The European Union’s new battery regulation, Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670, takes effect in 2027 and targets smartphones, mobile phones, cordless phones, and slate tablets. The rule mandates that a device’s battery be removable and replaceable without special tools, allowing the average user to swap it.

Apple’s iPhones qualify for an exemption clause that applies to premium devices meeting three strict conditions: the battery must retain at least 83 % of its rated capacity after 500 charge cycles, 80 % after 1,000 cycles, and the device must carry an IP67 dust‑water rating. All current iPhone models satisfy these thresholds, so the EU regulation does not require a new removable‑battery design.

Consumers can still replace batteries at Apple Stores, and Apple’s Self‑Repair Program lets owners swap parts at home. The exemption means Apple will keep its sealed‑design strategy for EU markets, preserving the device’s structural integrity.

Nintendo’s Switch 2 will be sold with a user‑replaceable battery to meet a different EU batteries regulation, but the company has chosen not to extend that design toSPARENT markets. Smaller smartphone makers may find the cost of reengineering prohibitive and could pull products from the EU, tightening consumer choice for a brief period.

This outcome keeps Apple’s design philosophy intact while nudging the market toward selective compliance and may influence future global standards.