EU implements Smartphones and Tablets Energy Label mandate

A huge number of personal electronics launched from today (June 20, 2025) on will have something new on the box for retail consumers in the European Union (EU). The new "Energy Label" will be familiar to anyone who has shopped for a fridge in the region as of late, except that this version is custom-designed for mobile devices.

As such, it contains new symbols denoting the "reparability" and "repeated free fall reliability" classes of the handset or slate in question. Both new metrics have a scale from A to E (from most to least repairable and reliable respectively) and are based on "standardized testing".

They are found next to more familiar graphics for IP ratings, along with others showing a given device's battery endurance in cycles, although the label will be dominated by where the device falls on the large and colorful energy efficiency scale (which goes from A to G in that case). 

The EC backs the labels to improve a consumer's ability to judge how much value for their money and in line with their needs a potential new gadget could be prior to buying it. 

The Energy Labelling Regulation has been enacted alongside the new EC Ecodesign Regulation, which requires manufacturers to boost device sustainability through improving their build quality; support them for longer with software upgrade plans spanning at least 5 years and ensure their resilience with batteries that can retain at least 80% of their initial capacity following 800 full charging cycles. 

Both regulations apply to most smartphones and tablets, as well as most dumbphones and feature phones, although there are some exceptions, most notably devices that might debut in the future with cutting-edge sliding or rollable displays.