- The European Union is working on technological repairability rules…
- …except that certain “wet devices” are now exempt
- This puts “body-worn devices” in a very gray area…
- …and yes, that probably means AirPods
E-waste worriers (and warriors) like me have been watching with glee as European regulations are created, as some of them will require tech makers to put replaceable or repairable batteries in their gadgets. But there are now some key new exceptions to the rule.
Some major new clarifications, listed on the European Commission website, mitigate the positive impact of replaceable and scalable technologies. These exceptions mean that wearable devices, including smartwatches and fitness trackers, don’t necessarily have to be repairable — and I think it’s ironic that these are precisely the kind of gadgets you’re more likely to throw away and replace, rather than try to repair.
The EU has moved these products into its “wet devices” category, for gadgets that cannot be repaired for safety reasons (i.e. because they deal with water). However, no reason has been given as to why portable devices, particularly those not designed for wet use (based on IP ratings), are now exempt.
Although the EU rule change doesn’t actually mention AirPods (or headphones in general), the wording essentially means that wireless headphones, Apple Watches, and smart glasses would also fall into this specific category of wearables. Smart glasses aren’t really designed for wet use, but their wearer could get caught in a rainstorm by accident, for example.
There are two key pieces of information regarding the classification of small devices exempt from compliance with EU battery rules, as published in recent guidelines. The first is that “wearables are portable electronic devices that are worn on the body and often have sensors and connectivity to collect and transmit data. Examples of wearable devices include smart watches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, or other electronic devices embedded in clothing and other accessories.”
The second? It has to do with those IP ratings for water and dust ingress and whether adding a replaceable battery “compromises safety.” It states that if there is evidence in the product documentation when the product is placed on the market that replacement and removal of the battery by end users would compromise the safety of the user or device, the product may be exempt.
So your AirPods 4 with ANC will probably no longer need to have replaceable batteries due to the EU, including the case itself.
An apple a day keeps electronic waste away
It’s no secret that e-waste is a major problem: according to the United Nations, the amount of discarded electronic devices we produce is growing five times faster than our capacity to recycle them.
This is why the EU recently imposed rules ensuring that technology is repairable. A pair of headphones that break may simply require a new battery; you don’t need to buy a whole new pair.
Apple users are clamoring for removable batteries in iOS devices, especially AirPods, as we argued in 2024. AirPods are the best-selling headphones in the world (and it’s not even close), so at least a few of them end up in landfills when they stop working, despite Apple’s belief in recycling those returned to its stores (Apple offers no trade-in value for AirPods, but dropping them off for recycling is free).
I think it’s important that all technology is repairable (see B&O’s long-standing “Cradle to Cradle” approach, even going as far as repurchasing and refurbishing his kit, to give it new life), but doubly so for the omnipresent genre.
Apple’s method is of course a viable way to maintain your eco-friendly credentials, while eliminating unwanted buds, but it’s not the right one. best path. These would be replaceable batteries, no matter how small and fiddly they are – and it’s possible, because Fairphone has been doing it for a while.
According to the mantra instilled in schoolchildren: reduce, reuse, recycle, in that order. Reusing old headphones, by repairing them, is much better for the environment than recycling them, and so it’s a shame that the EU gives out exemptions like candy.
If you have broken technology, whether it’s headphones, earbuds, or something else, a repair is always your first port of call before getting rid of your existing devices. It’s cheaper and faster than buying new technology and, above all, it’s better for the planet. And if you need to buy new tech, consider online or brick-and-mortar home improvement stores like Back Market, which repair other people’s gadgets.
The best wireless headphones for every budget
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds.
