Smartphones in the EU will receive labels with battery life and battery efficiency — from June 2025

Starting June 20, 2025, all smartphones sold in the EU will receive an eco-label — a kind of label in the package that will inform the user about the battery life and efficiency.

The new EU regulation applies to stationary wireless phones, smartphones, mobile phones without access to the Internet or third-party applications, and tablets with screens from 7 to 17.4 inches, launched on the market from June 20, 2025. Exceptions are established for devices with a flexible main display.

All of the above devices will also be subject to five key eco-design requirements:

• Resistance to accidental drops and protection against dust and water.
• Battery durability, which must be able to withstand at least 800 full charge and discharge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of its original capacity.
• Repairability: manufacturers must provide critical spare parts within 5-10 business days and continue to offer them for 7 years after the product is no longer sold in the EU.
• Software support: devices must receive operating system updates for at least 5 years from the date of sale.

У report note that mobile phones and tablets produced in accordance with the above rules will save up to 14 terawatt hours of primary energy annually by 2030.

A similar ENERGY label is already in use in the EU for household appliances — the new model for smartphones has already been reviewed and published by the GSMArenaconfirming the deployment of the new system.

The accuracy of the data on the label is the responsibility of the manufacturer, importer or authorized representative operating in the EU/EEA market — they must register their product models through the special EPREL platform managed by the European Commission.

The new labeling is part of the EU’s major campaign to improve energy efficiency by 2030. This initiative is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 46 million tons and save each household up to 150 euros on average.

Although the rules officially apply only within the EU, it is clear that their impact will extend far beyond the 27 member states, as smartphones are shipped to the region from all over the world.