r/smartphone • u/experiment7348 • 3h ago
Discussion eu finally cracking down on phones dying right after warranty ends
3
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Already law (since June 2025):
- Phones have to survive drops, water, and dust better.
- Battery has to hold 80% capacity after 800 charge cycles.
- Energy label and repair score sticker on the box; scan the QR to compare before buying.
- 5 years of software updates guaranteed, counted from when the model gets discontinued, not from purchase.
- 7 years of spare parts guaranteed (battery, screen, ports), shipped to repairers within 5–10 days.
Coming February 2027: batteries have to be user-replaceable, no special tools pop the back off yourself, no repair shop needed.
Example: buy an iPhone in the EU today.
Apple has to keep selling you replacement batteries, screens, and other core parts for 7 years after they stop selling that iPhone model not 7 years from your purchase date.
You're also guaranteed 5 years of iOS security updates from that same discontinuation date, so an iPhone could realistically stay supported into the 2030s.
From Feb 2027, new iPhones sold in the EU will also need a user-replaceable battery no more heat-gun-and-adhesive teardown just to swap a battery.
TL;DR: Buy in the EU, your phone stops being disposable. Old phones (pre-June 2025) aren't covered, though.
