EU lets wearables wriggle out of user-replaceable battery rules

personal tech

Miniaturization means a professional's touch is needed

The European Commission has watered down its rules around battery replaceability with exemptions for some wearable devices, potentially including the Apple Watch and Meta's AI Glasses.

A delegated act was adopted by the European Commission on July 14 that exempted the products from EU requirements on the removability and replaceability of portable batteries.

The batteries must still be replaceable, but by independent professionals rather than end users.

Wet appliances already have an exemption from user-replaceability rules, and qualifying wearables are now on the list. By wearables, the Commission means smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, or anything integrated into clothing.

In its document[PDF], the Commission said small batteries should be removable and replaceable only by professionals, where "the miniaturization of wearable devices and the portable batteries powering them may result in situations where the battery is so tightly encapsulated in its...

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