When it comes to smartphones or technology, in general, you often meet two types of people: ones who change their phones and devices every year and people who prefer sticking with the same for years to come. The latter often find themselves in trouble, especially after their devices lose their warranty. Well, EU is working on changing that, and your future Apple and Android devices could get 12 months of additional repair guarantee, which will make it super-easy for people who want to be sure that their devices are staying with them for longer without running into any major issues.
EU wants to make sure that Android, Apple, and tech users in general have an easier time with their devices
The European Parliament has voted in favor of legislation that is going to make the right-to-repair laws even stronger than before. Now, both the Council and Parliament have come to a provisional deal on specific legislation, which spells good news for all Android and iPhone owners, and hopefully, this is going to extend beyond smartphones as well.
The one provision that has managed to get the most attention is that product sellers will have to extend the warranty period by another calendar year after the product is repaired in warranty. However, there is an argument to this that talks about how EU member states could actually prolong the additional warranty period. Europe is already offering two years of guarantee on products, and this would extend that to three years.
So, how is all of this going to work in favor of the consumers? Well, for starters, the legislation is going to force manufacturers to provide details pertinent to the spare parts that are on their website. These repair parts will also be available to all repair sector parties at prices that are reasonable for the consumers. The EU would also ensure that Android or other manufacturers do not use second-hand or 3D-printed spare parts that are sourced from independent repairers. In addition to that, the agreement also ensures that Apple and other manufacturers are making the repair in a reasonable time and price. Consumers would also get the chance to choose between a repair and replacement, provided the product is still under warranty.
In addition to that, the new legislation is also going to introduce a standardized repair information form that will be used with repairers, especially smaller businesses. The form will also be issued to consumers without an additional fee, but it will allow repairers to charge a few for diagnostic services that they might have to perform on an Android or any other device.
Last but not least, the EU is also working on offering an online repair platform that is going to list different repair services in the region--this includes the ones that are in the bloc, as well as the ones that are in each member state.
Over the past couple of years, the EU has made the idea of having a smartphone a lot better than before. People are no longer terrified that their smartphones or laptops might run into severe issues when they can just get them repaired with ease. For instance, the latest Galaxy S24 had an almost perfect repairability score because of how easy it was to repair. While we explicitly do not credit the EU for making this happen, the reaction of this legislation is slowly being seen across the industry.
News Source: European Council
About the author: I have been tinkering with Android devices ever since the early days of the HTC Desire. Over time, I have grown a fondness for the ecosystem and now I cannot live without it. Although some might believe that I have sold my soul to Android, but I believe it is not the case. You can find me writing tutorials and posting guides on a number of different smartphones. When I am not writing here, I am wasting myself away in books, journals, or on Steam.
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