September 14, 2026, 12:33 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
The EU aims to make smartphone repairs easier and more transparent. However, a recent analysis shows that many manufacturers apparently do not fully implement the guidelines.
Since June 20, 2025, new ecodesign regulations for smartphones and tablets have been in effect in the European Union. The rules are intended to make devices easier to compare, use longer, and repair more easily. To this end, the EU introduced an energy label that includes information on energy efficiency, battery life, drop resistance, and repairability.
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Additionally, manufacturers must provide information on spare parts and repair manuals. This allows buyers to determine before purchase how sustainable a device is and whether a repair is worthwhile in the event of damage. The data is stored in the European product database EPREL and is publicly accessible.
Analysis shows significant deficiencies
Experts see major problems with exactly this information. The Right to Repair initiative analyzed more than 2,300 smartphone entries from the official EU database. The result is clear: Around 80 percent of the devices examined do not sufficiently meet the requirements, according to the organization.
For 18 percent of smartphones, information on spare parts was completely missing. Another 19 percent linked to websites where neither spare parts nor repair manuals could be found. In other cases, the information led only to user manuals or general online marketplaces.
How to check your own smartphone
If you want to know what information is stored for your own device, you can use the EU’s EPREL database. There you will find the official energy labels and the information reported by manufacturers on repairs and spare parts. The only requirement is the model identification of the smartphone.
This identification is usually found in the settings under “About the phone” or in the device’s regulatory information. Consumers can use it to check whether the required information is fully available. If incorrect or incomplete information is discovered, sources recommend first contacting the retailer. Additionally, consumer protection agencies or the relevant market surveillance authorities can be informed.