EU smartphone makers largely fail to provide mandatory repair and durability information, risking regulatory penalties
Executive summary: A Right to Repair report finds that most smartphone manufacturers in the EU do not make compulsory repair manuals and spare‑part prices readily available, despite the 2025 Ecodesign for Smartphones rule. Non‑compliance exposes firms to possible fines, raises costs for compliance, and may shift consumer preference toward brands that are transparent about repairability.
Who is involved: Major smartphone vendors (e.g., Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo) and EU regulators (European Commission, national market surveillance authorities).
Likely next: The Commission may issue infringement notices in late 2026, prompting manufacturers to publish the required information by early 2027 or face financial penalties.
A Right to Repair report published on 7 September 2026 shows that most smartphone manufacturers selling in the European Union do not make the legally required repair manuals and spare‑part prices easily accessible, despite the Ecodesign for Smartphones rule that has been in force since 2025. The lack of information hampers consumers’ ability to assess device longevity and compare aftermarket support. Regulators could respond with fines or enforcement actions, while companies may face higher compliance costs and potential shifts in brand preference.
Timeline
- — Une majorité des fabricants de smartphones ne respectent pas leurs obligations d’information en matière de réparation et de durabilité (Le Monde — Économie)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- European Commission may send infringement letters to non‑compliant smartphone makers by November 2026.
- Right to Repair plans to publish an updated compliance scorecard in October 2026.
- Several manufacturers have pledged to release updated repair guides on their websites by December 2026.
Sectors affected
- Smartphone manufacturing
- Consumer electronics
- Aftermarket spare parts
Regulatory implications
- EU Ecodesign for Smartphones regulation (2025) enforcement could trigger fines up to 4% of global turnover under the EU’s Market Surveillance Regulation.
- National authorities may require mandatory labeling of repairability scores starting 2027.
Historical parallels
- EU GDPR fines on Google (€50 million, 2021) for insufficient transparency.
- European carmakers fined €1 billion in 2020 for missing emissions‑data disclosures (Dieselgate aftermath).
Sources
- Une majorité des fabricants de smartphones ne respectent pas leurs obligations d’information en matière de réparation et de durabilité — Le Monde — Économie