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by Florian Bodoky
Battery revolution: How the EU is forcing Nintendo, Apple and co. to rethink their approach
27.3.2026
Translation: machine translated
The EU's sustainability offensive is shaking up the tech industry - from the Nintendo Switch 2 to the latest MacBook. An overview of the Battery Ordinance, the right to repair and what this means for Switzerland.
Finally get all your devices repaired again? It's not quite that simple. But thanks to the EU's so-called Battery Regulation, manufacturers are increasingly adapting, for example with better replaceable batteries. Recent examples of this include Apple with the MacBook Neo and Nintendo with the Switch 2.
What does the «battery regulation» want?
The regulation, which has been in force since August 2023, governs the entire life cycle of batteries - from raw material extraction to recycling. The requirements that will apply from February 2027 are particularly relevant for consumers:
- Easy replacement: end users must be able to remove batteries without heat or solvents
- Tools: Commercially available tools should be sufficient; if special tools are required, they must be included with the device.
- Water resistance: The EU does not accept the argument often put forward that removable batteries prevent protection against water (IP certification). The problem is technically solvable and replaceable batteries are now mandatory.
The big players are adapting
Last week, Nintendo announced that they are adapting the battery design of the Switch 2. While the predecessor model was recognised by repair professionals such as iFixit with only 3 out of 10 points (as if the batteries were glued and the connections soldered), the new EU battery regulation is now forcing Nintendo to redesign the console so that it can continue to be sold in Europe after 2027. This presumably increases the repairability score.
Apple even launched its own «self-service repair programme» and offers repair manuals and spare parts online. Apple also uses a new type of adhesive in the newer iPhones (from iPhone 16), which makes it easier to replace the battery.
Source: Samuel Buchmann
With the MacBook Neo, Apple is also moving more towards modularity. According to iFixit, it is the most repair-friendly MacBook in over a decade - thanks in part to a screwed instead of glued battery. The model thus looks like a first practical test run with regard to the upcoming EU requirements.
What are other manufacturers doing?
An early pioneer is Fairphone: the battery in these smartphones can be changed in just a few seconds and without any special tools. Laptop manufacturer Framework relies entirely on modular devices. The battery and almost all other components can be freely replaced because they are screwed instead of glued together.
Source: Jan Johannsen
Other manufacturers have now also recognised the trend or have been implementing it for some time. HMD has developed a «Quickfix design» for some of its smartphones, such as the Nokia G22 and the Nokia G42 5G. This allows the battery to be replaced in just a few minutes.
Samsung is gradually improving the repairability of its devices. In newer Galaxy models (from the Galaxy S23), so-called pull tabs are used. These are adhesive tabs that allow the battery to be removed without solvents and were recently further optimised with the S25.
In the business sector, Lenovo and Dell are increasingly focussing on screws instead of glue. HP receives top ratings on iFixit for repair and replacement parts for some notebooks.
Check your devices for repairability
If you want to check how durable your desired device is before buying, you will find two options here:
- French Repair Index: mandatory in France since 2021. It gives a score from 1 to 10 for repairability based on an official catalogue of criteria.
- iFixit: The world's best-known platform for teardowns rates devices according to their disassemblability. The platform also offers numerous instructions for home repairs.
When can a manufacturer shirk their duty?
The rumour that IP 67 or IP 68 certification exempts smartphone manufacturers from the obligation to make the battery replaceable persists. In a nutshell: This is not true. For all those who like to go into detail:
The Battery Ordinance does provide for exemptions for devices in Article 11. However, only for devices that are specifically designed for use in «humid environments» - such as electric toothbrushes, diving computers or medical implants. Opening the housing of such devices can pose an immediate safety risk, for example due to a short circuit.
Smartphones, on the other hand, are considered everyday devices and, according to the EU, are explicitly not covered by this exception. The fact that it may fall into water does not justify gluing the battery in place.
The «durability alternative» (the loophole)
An additional regulation can be found in the EU Ecodesign Regulation. It offers manufacturers an alternative: under certain conditions, they can dispense with a battery that can be easily replaced by the end user.
High quality standards are crucial here. The battery must still reach at least 80 per cent of its original capacity after 1000 full charging cycles. This is currently only 500-800 cycles. In addition, the device must fulfil at least protection class IP67 (waterproof).
Regardless of this, even if the battery is not accessible to end users, it must remain accessible for professional repairs - without destroying the device.
By February 2027, two types of waterproof smartphones are likely to be established on the market. On the one hand, models with an easily accessible battery that are designed to be waterproof despite the screw or clip mechanism. On the other hand, sealed high-end devices whose batteries must be particularly durable and fulfil stricter cycle specifications.
...and Switzerland?
In Switzerland, the principle of «you get what you pay for» applies to a certain extent. Although the country does not automatically adopt EU law, it often adapts in order to avoid trade barriers. In this case via the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem).
As Swiss retailers are integrated into European supply chains, devices are often orientated towards EU requirements anyway. The pressure towards more durable, repairable devices is therefore also likely to be felt in this country, even if the legal implementation is indirect.
Header image: Militiamobiles / Pixabay
Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, I've been doodling away in bright colours. Thanks to my iPad, digital art has also become part of my life. That's why I love testing tablets – from the graphic design range to the regular kind. When I feel the urge to express my creativity without lugging lots of equipment, I go for the latest smartphones and start snapping away.
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