The European Union has passed new legislation that will compel all smartphone makers, including Apple, to make batteries easier to replace. With new rules meaning the iPhone 15, which we’ll see later this year, will almost certainly have ditched the Lightning port for USB-C, we are seeing legislators have an increasing influence on product design.
The need to make devices more repairable is important. Many devices end up in landfill simply because the battery has failed while the rest of the device is perfect. We’re facing this at home with an iPhone SE that can’t get through a full day without a trip to the charger. The EU’s new rules will extend the lives of many devices and further cement its goal of creating circular economies where old devices are broken down and their parts reused in new devices.
The goal of the new EU legislation is:
Designing portable batteries in appliances in such a way that consumers can themselves easily remove and replace them;
European Parliament
The new legislation was passed with an overwhelming majority of 587 votes in favour, nine against and 20 abstentions.
Apple has been taking steps to facilitate the repairability of the iPhone. The iPhone 14, while outwardly seeming identical to the iPhone 13, was very different internally with greatly improved repairability.
While Apple is not yet at the point when users will be able to easily replace their own batteries, it is taking steps forward. While it may be too late for the iPhone 15, and next generation iPad which is included in the category of consumer appliances the EU is including in this new rule, to get a redesign, we can expect the iPhone 16 to have a user-replaceable battery.
It most likely won’t be hot-swappable so you won’t be able to carry a spare battery when you’re out and simply switch it over when you run out of juice. But it will potentially add years to the life of an otherwise healthy iPhone.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.