Mobile phones have become essential tools for work, education, payments and staying connected across Africa. Their longevity is no longer just a matter of user convenience. It raises broader issues of affordability, social equity and corporate responsibility.

Starting Feb. 18, 2027, all mobile phones sold in the European Union must have removable batteries that users can replace themselves. The requirement marks a return to a design most major handset makers abandoned in recent years.

The measure is set out in Article 11 of the EU regulation on batteries and battery waste, adopted on July 12, 2023. It updates existing rules and replaces earlier legislation.

For Africa, the implications go beyond a technical change. Mobile phones, especially smartphones, are essential tools for communication, information, work, payments, commerce and learning. They also represent a significant financial burden for many households.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) says device costs remain a major barrier to digital access. In sub-Saharan Africa, a smartphone still costs about 45% of average monthly income. The GSMA, the global association of mobile operators, said again in 2026 that affordability remains the main driver of low smartphone adoption across the continent.

A financial and environmental challenge

In this context, the battery is critical. It often determines when an otherwise functional phone becomes unusable. Screens remain intact, processors still work and applications are still relevant, but battery life deteriorates, charging becomes unreliable, or devices overheat and shut down.

Without affordable battery replacement, the entire device is discarded. The issue is not just the right to repair. It is the ability to extend the life of a costly asset.

The environmental impact is equally significant. The world generated 62 million metric tons of electronic waste in 2022, according to the ITU and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. Only 22.3% was formally collected and recycled. At that pace, global volumes could reach 82 million metric tons by 2030. Electronic waste is growing five times faster than documented recycling.

Africa remains particularly exposed. Formal e-waste collection and recycling rates are below 1%, compared with 42.8% in Europe. Mobile phones contribute significantly to the problem. Millions of devices fall outside formal disposal systems, often because of battery failure, even when they could still be used.

A regulatory and industrial question

The European decision raises a direct question for African markets. If manufacturers can produce more durable and repairable smartphones for Europe, with removable batteries, accessible spare parts and longer software support, there is little justification for offering less repairable devices elsewhere.

This applies to all major manufacturers operating on the continent, including Transsion, Huawei, Samsung, Apple and Xiaomi. Africa cannot remain a market for devices with sealed batteries, limited spare parts and short software support cycles.

Demand conditions point in the opposite direction. Consumers tend to keep their devices longer. That makes durability, repairability and local maintenance capacity more critical than rapid product turnover.

Governments and regulators also have a role. The European framework shows that regulation can influence product design at a global scale. African states and regional bodies can open similar discussions on repairability standards, spare parts availability, product lifespan transparency and manufacturer responsibility for e-waste.

The circular economy does not need to remain a policy slogan. It can be adapted into concrete industrial and regulatory measures aligned with local realities.

Ultimately, removable batteries are not a return to outdated technology. They reflect a shift toward more durable and accessible devices. For Africa, where purchasing power is constrained and device lifecycles are longer, that shift is significant. It suggests a different benchmark for innovation, not only performance, but longevity.

Muriel Edjo