There has been a wave of coverage recently that 2027 will force Samsung to bring back completely replaceable batteries in its Galaxy phones, at least in Europe. That reading is uncertain, and much of it stems from confusion over how the European Union defines batteries and “removability.”
Some reports suggest that Samsung will have to retool its 2027 Galaxy lineup for Europe, with user-replaceable batteries like we used to have in the Galaxy S5 era.
However, the words of the EU point to something much smaller. If anything, Galaxy phones may be easier to fix than reverting to pre-2015 hardware design. Let’s break down the key definitions that drive this discussion.
What is a “portable battery” according to the EU definition?
The EU has definitions of various battery-related terms, but the term that seems to work best for phones and tablets is “portable battery.”
Here is the definition of the EU, according to Article 3 in Regulation (EU) 2023/1542:
- ‘portable battery’ means a sealed battery, weighing 5 kg or less, which is not designed for industrial use and is not an electric vehicle battery, LMT. [Light Means of Transportation] battery, or SLI [Starting, Lighting, and Ignition] battery;
How the EU defines a removable battery
In accordance with Section 11 of the same text:
- A portable battery shall be considered easily removable by the end user where it can be removed from the product using commercially available tools, without requiring the use of special tools, unless provided free of charge by the product, proprietary tools, thermal energy, or solvents to disassemble the product.
So what does that mean for phone makers? Here are their responsibilities.
- Any natural or legal person who places on the market products that include portable batteries shall ensure that those batteries are easily removed and can be replaced by the end user at any time during the life of the product. That warranty will only apply to the entire battery and not to the individual cells or other components included in those batteries.
What changes can we expect from Galaxy phones in 2027?
It’s probably less than some articles suggest.
It’s possible that Samsung is already close to compliance, if not already, especially now that Galaxy phones use battery bags instead of strong adhesives to keep their batteries protected.
Future models can go further in that area: stronger back panels that can survive a crash, clear repair instructions, and maybe even easier tools in the box.
What’s not possible is a return to pop-up back panels and fully replaceable batteries across the entire Galaxy phone and tablet portfolio. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy XCover series may always be different from the norm.
All things considered, we wouldn’t expect a return from the Samsung Galaxy S5 era. Mostly, we can expect increased benefits in customization: better sticky apps for easy access, and generally, fewer obstacles for users who are willing to unlock their phones. A complete redesign is highly unlikely. Time will tell.