Monday, July 17th 2023

New EU Rule: Gaming Handhelds Required to Have Replaceable Batteries by 2027

by
T0@st
 Discuss (29 Comments)
Last week the European Union agreed on the provisional adoption of a new regulation that "strengthens sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries. The regulation will regulate the entire life cycle of batteries - from production to reuse and recycling - and ensure that they are safe, sustainable and competitive." More specific terms include: "by 2027 portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end-user, leaving sufficient time for operators to adapt the design of their products to this requirement. This is an important provision for consumers." Although gaming handhelds are not referred to in specifics within the European Council's (very general) press material, Overkill (a site specializing in Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch and adjacent platforms) sought to investigate this matter further.

The publication was able to get in direct contact with an unnamed source at the European Union, who confirmed that: "the batteries of gaming handhelds are covered by the batteries and waste batteries regulation." The article proposes that future battery requirements will likely not affect current generation products—a Steam Deck successor and Nintendo's hypothetical Switch 2 are perhaps the prime candidates for internal design revisions according to EU legislation set for 2027. Overkill anticipates that portable gaming device manufacturers are going to question some of the new rules—similar to how smartphone makers have appealed against certain decisions. A compromise could be agreed upon, with slightly refashioned handhelds not conforming 100% to the new standards.
Sources: Overkill WTF, EU Council PR, Eurogamer

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29 Comments on New EU Rule: Gaming Handhelds Required to Have Replaceable Batteries by 2027

#1
Chaitanya
I read somewhere the regulation states batteries to be replaceble without need for propietary tools which if true and implemented correctly is a sensible regulation.
Posted on Reply
#2
kiakk
Everything should have replaceable battery, even the small smartwatches as well.
I whould only give expections for very special and uniquie equipments, like professional medical devices if that required or other professional devices. But for consumer equipments: a big NO.
Posted on Reply
#3
Lord Romulus
I just love to see how the power of public authority can guide industry, which operates in the free market, to take right and just directions for the welfare of citizens and consumers. A world without bureaucracy staff is a world where we would have to pay for every time a cubic centimeter of oxygen is renewed inside our lungs, believe me.
Posted on Reply
#4
ixi
Now mobile phones - please.
Posted on Reply
#5
Avro Arrow
It would appear that the EU is the real leader of the free world because it just seems like every good idea comes from there first. I've been thinking of emigrating there from Canada.
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#6
mechtech
Wasn’t the original gameboy powered by 4 AA batteries???
Posted on Reply
#7
Chry
Food and environmental safety, construction material toxicity... All these EU regulations alone make it worth supporting the EU. Glad they're taming the battery/cable/self-repair side of electronics as well. Both from the environmental and consumer-friendly perspectives.
A bit sad the industries need to be nudged to do the right thing. I don't believe they would've lost that much if they opted for replaceable batteries themselves.
Posted on Reply
#8
Double-Click
Good. This is something that should just be standard practice everywhere.
mechtechWasn’t the original gameboy powered by 4 AA batteries???
Yep, and the Sega Game Gear took 6x >.<
Posted on Reply
#9
kapone32
So no Apple like products in the Handheld space are good. Being able to replace the battery definitely saves Landfill space as well.
Posted on Reply
#10
ixi
mechtechWasn’t the original gameboy powered by 4 AA batteries???
It was.

Cpu at 4.19MHz
Resolution 160x144

:D
Posted on Reply
#12
Easo
ixiNow mobile phones - please.
You missed the previous news, yes? Mobile phones are the primary target of the new regulation.
Posted on Reply
#13
CrAsHnBuRnXp
Why by 2027? Give them 2 years. This way, any current designs that have not reached production, can be altered. This should be the case with everything. It shouldnt take so long to take effect.
Double-ClickGood. This is something that should just be standard practice everywhere.



Yep, and the Sega Game Gear took 6x >.<
And still died in an hour.

