Phones with removable battery could be coming back in the market: What this means for you
Last Updated: 2026-04-20 15:05:58
Smartphones with removable batteries could make a comeback by 2027 thanks to the new ruling by the European Union this month. The regulators have forced giants like Apple to adopt USB C charging for iPhone, Macs and iPads and now they are targeting another big pain point for smartphone users.
Most of the phones selling in the market come with a sealed design that means you cannot remove the battery, which was possible before with a panel that let you easily switch the battery units. But the EU regulators are now looking to rewind the clock and make all the brands switch their setup to give batteries that can be replaced by the user itself.
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Bringing the old days back
The new EU rules are operating in two phases and one of them is already well in place. If you have noticed the phones launching with 7,000 and even 10,000mAh batteries in the last 12 months, there is a reason for that. And with that being covered well, the switch because of the EU rules will move to the next phase in early 2027 where people will have more reasons to use their phones for more than 3 to 5 years.
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Remember the good old Nokia and Samsung phones that allowed you to get a new battery when they had some issue or if you managed to dunk them in water? We could soon have those days back if the EU gets its way once again.
The second phase of the ‘mission battery’ will allow you to replace the phone’s battery at home with basic tools. And you don’t have to visit the service center all the time.
The EU has set the deadline of February 18, 2027 for phase 2 to come into effect when even Apple will have to comply and make phones that come with removal batteries.
Why now?
So why the EU hell bent on forcing the phone makers to change the design and engineering of their smartphones? The option to replace the battery will empower the users to continue using their devices for a longer period rather than buying new phones. More importantly, stretching the use of a worn out battery also reduces the chances of it swelling which can be dangerous.
The regulator will demand manufacturers to pack batteries in the phones that are easy to remove with tools available to the consumers. This means you can use the tools available at home and not require some company-approved set to fix them.
There are some models that still offer the battery in the orthodox way and by next year more brands could add their devices to this roster which many will probably benefit from in the long run.