Repair your own tech with the Right to Repair

Have you ever wanted to repair your tech, rather than purchasing something new? These new regulations from the EU want to support you to do just that, and are ensuring that you can repair, rather than replace.

The Right to Repair is a new EU law, which is designed to support consumers in allowing them to repair their own products rather than having to buy something new,, as well as reduce the amount of technology that is disposed of, and should help countries be more sustainable.

Consumers now have the right to request that manufacturers repair products that are ‘technically repairable’ for free or at a reasonable price, and within a reasonable time frame. The warranty of the product will also be extended by at least 12 months if a customer decides to repair rather than replace the product. They’ll also be required to provide spare parts at a reasonable price, and no longer use hardware or software to prevent independent repairers from repairing their products.

In 2027, the EU has announced that they’ll be launching a new online European repair platform, to help customers find repair services in their country.

New regulations regarding batteries have also been established by the EU, which come into effect in February 2027. This law will require that any device that contains a portable battery should be easily removable and replaceable by the customer, with industrial batteries being removable and replaceable by independent professionals. 

Earlier this year, Nintendo announced that the original Nintendo Switch console will be discontinued, with the Nintendo Switch 2 containing a user-replaceable battery. Phone manufacturers will also have to comply, and the UK Government will also be adopting the law from July 2027. This means that smartphones purchased after that point will be required to have batteries that can be replaced by the customer, or easily by an independent service.

Whilst the legal requirement has come from the EU and not the UK, it still applies to all manufacturers that sell their products to EU countries. For businesses, it is often much easier and more cost effective to make a single product that complies with EU regulations, and sell this product everywhere. The alternative is that a manufacturer creates multiple versions of the same product for different countries. 

This means that whilst the UK is not in the EU, we will likely benefit from these new regulations, particularly from global manufacturers.

It’s a little early to say exactly how manufacturers are going to respond to these new regulations. However, from next year, we should be seeing a lot less tech with parts and batteries that are glued into place, and more of an emphasis on upgrading parts within your device rather than replacing the device itself. 

Regardless, UK consumers should have more rights with the tech that they buy, and more options for tech that breaks, or wears out.