Both had external power sources however.
Posted on Reply
#14
TumbleGeorge
Lord RomulusI just love to see how the power of public authority can guide industry, which operates in the free market, to take right and just directions for the welfare of citizens and consumers. A world without bureaucracy staff is a world where we would have to pay for every time a cubic centimeter of oxygen is renewed inside our lungs, believe me.
Seem like you missing worse bureaucracy decisions. Believe me its exist. And they can also lead to damage to the interests of citizens. In fact, it happens all the time. But here isn't place for disqus that.
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#15
kondamin
Why 2027? a battery doesn't require major redesigns 2025 should be more than enough time.
Posted on Reply
#16
bug
kiakkEverything should have replaceable battery, even the small smartwatches as well.
I whould only give expections for very special and uniquie equipments, like professional medical devices if that required or other professional devices. But for consumer equipments: a big NO.
I wanted to say the same thing: ban them all and just maintain a list of exceptions, as needed.
Posted on Reply
#17
Post Nut Clairvoyance
kondaminWhy 2027? a battery doesn't require major redesigns 2025 should be more than enough time.
most probably just to prevent any business to claim infeasibility. protecting new laws from backlash and make sure it still exist in 2027
Posted on Reply
#18
john_
Return to logic. OK, we will have to suffer 1-2 extra millimeters of thickness, but throwing away a device because the battery died outside of the warranty period and a replacement costs a high double digit price because it also involves a technician opening the device to replace the battery? Please. EVERY device should have an easily replaceable battery.
Posted on Reply
#19
bug
john_Return to logic. OK, we will have to suffer 1-2 extra millimeters of thickness, but throwing away a device because the battery died outside of the warranty period and a replacement costs a high double digit price because it also involves a technician opening the device to replace the battery? Please. EVERY device should have an easily replaceable battery.
It's not even an extra 1-2mm. Back when we still had phones with user replaceable batteries, phones with replaceable batteries were not bigger at all (and sometimes smaller) than phones with soldered batteries. The size story is yet another myth Apple invented.
I mean the battery size is still the same, you just need a bit of space for more tolerant connectors. What, pray tell, could you possibly fit in the space you save by using smaller connectors? A GSM antenna? A NFC reader?
It's going to be much harder to waterproof with a lid in place, but that's about it.
Posted on Reply
#20
Prima.Vera
bugIt's going to be much harder to waterproof with a lid in place, but that's about it.
No it's not. That's another huge misconception. Water proof watches, cameras and other gadgets, are on the market for more than 50 years, and there is no rocket science about a proper seal.
It's just Apple trying to convince the suckers that there is no other way, except their ways.
Posted on Reply
#21
bug
Prima.VeraNo it's not. That's another huge misconception. Water proof watches, cameras and other gadgets, are on the market for more than 50 years, and there is no rocket science about a proper seal.
It's just Apple trying to convince the suckers that there is no other way, except their ways.
Yeah, but if you're going to open it often, it's not going to last very long. Or it least that was the case in the old days, when the SIM was accessible under the battery. Who knows how the new designs will look like?
Posted on Reply
#22
john_
bugYeah, but if you're going to open it often, it's not going to last very long. Or it least that was the case in the old days, when the SIM was accessible under the battery. Who knows how the new designs will look like?
They get payed hundreds of dollars per device. I am pretty sure they can thing a way to make devices water proof. Worst case scenario, waterproof cases.
Posted on Reply
#23
claes
ChaitanyaI read somewhere the regulation states batteries to be replaceble without need for propietary tools which if true and implemented correctly is a sensible regulation.
Manufacturers can still use proprietary tools, they just have to make them available to customers.
john_Return to logic. OK, we will have to suffer 1-2 extra millimeters of thickness, but throwing away a device because the battery died outside of the warranty period and a replacement costs a high double digit price because it also involves a technician opening the device to replace the battery? Please. EVERY device should have an easily replaceable battery.
There’s no guarantee that they’ll be as easily replaceable as people might imagine, just that the tools and manuals necessary to replace them will be available and that a “layman” (whatever that means) is able to perform the replacement.
bugIt's not even an extra 1-2mm. Back when we still had phones with user replaceable batteries, phones with replaceable batteries were not bigger at all (and sometimes smaller) than phones with soldered batteries. The size story is yet another myth Apple invented.
I mean the battery size is still the same, you just need a bit of space for more tolerant connectors. What, pray tell, could you possibly fit in the space you save by using smaller connectors? A GSM antenna? A NFC reader?
It's going to be much harder to waterproof with a lid in place, but that's about it.
Idk but I don’t really think this is true. Those older phones also didn’t have as many coprocessors and other components as newer phones begin to incorporate. Not just antennas and scanners, but more advanced cameras, gyrometers, ar/vr processors, humidity and temperature detectors etc
Posted on Reply
#24
Avro Arrow
bugYeah, but if you're going to open it often, it's not going to last very long. Or it least that was the case in the old days, when the SIM was accessible under the battery. Who knows how the new designs will look like?
Since those Li-Ion batteries last a very long time, even if they are removable, I don't think that anyone is going to open it at a rate that would even begin to fit my definition of "often". ;)
Posted on Reply
#25
bug
john_They get payed hundreds of dollars per device. I am pretty sure they can thing a way to make devices water proof. Worst case scenario, waterproof cases.
I didn't mean it can't be done, I meant it's the only downside of a replaceable battery design that I can think of.
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