Hoping your next smartwatch will have a replaceable battery? The EU has bad news
Smartwatches and fitness trackers will no longer need user-replaceable batteries under the EU’s incoming rules
Smartwatch manufacturers will not have to make batteries easily replaceable by their owners under new exemptions adopted by the European Commission.
The change covers wearable devices, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and even smart glasses, and could affect products from Apple, Garmin, Samsung, Google, and other major manufacturers.
It means the companies can continue producing tightly sealed cases without providing a straightforward way for users to remove and replace their batteries themselves.
The decision forms part of the EU’s wider Batteries Regulation, which was introduced in 2023 to improve the sustainability, repairability and recycling of battery-powered products.
Under the original requirements, products containing portable batteries generally had to be designed so that their batteries could be removed and replaced by the end user at any point during the product’s lifetime.
Access: denied
A replacement was supposed to be possible without damaging the battery or the device, while users wouldn’t require specialist repair experience or qualifications. The requirements are due to apply from 18 February 2027.
The aim was to prevent otherwise functional products from becoming obsolete simply because their batteries could no longer hold a useful charge.
The small battery problem
The European Commission has now added six product categories to the exemption list, including wearable electronics, electric toys and equipment designed for explosive environments.
It argues that the miniaturisation of wearables can result in batteries being so tightly enclosed that removing one poses a risk of damaging or puncturing the battery.
The size, shape and ergonomic requirements of devices worn on the body can also make redesigning them impractical.
Water resistance is another relevant consideration. The exemption adds wearables to a category covering appliances primarily designed to operate in environments regularly exposed to splashing water or immersion.
Watertight argument
The change doesn’t mean smartwatch batteries can be made completely irreplaceable, though.
Manufacturers must still design the affected devices so the battery can be removed and replaced by an independent professional.
Battery replacement will remain possible in some cases, but it may involve sending the watch to its manufacturer or taking it to a qualified repairer.
Sadly, depending on the model and the cost of servicing, replacing the entire watch may still appear more attractive than fitting a new battery.
What happens next?
The delegated act has been adopted by the European Commission, but it must still undergo scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
Provided neither institution objects, it will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. The underlying battery removability requirements take effect from February 2027.
The regulation directly applies to products placed on the EU market and does not automatically cover the UK, US or other countries outside the bloc.
There could nevertheless have been a wider effect. Technology companies often sell devices based on largely identical hardware across several markets.
A useful non-tech comparison is the outdoor clothing industry’s move away from PFAS.
Legislation in California and other major markets helped accelerate a wider transition, with many brands adopting the resulting materials across their global product ranges.
A requirement to make EU-bound smartwatches easier to open might therefore have encouraged manufacturers to use the same repairable design elsewhere.
With wearables now exempt, that incentive has largely disappeared.
[via NotebookCheck, European Commission announcement, adopted delegated regulation]
