Wireless mice from Logitech will only receive a user-replaceable battery in Europe. In all other markets, the manufacturer will continue to sell devices with permanently installed batteries.
This was announced by Logitech's gaming boss Robin Piispanen in conversation with the US magazine The Verge. The background is the EU Battery Regulation: From February 18, 2027, it will stipulate that users must be able to replace the batteries in many electronic devices themselves. Logitech is complying with this requirement with a specific product variant for the European market, rather than changing its design worldwide.
“Very few people”
From the perspective of the Logitech manager, the European variant is not automatically the better product. Logitech usually uses lightweight soft-pack batteries, i.e., flat cells in a soft casing connected by a very thin cable. This design is not safe for laypeople to handle, which is why the company does not want to make it available for self-replacement.
For Europe, Logitech is therefore switching to hard-pack batteries in a rigid casing that is less likely to be punctured. Damaged lithium batteries can catch fire. However, according to Piispanen, the increased safety comes at a cost: the more robust design is more expensive and adds extra weight. Especially for gaming mice, low weight is a key selling point.
