EU Drops Battery Removal Requirement for Apple Watch and AirPods

[MacRumors]

The European Commission yesterday adopted new exemptions to its Batteries Regulation that free the Apple Watch and AirPods from having to offer user-removable and replaceable batteries.

The EU's Batteries Regulation generally requires consumer products sold in the region to let users swap out their own batteries, a push meant to keep devices in use longer and make it easier to recover materials for recycling. The Commission has now expanded its list of exempt product types to six additional categories, folding in wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers.

The reasoning largely mirrors why devices like electric toothbrushes were already exempt: Opening a compact, sealed enclosure and failing to reseal it properly could let water in and create a safety risk. Products can also qualify for exemption if their construction makes battery removal inherently dangerous, or if there is no realistic way to build in user access given current manufacturing methods.

The new categories effectively cover the Apple Watch and AirPods, both of which rely on the kind of small, sealed designs the Commission is now carving out, along with Meta's smart glasses. The change follows months of pressure from U.S. officials over rules that had reportedly complicated Meta's plans to bring its newest display-equipped smart glasses to Europe.

The iPhone was already exempt from the removability rule under the original regulation, thanks to its battery cycle life and water resistance rating. Apple offers battery service through Apple Stores, authorized providers, and its Self Service Repair program, which lets owners handle certain repairs, including batteries, at home. Not every device gets the same pass: Nintendo has now said it will sell a version of the Switch 2 in the EU with a user-replaceable battery to meet the incoming rules.

The delegated act still has to clear scrutiny from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. It takes effect 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU if neither body objects, ahead of the regulation's wider rollout in 2027.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: EU Drops Battery Removal Requirement for Apple Watch and AirPods

 

[surfzen21]

I believe the statement, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" is how the EA decides its policy positions.

 

[shadyman]

„Opening a compact, sealed enclosure and failing to reseal it properly could let water in and create a safety risk.“ - Sure, Jan. Wondering how much Apple paid for the exemption.

 

[Rychiar]

„Opening a compact, sealed enclosure and failing to reseal it properly could let water in and create a safety risk.“ - Sure, Jan. Wondering how much Apple paid for the exemption.

why? its true. how the hell would anyone change a battery on such things?

 

[DocMultimedia]

Up next: Apple won't have to make individual capacitors replaceable on chips.

Stock shoots up. Oh, it's already doing that today. 🤑😀

 

[sw1tcher]

why? its true. how the hell would anyone change a battery on such things?

The same way people change the batteries on their Fairphone Fairbuds 🤷‍♂️

 

[turbineseaplane]

Sounds reasonable. Good change.

It really is a shame there's no way to get official battery service for Airpods though.

I really dislike the "garbage creation" nature of them.

I could literally still be using my AP1s if I could get new batteries in them.

 

[Ja50n]

why? its true. how the hell would anyone change a battery on such things?

You only say that because you’re looking at a device that isn’t designed for that in mind. Note that the ear tips can be replaced on AirPods Pros, but not on regular AirPods as an example of a design difference for replaceability. Given a talented engineering team, a replaceable battery hurdle could be overcome, at the expense of Apple’s margins.

 

[ChrisMac47]

The same way people change the batteries on their Fairphone Fairbuds 🤷‍♂️

Those FairBuds look great! And replaceable batteries. What's not to like? https://www.fairphone.com/fairbuds

 

[jarman92]

The same way people change the batteries on their Fairphone Fairbuds 🤷‍♂️

Have you seen the size of those things?

 

[jarman92]

Note that the ear tips can be replaced on AirPods Pros, but not on regular AirPods as an example of a design difference for replaceability.

Well yes, because the regular AirPods don't have ear tips. 😑

Given a talented engineering team, a replaceable battery hurdle could be overcome, at the expense of Apple’s margins.

Citation needed.

 

[lusty]

Given a talented engineering team, a replaceable battery hurdle could be overcome

Not even that talented. An oring and a thread on the stalk would do it if the desire was there. This law should crate that desire.
Earpods have consistently had issues with batteries over the years so would be top of my list to apply this law to.

 

[sw1tcher]

Have you seen the size of those things?

You're telling me that Apple's talented team of designers are incapable of designing something better while still offering user replaceable batteries?

 

[Jarman74]

Opening a compact, sealed enclosure and failing to reseal it properly could let water in and create a safety risk. Products can also qualify for exemption if their construction makes battery removal inherently dangerous, or if there is no realistic way to build in user access given current manufacturing methods.

Let’s assume the legal rationale is sound. Then why not grant a discount on the same model - or the closest equivalent - when a company claims it’s ‘unable’ to support battery swapping? There’s no reason they should get a free pass just because the swap is deemed sufficiently ‘difficult’.

