New EU rules require smartphones and tablets to display labels detailing energy use, battery life, and repairability. Manufacturers must also offer spare parts and software updates for at least five years to help devices last longer.
Smartphones, tablets, and similar devices sold in the European Union will now come with a new label showing how efficient, durable, and repairable they are. The new labelling system, required from June 20 onward, is part of the EU’s push to make electronics last longer and cut down on e-waste.
The labels will display ratings on a scale from A to G. They include information on energy use, battery life, the number of full charge cycles a battery can handle, and how easy the device is to repair. They will also show IP ratings for dust and water resistance when available, and include scores for durability, including drop and scratch resistance.
The system applies to smartphones, feature phones, cordless landline phones, and tablets with screens up to 17.4 inches. Tablets that run desktop-style operating systems, like Windows, fall under a different regulation for computers. Devices with rollable displays are not included yet.
The new rules go beyond labelling. The EU is also putting minimum requirements in place through its “ecodesign” framework. This include tougher standards for physical durability, better battery performance, and long-term software support. For example, batteries must survive at least 800 charging cycles and still hold 80% of their original capacity. Devices also need to be designed to resist everyday wear, including accidental drops and scratches.
Manufacturers will need to supply spare parts for at least seven years after the last unit of a product is sold. They’ll have five to ten working days to deliver replacement parts. Repair professionals must be given access to software or firmware needed for diagnostics and replacement, without additional impediments. Operating system updates must be available for at least five years after the end of a product’s sale on the EU market. Updates also need to be released in six months of when the source code becomes available.
The requirements are meant to make repairs easier and more affordable and reduce the number of devices thrown away. Extending the average life of a smartphone from three to just over four years, for example, could lower the need for new phone sales without changing the number of devices in use, reducing the environmental impact of production and saving users money.
The EU estimates the new rules could save 2.2 terawatt-hours of electricity by 2030 – a 31% drop compared to if no action were taken. The amount is equal to 0.09% of the total electricity used in the EU in 2020. On the financial side, consumers could see a combined savings of €19.8 billion, which includes less money spent on buying new devices and lower energy bills, despite some higher repair costs. Savings come to around €98 per household.
The shift may also pressure phone makers to improve long-term support. Some companies – like Samsung with its delayed One UI 7 rollout – might struggle to meet the six-month update window under the new rules.
(Photo by Daniel Romero)
