The European Union has announced new mandatory labels for smartphones and tablets sold in its territory. These labels will include information on energy efficiency, durability and repairability. In addition, the devices must meet new "ecodesign" requirements, including the availability of repair parts.
The labels, which will appear on June 20, 2025, will be similar to those used for home appliances and televisions. They will include energy efficiency ratings, battery life, number of charging cycles, durability and repairability ratings, and the level of protection against dust and water (IP rating).
Alongside these labels, minimum "eco-design" standards will be introduced, including protection against splashes of water and dust, protection against scratches and shocks, batteries that retain at least 80% of their capacity after 800 charge cycles, and the mandatory availability of "critical spare parts" within 5-10 business days. Manufacturers will also be required to update the operating system within six months of the release of the source code.
The new standards include smartphones and tablets with screens up to 17.4 inches, cordless landlines and mobile phones. Phones with foldable screens are exempt from this standard, although they will appear on the market in the near future. Windows-based tablets will have a separate program.