personal tech
Miniaturization means a professional's touch is needed
UPDATED The European Commission has watered down its rules around battery replaceability with exemptions for some wearable devices, potentially including the Apple Watch and Meta's AI Glasses.A delegated act was adopted by the European Commission on July 14 that exempted the products from EU requirements on the removability and replaceability of portable batteries.The batteries must still be replaceable, but by independent professionals rather than end users.
Wet appliances already have an exemption from user-replaceability rules, and qualifying wearables are now on the list. By wearables, the Commission means smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, or anything integrated into clothing.
In its document [PDF], the Commission said small batteries should be removable and replaceable only by professionals, where "the miniaturization of wearable devices and the portable batteries powering them may result in situations where the battery is so tightly encapsulated in its receptacle that its removal may create a non-negligible risk of damage or piercing of the battery.""Where the nature of the product hinders its redesign (anatomic or ergonomic considerations), it is justified that such small batteries be removable and replaceable only by independent professionals."The EU's portable battery rule is set to come into force in 2027, and requires gizmo makers to ensure their designs allow for battery replacement by users. Phone creators, for example, will generally have to ensure customers can open their devices and switch out the battery themselves, although batteries in phones meeting specified longevity and IP67 requirements may remain replaceable only by professionals.
