“This new law states, specifically, that users should be able to replace a battery in their phone without any special expertise or tools.”
The EU Council signed off on rules that make phone batteries user-replaceable by 2027 with no tools. The glass sandwich glued shut with adhesive was a design choice, and it made a worn battery a reason to buy a new phone. Apple will not build a separate iPhone for Europe, so everyone else gets the fix too. Manufacturers also have to collect 63% of portable batteries by the end of 2027.