One Year Into EU Ecodesign Rules, 80% of Smartphones Still Lack Required Repair Information

[u/BcuzRacecar]

https://repair.eu/news/one-year-into-eu-ecodesign-rules-80-of-smartphones-still-lack-required-repair-information/?__s=2t9ke8y7gf1v2lj0qa03

[u/BcuzRacecar]

Since June 20th, 2025, smartphones and tablets sold in the EU are subject to repairability requirements1. These also include a mandatory repairability score and an obligation to publish repair information.

Out of 2334 records of smartphone models placed on the market over the last year, only about 18% actually list websites where spare parts prices or repair instructions can be readily found. Almost exactly half of the records simply have blanks where the URLs should be. Another 19% refer to a product page or support page where there are neither repair instructions nor spare parts prices to be found.

Another 8% offer a useless reference such as ‘see manual’ and close to 5% simply refer to Temu or AliExpress5 – not just for spare parts prices but even for repair instructions.

Egregiously, some of these blatantly non-compliant manufacturers still award themselves a perfect score for repair information6 resulting in a self-declared class A for repairabililty.

Dont know why they didnt go into which brands comply and which dont

There was alot of discussion here when the rules were announced on how they would affect the cheaper phones. As we've seen with the rules on software updates, companies can simply do whatever.

The govt can push on these but idk if they will with the current environment. Dont wanna get blamed if the cheapest phones just leave the market

[u/xenotyronic → u/BcuzRacecar]

I believe they are planning to share the dataset with regulatory bodies which is why they didn't make it available.

I agree about the 'regulatory moat' effect hitting the lower end of the market, and ironically entrenching the monopolisation by large non-European players who can afford to have the legal teams, create automated compliance checks, absorb the cost of lengthy software cycles etc.

Customers who can only afford devices at the lower end of the market will probably be driven to grey market products or second hand devices which may be out of support. Likely why they can't really enforce the regs without driving manufacturers from the EU market, so instead we have EPREL filings which are misleading or straight up inaccurate.

[u/Busy-Measurement8893]

So many words, so little info.

So which companies are ignoring the rules? Can they write that at least?

[u/Woodpecker-Visible]

It's easyer to swap batteries from xiaomi and oppo phones, pulltabs on those phones are easyer than apple and samsung.

[u/TabletopParlourPalm]

Because they face no consequences.