This is ridiculous!: Apple fans aren't happy about new European mobile law

Date:
Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:10:39 +0000

Description:
The EU has outlined plans to impose new rules surrounding mobile phone batteries, which could spell trouble for Apple.

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The European Union (EU) has voted in favor of a new regulation that would require mobile manufacturers to make phone batteries easily replaceable by users, and the controversial proposal could have serious implications for the future of Apples iPhones.

According to the new rules , consumers must be able to easily remove and replace any portable batteries used in mobile devices sold in European territories from 2027 onwards. The EUs intention is to make batteries more sustainable, more durable, and better-performing, in an effort to reduce e-waste.

Sounds good, right? Well, that depends on who you ask. At present, iPhone batteries are notoriously difficult to access and replace, with Apples best iPhones demanding hefty repair fees once their batteries begin to degrade. However, many Apple fans fear that the tech giant could be forced to dramatically redesign the iPhone in order to accommodate the EUs new requirements.

Being able to swap batteries would be amazing but if it means compromising
the design of the iPhone Id rather just go without, one Twitter user wrote in response to the news, while another said : That might be going a bit too far. The EU needs to slow down. Im on board with USB-C [regulation], but not this one. Feel like this might be going down a weird path of too many mandates
now. June 20, 2023 See more

Others have voiced their concerns more vociferously. [The] EU went overboard with this one, its ridiculous! reads one tweet , while another user wrote: Regulation stifles innovation.

Its worth noting that the EU still has a few legal hoops to jump through before its new proposal becomes official law, and, as above, those aforementioned manufacturer requirements wouldnt come into effect until 2027.

Apple may also attempt to claim that it already abides by these regulations. As 9to5Mac notes, the company will likely argue that its Self Service Repair program allows consumers to easily replace their iPhone batteries, though
this has the makings of an argument that could play out in the courts for years to come.

In all likelihood, the EU will need to create clearer guidelines over what constitutes an easily replaceable battery. Apple wont be the only mobile manufacturer affected by the change, either, meaning the entire mobile industry could be in for a shake-up. A highly charged atmosphere Apple must add USB-C charging to all new iPhones sold in EU countries from 2024 (Image credit: Shutterstock / charnsitr)

Apple has been fighting the EU on another front, too. After the latter
imposed a law that requires all mobile manufacturers to add USB-C charging ports to new mobile devices sold in Europe from 2024 , the tech giant was reportedly planning to implement MFi (Made for iPhone) certification on its range of USB-C accessories .

This had led many to speculate that these Apple-produced chargers would
enable faster charging speeds on the iPhone 15 than third-party chargers from other manufacturers, but the EU recently warned Apple against imposing such limitations .

Apple doesn't technically need to abide by that warning until next year, but it wouldn't be a great look for the company to knowingly circumvent legislation that it knows is coming into effect in the near future.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/this-is-ridiculous-apple-fans-arent-ha ppy-about-new-european-mobile-law


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