{
  "id": 6134692,
  "title": "Smartphone makers don't bother to comply with EU repairability requirements",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/smartphone-makers-dont-bother-to-comply-with-eu-repairability-6134692",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-07T11:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register",
    "slug": "the-register",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/personal-tech/2026/09/07/smartphone-makers-dont-bother-to-comply-with-eu-repairability-requirements/5294532"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "After just one year of EU repairability rules for smartphones and tablets, most devices still fail to provide the necessary repair information, according to Right to Repair Europe. The campaign group claims that mobile devices in the EU must include a mandatory self-reported repairability score, and manufacturers must publish helpful repair information. These rules came into effect in June 2025. However, a review of the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling, where manufacturers are supposed to list where they publish the required information, reveals that only around 18% of smartphone models listed a website for spare parts prices or repair instructions. Half of the records have no URL, and 19% refer to product or support pages that lack repair details or spare parts listings. Some records even direct customers to online marketplaces like Temu or AliExpress for spare parts and repair instructions.\n\nDespite the non-compliance, a few manufacturers have given themselves top scores for repairability, leading to Right to Repair Europe's criticism. The group also points out that pricing for spare parts is often listed with a very wide range, such as €14 to €128 for a replacement battery. Even for products technically compliant with the rules, the provided weblink rarely leads directly to parts prices. Major brands like Apple and Samsung require multiple clicks to find the necessary repair information. Right to Repair Europe questions the effectiveness of the EU's approach, given the numerous non-compliant devices on the market. They blame the lack of enforcement for the thousands of blank fields in the documents.\n\nThe campaign group also raises concerns about manufacturers self-declaring their repairability scores and suggests that manufacturers should be required to publish the full documentation supporting the scores they report. Additionally, they propose making it easier for consumers and repairers to report non-compliance. Meanwhile, the European Commission has not yet responded to Right to Repair Europe's findings.",
  "summary": "Vast majority of new devices on market still don't give repair information to owners, but give themselves top marks for repairability",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}