On July 14, the European Commission quietly adopted a delegated act that carves out six new product categories from its flagship Batteries Regulation. The headline? Smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, and wireless earbuds no longer need user-replaceable batteries when the rules kick in come February 2027.
Why the exemption?
The Commission’s reasoning boils down to three things: miniaturization, safety, and waterproofing. In its own words, when “the battery is so tightly encapsulated in its receptacle that its removal may create a non-negligible risk of damage or piercing of the battery,” it’s safer to leave replacements to professionals. The same logic already applied to electric toothbrushes and medical devices.
Industry cheered; repair advocates didn't
The Computer & Communications Industry Association – whose members include Apple, Google, and others – called it a “pragmatic decision,” noting that replacing a battery in a compact wearable “is not a routine do-it-yourself task”. Meanwhile, iFixit’s Thomas Opsomer fired back, arguing that using “small size” as justification “cements a trend towards disposable miniaturised electronics”.
Your phone isn’t off the hook
The default rule still stands for most devices. Smartphones and tablets will need user-replaceable batteries unless they meet strict durability thresholds – IP67 waterproofing and roughly 80% capacity retention after 1,000 charge cycles. Nintendo has already confirmed a version of the Switch 2 with a replaceable battery for the EU market.
What happens next
The delegated act now heads to the European Parliament and Council for scrutiny. If neither objects, it becomes law 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal.
For now, your Apple Watch, AirPods, and Meta smart glasses stay sealed. Whether that's a win for safety or a loss for repairability depends on who you ask.
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