Energy label: watch out for this new sticker on smartphones, these 5 points are to be checked
We already knew about energy labels for washing machines, refrigerators, and televisions. This small sign will now impact two other everyday devices: smartphones and tablets. Starting this Friday, June 20, manufacturers and sellers of these two types of devices are required to affix an information label to each model. This label will provide consumers with more information about their longevity.
The energy label on smartphones has been long-awaited. The European Commission has been working on a new label for phones for nearly five years. This label is now mandatory. It incorporates the DPE (Energy Performance Certificate) labeling, well-known to apartment owners and tenants, but also adds other details that could prove decisive during your next purchase, and especially afterward. We'll explain everything.
Things to know about the energy labelThe new energy label, made mandatory for smartphones and tablets, doesn't just display the equivalent of the model's energy performance rating. This label features seven different points to guide consumers when choosing and purchasing their new phone or tablet.
While the energy efficiency rating of a smartphone or tablet is not as important as that of a home, it still allows eco-responsible people, or those concerned about their consumption, to find out about the energy performance of their device. This score, presented in point 1 and Ranked from A (best) to G (worst), it shows how much energy a smartphone or tablet consumes during use. By making the right choice, consumers can reduce their consumption and their daily electricity bill.
Energy label: long-term savingsPoint #3 is also very important because it indicates the average battery life of the device. Far from the marketing hype of big brands that always boast of record battery life, this figure is much more factual. It represents in hours and minutes the duration during which the device is capable of being used with a 100% charge cycle. The higher this duration, the better battery life your future smartphone or tablet will have.
Consumers who tend to drop their devices should also pay attention to numbers 4 and 7. These indicate how resistant their product is to drops or exposure to water and dust. Number 4 is particularly important because it reflects several tests established to give a rating from A to E for the phone or tablet's resistance to drops. Number 7 , on the other hand, relates to the IP rating. The first number indicates dust resistance, while the second indicates water and splash resistance.
Finally, let's address point #6 , since it goes hand in hand with the previous two. If you've already experienced mishaps with your smartphone, you've probably already considered having it repaired in-store. This indicator, present on the new energy label, allows consumers to quickly determine the device's degree of repairability. Note that the majority of smartphone and tablet manufacturers already provide this type of information with a score ranging from 0 to 10.
What are the obligations for manufacturers and sellers?Starting this Friday, June 20, the energy label must be available to consumers who wish to obtain information on a smartphone or tablet. This new label must therefore be available in stores or accessible on a website via a QR code.
In addition to this new label, the legislation also requires smartphone and tablet manufacturers to take measures to extend the lifespan of their devices.
Thus, these manufacturers will now be required to guarantee the availability of essential spare parts for 7 years after the marketing of a new model. These devices must also be designed so that they can be easily dismantled and repaired, even by a third party.
Finally, this legislation requires manufacturers to offer a minimum of five years of updates for their devices. This minimum duration should allow you to keep your new smartphone or tablet for a longer period of time, while continuing to benefit from updates. Some manufacturers were still offering smartphones with only two or three years of updates in early 2025.
Two types of appliances excluded by the new energy labelThis requirement to affix an energy label does not apply to all new smartphones and upcoming tablets. The legislation passed by the European Commission specifically stipulates that two types of models are excluded:
- Foldable smartphones
- Smartphones designed for high-security communication
Since these are only available to a small number of professionals, there's no chance you'll find them in physical stores or online. Foldable smartphones, on the other hand, are exempt for the time being, since they require more information than a traditional phone. However, the European Commission is already working on an energy label for foldable phones, to be implemented from 2027.
Those curious about smartphones should already be familiar with the repairability index. This small score, rated out of 10, is regularly displayed by major manufacturers to promote the disassembly and repairability of their new devices. A smartphone is generally considered to have good repairability when this score exceeds at least 7 or 8. However, some more original or older models (like the Samsung S10 released in 2019) can have a very average score.
The repairability index differs from the new energy label rating by not taking into account certain aspects such as drop resistance or battery durability. On this point, this new label required by the European Commission is intended to be more precise than the repairability index.
On the other hand, when it comes to pure repairability, the new label is a little less precise since it covers more factors. So if you just want to know how repairable your device is, it's better to continue relying on the repairability index rather than the energy label.
L'Internaute
