Europe set to mandate new Android version updates by Christmas and 5 years of repairs

Android and iOS software updates

First off, security and major Android and iOS version updates will have to be available to all phones in these ecosystems sold in the European Union within 2-4 months of their release. Google released Android 13 on August 15, so that would mean every single phone, down to the Galaxy A03, would have to be updated before Christmas rolls in if the EC gets its way.

Apple’s iOS phones and most major Android manufacturers have already committed to similar schemes so here they won’t see much struggle. Samsung has even gone further by promising no less than four years of Android updates and five of security ones, so for the biggest Android handset maker the new regulations would be a non-issue.

Phone repairability

The other big proposal is for the repairability of said phones sold in the EU. Repair shops should get access to original battery, display, cameras, charging ports, mechanical buttons, microphones, speakers, and hinges for foldable phones for at least five years after a model in deprecated by the manufacturer.

The batteries are getting a special treatment as their replacement is left to the shops, yet the phone maker should provide them with originals or alternatives that are up to the 500 charging cycle standard, i.e. they should retain at least 83% charge after 500, and 80% charge after 1000 cycles.

Thus, the brands under the BBK holding umbrella – Vivo, Oppo, and OnePlus – which collectively hold the globe’s largest market share of phones produced, will be way ahead of the rest of the Android or iOS gang here. They also already got Android 13, at least the high-end models, so they’d have no trouble fulfilling the software update requirements, too.