On June 20, a significant change takes effect in the European Union : all mobile devices sold in the region must now receive software updates for a minimum of five years. This legislation is part of a broader regulation aimed at combating planned obsolescence and extending the lifespan of devices. However, if you were hoping for your entry-level Android phone to be updated with five full versions of the operating system, there’s disappointing news.
What the Law Entails
This regulation is detailed in the Regulation (EU) 2023/1669 from the European Commission, enacted on June 16, 2023. It will apply to both smartphones and tablets . Notably, the regulation outlines specific obligations for manufacturers regarding system updates:
- Devices must receive updates for five years from the date of their market release.
- All updates will be provided free of charge.
- Three types of updates are outlined: security updates, bug fixes, and feature updates.
- The maximum window for delivering security and bug fix updates is four months.
- Feature updates must be delivered within six months.
The Nuance of Updates
While manufacturers are indeed required to provide five years of updates, the law does not mandate that these updates include entirely new platform versions. For instance, they might offer full updates for the first two years and then provide security patches for the remaining three. Therefore, it is essential not to confuse these five years of updates with having the latest version of Android throughout that period.
Who Will Benefit?
Does this change significantly alter the landscape of updates? The answer varies. For iOS users, it likely won’t, as Apple typically updates its devices for six to seven years post-launch. However, the situation is different for Android users, particularly those on lower-end models. Back in 2018, Google began requiring manufacturers to offer at least two years of support to maintain access to Google apps, but there was no explicit obligation until now. Cheaper mobile devices often fell short in this regard.
Fragmentation remains a persistent issue in Android, and while this new law may not resolve that, it will ensure that even entry-level devices receive essential security patches, thereby making them less vulnerable.
Partial Compliance
Many brands are already in line with the new regulations, including Apple. In the Android ecosystem, certain manufacturers offer robust support, though this varies across product categories. Recently, several brands have engaged in a competition to see who could provide the most extended update support. Here’s what some leading Android brands currently offer:
The Goal: Durable Mobile Devices
Alongside the new update regulations, additional measures encourage manufacturers to enhance the longevity of their devices under the so-called ‘ Ecological Design Regulation ’. Key components of this initiative include:
- Facilitating Repairability: Manufacturers will be required to offer spare parts for seven years, ensuring they are readily available and easy to install. They must meet various criteria, such as delivering parts within ten days and using commonly available tools for installation (which would eliminate proprietary screws).
- More Durable Phones: The new regulations stipulate that devices must be resilient, enduring up to 45 drops from a height of one meter. They must resist scratches (achieving a hardness level of 4 on the Mohs scale) and be water and dust-resistant (corresponding to an IP43 rating).
- Long-Lasting Batteries: Since battery life is one of the first things to degrade, manufacturers will need to ensure batteries maintain at least 80% capacity after 800 charge cycles.
Energy Labeling
Lastly, one of the novel features of this regulation is the energy labeling . While these labels have been common on home appliances, they will now also be seen on smartphones and tablets starting today. The label will illustrate the energy efficiency scale (with A being the most efficient and G being the least) and will provide additional information such as the full model name, battery life (hours per cycle), reparability index, and durability.
Image Credit: Ricardo Aguilar, Xataka
The changes ushered in by the EU’s new regulations address significant issues regarding software updates, device longevity, and environmental concerns. As the technology landscape evolves, we can only hope that these initiatives will prompt manufacturers to produce more sustainable and user-friendly devices.