 

[Pezimak]

"Products can also qualify for exemption if their construction makes battery removal inherently dangerous, or if there is no realistic way to build in user access given current manufacturing methods."

You can just see Apple trying to spin that as an excuse to not make laptop batteries replaceable in its Pro range etc. I was shocked to see they made the Neo battery so easily replaceable. They should never have been allowed to glue them in in the first place, Apple made laptops with easily replaceable batteries, then glued them in with none user replaceable ones to make thinner laptops and increase profits.

 

[Pezimak]

why? its true. how the hell would anyone change a battery on such things?

You have seen repair videos on iPhones of the last few years right? In the right markets Apple or it's official supplier sells the sealant glue as a kit so you can seal the device up just like it was before.

 

[CarAnalogy]

You only say that because you’re looking at a device that isn’t designed for that in mind. Note that the ear tips can be replaced on AirPods Pros, but not on regular AirPods as an example of a design difference for replaceability. Given a talented engineering team, a replaceable battery hurdle could be overcome, at the expense of Apple’s margins.

I really don't know about that one. AirPods Pro especially are already about as jam packed as they can possibly get, and with absolutely no space for removable fasteners, has to be glued together.

I really don't see a lot of people wanting to handle something so fiddly. It would be even more difficult than a Watch repair.

It is a shame to throw away such advanced electronics just because the battery is done, but still, I don't see anyone but Apple being able to handle a program like that, and it would essentially be tearing them down for parts anyway.

 

[CarAnalogy]

You have seen repair videos on iPhones of the last few years right? I the right markets Apple sells the sealant glue as a kit so you can seal the device up just like it was before.

I have, and I especially enjoy Director Feng as I discovered when linked here doing storage upgrades.

Watching that guy work makes me NOT want to repair iPhones. The amount of knowledge, skill, and specialized equipment he has even for basic repairs is astonishing.

And phones aren't that small in terms of electronics projects. AirPods are tiny. Maybe you could theoretically tear them apart and then glue them back together non-destructively. But it would take his level of ability to do it.

 

[applesith]

The EU should develop its own electronics products, engineer the change they want to see, and lead by example,

 

[jarman92]

You're telling me that Apple's talented team of designers are incapable of designing something better while still offering user replaceable batteries?

I have no idea, and—importantly—neither do you. Your insistence that Apple must be able to make acceptable AirPods with replaceable batteries (because reasons?) is no different than various governments' insistence that Apple must be able to design a safe encryption backdoor. Simply saying it doesn't make it true.

 

[ryanmp]

Always like to think of the art of the possible, so came up with this EU version of AirPods. Rather than the hassle of trying to open the AirPods, risking breakage, the EU version comes with an easily swappable external battery pack that clips to your favorite sports team's collar.

 

[jarman92]

I really don't know about that one. AirPods Pro especially are already about as jam packed as they can possibly get, and with absolutely no space for removable fasteners, has to be glued together.

I really don't see a lot of people wanting to handle something so fiddly. It would be even more difficult than a Watch repair.

It is a shame to throw away such advanced electronics just because the battery is done, but still, I don't see anyone but Apple being able to handle a program like that, and it would essentially be tearing them down for parts anyway.

I really don't understand people's alleged concern about AirPod disposal. Like the amount of material in them is tiny and, even considering their numbers, their contribution to the global e-waste problem is almost certainly negligible.

 

[Tres]

Let’s assume the legal rationale is sound. Then why not grant a discount on the same model - or the closest equivalent - when a company claims it’s ‘unable’ to support battery swapping? There’s no reason they should get a free pass just because the swap is deemed sufficiently ‘difficult’.

That’s exactly what Apple already does (offers a whole unit replacement for the price of a battery replacement) for many of its products, including AirPods, Apple Watches, Apple Pencil, etc.

It was even a thing back when iPods were around.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I really don't understand people's alleged concern about AirPod disposal. Like the amount of material in them is tiny and, even considering their numbers, their contribution to the global e-waste problem is almost certainly negligible.

I agree. It's a shame from an engineering perspective to throw them away just because it's amazing they exist at all.

Might as well send them back to Apple, though. They may not be repairable but they're probably pretty recyclable.

 

[turbineseaplane]

View attachment 2645652
Always like to think of the art of the possible, so came up with this EU version of AirPods. Rather than the hassle of trying to open the AirPods, risking breakage, the EU version comes with an easily swappable external battery pack that clips to your favorite sports team's collar.

This was basically the Bose QC20 - lol