EU exempts wearables from replaceable battery mandate

The European Commission has decided not to require smartwatches and other wearables to have user-replaceable batteries, exempting them from a 2023 regulation that applies to most other electronics by 2027. The exemption covers devices where battery replacement would compromise water resistance or design integrity. This decision follows industry pushback arguing that replaceable batteries in wearables could lead to bulkier, less durable products.