[jl6]

iPhone batteries are already replaceable, albeit most people have to pay Apple to do it. Does this count as replaceable under this mandate, or is there an expectation that batteries must be replaceable by end-consumers on their own? Any requirements for what level of skill and tooling end-consumers are expected to have access to, such as specialized screwdrivers and re-waterproofing adhesives?

[dguest]

cutting out quite a bit from section 11:

    A portable battery shall be ... removable by the end-user ... with the use of commercially available tools, without requiring the use of specialised tools, unless provided free of charge with the product, proprietary tools, thermal energy, or solvents to disassemble the product.

    Any ... person that [markets] products incorporating portable batteries shall ensure that those products are accompanied with instructions ...

in other words you need to either make it easy and safe with standard tooling or include the tools people need.

Waterproof products are also specifically exempt.

EDIT: the "waterproof" requirement might leave less room for abuse than you'd think. It only extends to

    appliances specifically designed to operate primarily in an environment that is regularly subject to splashing water, water streams or water immersion, and that are intended to be washable or rinseable;

under this definition you could argue that an iPhone is not exempt, since it's not designed to operate primarily in water. How this is enforced seems to be mostly up to the various countries.

[jl6]

Thanks. So this is not going to lead to user-replaceable batteries on iPhones.

[dguest]

That seems a bit less clear to me. It seems to hinge on whether the courts believe that an iPhone is specifically designed to operate primarily in a wet environment.

[jl6]

Just iPhones sold in the UK then perhaps.

[Xiol]

The UK is not in the EU.

[reddalo]

>Waterproof products

Suddenly, all phones will be waterproof.

[NekkoDroid]

They also have to be intended primarily to be used in very wet environments and washable/rinseable. So unless someone found Atlantis they will have a relatively difficult time using that as an out.