Europe is now tackling Android, here's what will soon change in smartphones

To improve the lifespan of smartphones, manufacturers will have to comply with rules regarding their durability, software support, repair, and battery degradation.

Apple can't say that the European Commission is coming after it; the latter is also taking measures for the entire mobile industry. Its new ecodesign regulation affects Android smartphones and tablets as well as iPhones and iPads. But Apple shouldn't be too concerned about the requirements that come into effect on June 20, 2025, as they're expected to shake up manufacturers who are less serious about the sustainability of their products.

“The regulation focuses on measures to extend the product's lifespan (repairability, upgradeability, battery life),” explains the EU. It applies to most smartphones and tablets, but excludes devices with a flexible main screen (which can be unrolled and rolled up), as well as tablets with a detachable keyboard and an operating system that offers a desktop experience.

Android smartphones will have to become more durable

Manufacturers will have to comply with the following rules:

• Resistance to accidental drops or scratches and protection against dust and water
• Sufficiently durable batteries that can withstand at least 800 charge and discharge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their initial capacity
• Rules on disassembly and repair, including the obligation for producers to make critical spare parts available within 5 to 10 working days and for 7 years after the end of the product model's sale on the market the EU
• Availability of operating system upgrades for longer periods (at least 5 years from the end-of-market date of the last unit of a product model)
• Non-discriminatory access for professional repairers to any software or firmware required for replacement

In summary, new devices entering the market will need to be durable and waterproof, easily repairable over a long period of time, updated for more than five years, and have batteries that do not degrade too quickly. It will be interesting to analyze whether these obligations lead to an increase in the price of devices.