Longevity is now a thing for smartphones, too

Starting June 20th, manufacturers of smartphones and tablets in the EU must include instructions on how to repair or update them.

Big changes are coming for smartphones and tablets sold in the EU. Starting June 20th, new rules will require tech companies to be more transparent about how long their devices last and how easily they can be fixed.

Under the EU’s new “Ecodesign Regulation,” every smartphone and tablet must come with a special label, similar to energy labels on appliances, that shows key features like battery life, durability, software support, and how easily the device can be repaired.

The regulation also sets a clear update requirement: companies must provide operating system and security updates for at least five years after the device is no longer sold. This is less than what Google and Samsung offer – seven years – but it’s a big improvement from older models that often only received one or two updates.

Companies will also need to make spare parts available for up to seven years and allow professional repair shops access to tools and repair software. This should lead to a bigger inclusion of independent technicians.

So far, many big tech companies have restricted access to spare parts and repair tools to maintain control over the repair process and, therefore, boost their profits. They often don’t sell original parts to the public or independent repair shops and keep the software and tools needed for the repair to themselves.

These EU rules apply to most smartphones and tablets with screens between 7 and 17.4 inches, but phones with rollable screens or those already on the market before June 20th are excluded. Also exempt are phones made for high-security communication.

However, there are some concerns about this rule. While the label includes repairability scores, it won’t reflect the cost of repairs. This means companies can still charge high prices for parts and make big profits. Some experts and repair advocates argue that the update requirement should be extended to ten years to truly make a difference. Because of the added costs of meeting these new standards, some cheaper devices might disappear from the EU market.