A year after the European Union's repairability rules took effect for smartphones and tablets, the vast majority of devices on the market remain non-compliant. Right to Repair Europe reports that over 80 percent of smartphone models lack required repair information, raising serious questions about enforcement.

What You Need to Know

The European Union requires smartphone makers to publish repairability scores and provide spare parts prices and repair instructions. Manufacturers must list this information in the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling. Right to Repair Europe reviewed 2,334 smartphone records and found only 18 percent include a valid website with relevant repair data. Many records have blank fields or link to unrelated pages, and some direct consumers to marketplaces like Temu or AliExpress.

Widespread Non-Compliance

Right to Repair Europe's analysis of the European Product Registry reveals systemic failures. Of the 2,334 smartphone models registered since June 2025, roughly half have blank entries where a URL should appear. Another 19 percent of records link to product pages or support sites that contain no repair instructions or spare parts listings. A small number of records even send customers to Temu or AliExpress for parts and repair guidance.

  • Missing URLs: Half of all records leave the repair information field blank.
  • Irrelevant links: Nearly one in five records points to a page without any repair content.
  • Wide price brackets: Some manufacturers list spare parts with huge price ranges, such as €14 to €128 for a replacement battery.

Self-Reported Scores Undermine Trust

The repairability scores are self-assigned by manufacturers. Right to Repair Europe notes that some companies award themselves top marks despite failing to provide the required information. For example, a device with blank repair fields may still receive a class A repairability rating. This practice erodes consumer confidence in the labeling system. Even for brands like Apple and Samsung that appear technically compliant, finding spare parts prices often requires navigating multiple clicks.

Thomas Opsomer, iFixit's EU policy spokesperson and a member of the Right to Repair Europe Coalition, said manufacturers should be required to publish full documentation supporting their self-assigned scores. He also called for easier ways for consumers and repairers to report non-compliance.

Why This Matters

The EU's repairability rules were designed to extend product lifespans and reduce electronic waste. Without enforcement, the regulation becomes a paper exercise. Consumers cannot make informed purchasing decisions when repair information is hidden or missing. Independent repair shops face barriers accessing parts and manuals. The lack of oversight also undermines the upcoming regulation requiring user-replaceable batteries in mobile devices, set to take effect in February 2026. If manufacturers ignore today's requirements without consequence, tomorrow's mandates may face similar disregard. The European Commission has not yet responded to requests for comment on Right to Repair Europe's findings.