The cell phones of the imminent future are going to be very different from how we know them today by law. First, due to the confirmation a few months ago of USB-C as the only charger in Europe. And these days, because the EU has officially approved a law allowing “easy” removal and replacement of mobile phone batteries. Is this the return of legendary phones with removable batteries? We are addressing this and other issues to clarify what the European Union is asking for and what changes we can expect.
Change. What will the cell phone batteries of the future look like?
What the law literally says is that manufacturers will have to design portable device batteries in such a way that consumers can easily remove and replace them.
Will old-fashioned phones with removable batteries make a comeback?
The European Union statement does not mention at any time that the form of execution of the law is expressly with a removable case that allows access to the battery.
Although on paper it seems the simplest, simplest and most consolidated solution, since many people have already experienced this procedure, so we are used to it. It would be a logical adaptation, but manufacturers are free to explore new avenues as long as they adhere to this premise, for example simply with easier unscrewing systems.
Will it make phones more repairable?
Not necessarily. Although within the scope of battery replacement yes and this may be the beginning of change, there will be those who simply limit themselves to adapting their terminals to comply with the new law and continue the current trend in the sector : that phones are increasingly difficult to repair.
For what the real question of waste and the circular economy lies precisely in reparability: If phones were more easily repairable in general, we would replace them less often. As a result, less waste would be generated.
Then it’s also a question of cost. Currently, there are brands that offer repair kits like Apple, but in practice it doesn’t work and we see it with an example: Apple offers the official iPhone 13 Pro battery for $71, but someone can change it to you in its stores. costs $69. As a result, we resort to official technical services.
The new law will make it possible to change the battery easily, but it will be necessary to see if this simplicity is extrapolated to other components and if it is also done at competitive prices.
What will happen to the design of the phones?
In 2009, 99.12% of mobile phones on the market had a removable battery. In 2018, this figure was less than 9%. Changes are on the horizon.
It is not known if the general solution for the sector will be a return to the removable battery or if new avenues will be explored, but the new legislation invites us to think about saying goodbye to the monocoque design of the first iPhone which, without being the first to get rid of removable batteries, started the trend that is the norm today.
Because somehow it must be possible for the user to change the battery with his hands and without too much mystery, which brings other challenges to overcome, such as water resistance which offers a good part of the mid-range and all the high-end and which is made with tight seals.
What will happen to the battery of my old phone?
Currently, if your battery is defective, you can choose to change your phone if it is already a few years old and has other problems or take it to the SAT to have it replaced. In both cases there are specific recycling programs when integrating hazardous waste.
The fact that the batteries are easy to remove and repair will encourage us to change them sooner, which will directly imply that more. And of course, answer the question: that it will have to be taken to the recycling point.
Waste plays an important role in this new regulation: the EU will be stricter and estimates that for portable batteries (mobile phones, computers) the objective is to collect 45% in 2023, 63% in 2027 and 73% in 2030.
From here, the EU wants to reuse the materials of its composition for the manufacture of new batteries. Thus, it estimates to reach 50% in 2027 and 80% in 2031 for lithium and for cobalt, copper, lead and nickel, 90% in 2027 and 95% in 2031.
When will it come into force?
The law was passed with 587 votes for, 9 against and 20 abstentions, but there are still steps to be taken for it to come into force. Thus, after the vote in plenary, the Council will have to formally approve its text so that it can then be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and it will enter into force. If all goes well, it will only be a matter of months.
And when will it be a reality in the phones on the market?
When it comes into effect, it will take time for brands to design their own implementations, introduce them into their production processes and reach the market.
SO, manufacturers will have three and a half yearsor once the law is approved to implement this solution which allows “consumers themselves to be able to easily extract and replace them”.
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