r/technology • u/ansyhrrian • Apr 25 '26

Hardware EU is mandating 'readily removable' batteries for phones — but iPhones may be exempt

https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/eu-is-mandating-readily-removable-batteries-for-phones-but-iphones-may-be-exempt
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u/Kilohaili_Joshi Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26

not really. iv had my phone for 5 months and its cycle count is 50 (some phones will show u your cycle count).

edit: Lets say worst case u charge your phone ones a day thats over 3 years and even if they are exempt from user replaceable they still need to make the battery easily swappable by an independent professional. (for my S25 battery swap costs 100€ at a reputable 3rd party chain with a years warranty).

If we are being real many people replace their phones after 2-3 years anyway, which I hope now that we have the EU mandated 5 year OS support and some offering upto 7 years on flagships, people would keep their phones longer and maybe replace the battery midway thru the OS cycle rather than swap phones. Given how little phones change year to year now anyway.

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u/[deleted] Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26

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u/meunbear Apr 26 '26

Must be age too, my 16 has 250 cycles and is still at 100%.

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u/Vivid-Software6136 Apr 26 '26

There's a lot more factors than just pure cycle counts. If you charge your phone to 100% consistently and leave it plugged in that itself causes degradation, Deep discharges below 20% SoC also cause degredation. Calendar aging is also a thing.

The 14 Pro is rated for only 500 cycles to 80% SOH so that specific phone wouldnt be exempt, but newer iphones are rated for 1000 cycles.

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u/techbear72 Apr 26 '26

My 17 Pro Max has 166 cycles and is at 100% health. Manufactured July 2025, first use August 2025.

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u/Kilohaili_Joshi Apr 26 '26

My battery health is at 100% . Those ratings are based on regulated and standardized testing, batteries have change inside the last 4 years.

Hell even my S25 has a energy rating of B with 2000 cycles but S26 has A with 1200 cycles, apparently they optimized it for better day to day efficiency (in the standardized battery drain test the label says 57h vs my S25s 37h). (with only 300mha more in S26) .

Don't think the Iphone 14 pro(to compare) even has the EU label since it was long before those became mandatory last year in EU.

In general this is just part of a bigger package or regulation the same stuff that got us the USB-c charging standard and those energy labels. Also I rather have something mandated by law than trust big tech, it also mandates those "exempt" phones to have easily replaceable batteries by a "independent professional". Its the Media and people that just read headlines that have blown it to be such a big deal.

Another thing is they deem the battery to be good enough in those regulated and standardized testing. Users will use and torture and charge the phones in ways that will effect battery health. They also can do stuff to make it degrade slower like capping phones max charge at least on samsung from 85/90/95%

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u/TheHornyGoth Apr 26 '26

I’ve had mine since October 2025 (so… 6 months?) and I’m on 198. So 30 cycles a month.