A new EU-wide energy label for smartphones and tablets, effective Friday, will give consumers greater transparency. New requirements cover energy efficiency, repairability, and battery lifespan, the Austrian Energy Agency announced. The goal is to simplify product choice using clear quality and environmental criteria.

The label shows not only energy efficiency but also drop resistance, dust and water protection, repair friendliness, and battery performance and longevity. It now also requires disclosure of battery charge-cycle durability and minimum lifespan.

Guaranteed Quality & Efficiency

Binding product rules ensure high quality and efficiency across the EU. Batteries must endure at least 800 charge cycles without losing more than 20 % capacity. Spare parts must be available for at least seven years after sales end. Repairers gain mandatory access to software and firmware for fixes and updates. Estimated spare-part prices must be disclosed, making repair costs transparent up front.

Terawatt-Scale Electricity Savings

The new standards offer ecological gains: battery charging is 30 % faster, high-end smartphones use 25 % less energy, and tablets 23 % less. The EU predicts annual savings of 2.2 TWh by 2030.

The label applies to smartphones with 4–7 inch integrated displays and tablets with 7–17.4 inch screens. Devices with roll-up screens or specialized security phones are excluded.