Beginning June 20, 2025, all smartphones and tablets sold in the EU will feature new energy labels indicating battery life and efficiency, aligning with existing energy stickers on household appliances. This regulation covers cordless phones, smartphones, feature phones, and tablets, mandating five ecodesign criteria: durability, battery longevity, repairability, software support, and repair access. Manufacturers must register products with the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling for accuracy, while the European Commission will verify data. This initiative aims to enhance energy efficiency, reduce CO₂ emissions by 46 million tonnes, and empower consumers for better purchasing decisions with a potential global influence on manufacturing standards.
The European Union is encouraging tech companies to improve transparency for consumers, and a recent requirement marks a significant advancement in this effort.
Beginning June 20, 2025, all smartphones and tablets sold in the EU will come with a new label inside the packaging, which will provide information about battery life and efficiency. This update modifies the familiar energy label seen on household appliances, designed to meet the information expectations consumers have for their electronic devices.
Which products are covered by the new regulations?
The regulation pertains to cordless phones (for landline use), smartphones for cellular or satellite connections, feature phones lacking internet or third-party applications, and tablets with screens measuring between 7 and 17.4 inches. These requirements apply only to devices introduced to the market after June 20, 2025.
Devices featuring flexible main displays that can be partially or fully unrolled are exempt from this regulation. Furthermore, phones and tablets already available in the EU prior to June 20 will not be subject to these requirements.
What are the specific criteria?
All the outlined devices must satisfy five essential ecodesign criteria:
- Durability: Products should withstand accidental drops and offer protection against dust and water.
- Battery longevity: Batteries need to last for at least 800 complete charge and discharge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of their original capacity.
- Repairability: Manufacturers are required to make essential spare parts available within 5 to 10 working days and to continue supplying them for 7 years after the product is removed from sale in the EU.
- Software support: Devices must receive operating system updates for a minimum of 5 years from the date they are no longer sold.
- Repair access: Professional repair technicians must have equitable access to any necessary software or firmware.
What will the sticker look like?
The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) sticker, often referred to as the ENERGY label, will present seven crucial pieces of information. A sample sticker has already been seen on a phone intended for the European market, confirming the rollout of the system.
Who is responsible for verifying this data?
All suppliers, including manufacturers, importers, or authorized representatives, operating in the EU/EEA market are required to register their product models via a dedicated EPREL platform overseen by the European Commission.
Although manufacturers are accountable for delivering accurate data, the Commission will validate information regarding ingress protection, repairability, and battery performance.
A real-life sticker; device information is obscured by us
We spoke with representatives from the European Commission, who conveyed that their approach to device testing closely aligns with the practices we’ve established at GSMArena.com over the past 15 years.
In late 2023, we rolled out a new array of tests and initiated a partnership with the French automation firm SmartViser. This same company now provides testing solutions to manufacturers, suggesting that the methodology we helped create will assist millions of consumers across Europe in making better-informed purchasing choices.
What implications does this hold for consumers?
The Ecodesign label forms part of a broader EU initiative aimed at enhancing energy efficiency by the year 2030. This campaign is expected to lower CO₂ emissions by 46 million tonnes and save the average household around €150, in addition to the savings already realized through current ecodesign initiatives.
While these regulations officially pertain only to the EU, their effects might extend far beyond the 27 member states. We are already witnessing smartphone manufacturers globally extending software update support, while devices are becoming more resilient and easier to repair, benefiting consumers worldwide.
In the future, manufacturers may streamline their production processes and opt to comply with EU standards globally, rather than developing distinct versions for various markets.