Published: May 31, 2026 ⹠5:30 PM IST · Updated: May 31, 2026 ⹠7:36 PM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world.
For more news about gadgets and smartphones, follow Dominic Preston.
The Stepback arrives in our subscribersâ inboxes at 8AM ET.
Opt in for The Stepback here.
How it started In 2023, the European Union agreed on two landmark pieces of legislation mandating how portable tech products with batteries must be designed, aiming to improve longevity, repairability, and recyclability.
Published May 31, 2026.
Quick Summary
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about gadgets and smartphones, follow Dominic
Why It Matters
This development is important because it may impact public opinion, policy decisions, and future developments related to User-replaceable batteries are coming back in a big way.
Key Takeaways
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world.
For more news about gadgets and smartphones, follow Dominic Preston.
Opt in for The Stepback here.
How it started In 2023, the European Union agreed on two landmark pieces of legislation mandating how portable tech products with batteries must be designed, aiming to improve longevity, repairability, and recyclability.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 came into force last year and applies specifically to smartphones and tablets, while Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 takes effect next year and covers almost every other piece of technology with a battery inside.