: smartphones and tablets will follow different rules, already established by a separate regulation, while a wide range of other devices will be fully affected by the novelty.
To understand what will really change, it is necessary to consider the interaction between two distinct regulations, clarify the meaning of “replaceable battery” and identify which product categories will actually need to be redesigned. Contrary to what had been hypothesized in the past, we will not see a simple return of devices with removable doors. The situation is much more complex.
What the EU regulations say about batteries
There are two reference standards. The first is Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 (also known as Ecodesign), which applies exclusively to smartphones and tablets from 7″ to 17.4″ (as well as non-smart and cordless mobile phones) and introduces a whole series of obligations on durability, software updates, availability of spare parts and access to repair tools. It is the same regulation that, from 20 June 2025, introduced the obligation to have an energy label on smartphones.
The second regulation is Article 11 of the so-called Batteries Regulation, i.e. Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, which will come into force on 18 February 2027 and which extends the principle of replaceability to most consumer electronics. For smartphones and tablets, however, Ecodesign will prevail: manufacturers will not be obliged to make the battery immediately accessible via a door, but will still have to design it for relatively simple replacement, excluding permanent solutions such as glues that are difficult to remove.
For all other devices the Batteries Regulation will apply. This scope includes laptops, wireless headphones, true wireless earphones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, portable consoles, Bluetooth speakers, e-readers and smart glasses. In these cases the battery must be removable using common tools (such as a normal screwdriver) without the need for specialist or professional equipment. This detail is fundamental, because it defines the real level of accessibility on the user side.
The technical challenges
From an engineering perspective, the transition is far from trivial and presents some technical challenges. Lithium-ion batteries require precise protections against shock, overheating and water infiltration. Integrating a removable system means providing additional space, with possible repercussions on the thickness of the device.
The most noticeable impact will likely be on laptops. In recent years, many models have adopted batteries that are glued or integrated in an inaccessible way. This is a choice that optimizes space, allows you to have ultra-thin devices, but makes repairs difficult. With the new legislation, these solutions will have to be completely rethought. And considering that hardware development cycles last between 12 and 18 months on average, products currently in the design phase should already take these requirements into account.
The situation is even more complex for ultra-compact devices, such as true wireless earphones or smart glasses: integrating a replaceable battery into a few grams of weight represents a notable engineering challenge. It is no coincidence that some companies – including Meta, manufacturer of VR viewers and smart glasses – are trying to fall within the exemptions provided for products exposed to water or subject to particular conditions of use.
