This initiative reflects the growing commitment of the technology industry to caring for the planet and environmental responsibility. By incentivizing the manufacture of more durable and repairable devices, it reduces the generation of electronic waste and promotes more conscious consumption. It is, without a doubt, an invitation for both manufacturers and users to look beyond the immediate and choose products that respect the planet's resources.

This new system follows the model already implemented in household appliances and televisions, and will mark a turning point in how we understand and consume technology. What does this label really mean, and how should it be interpreted? Experts from the Spanish technology brand SPC break down the details of what each piece of information on the new label means and how to interpret it.

Beyond the battery: this is how the new label on smartphones and tablets is read

• Product Identifier (I, II, III): the label will clearly include the brand, model and a QR link to the product information page in the European Product Register for Energy Labelling (EPREL).

• Energy rating (IV, V): This indicates the device's energy efficiency using a rating scale from A to G, where A is the lowest consumption and G is the highest. Consumers can easily determine a device's energy consumption before purchasing it. Energy efficiency depends on factors such as the processor, screen type, and charging cycle management.

• Battery life (VI): The new label will show how many hours and minutes the device can run before needing a battery recharge under homogeneous usage conditions: same brightness, network, volume, etc.

• Drop resistance (VII): This index expresses the robustness and durability of smartphones on a scale from A to E, with A being the highest resistance and E the lowest. The new regulations establish a minimum resistance of 45 drops without a case or screen protector for smartphones. Tablets, due to their design and typical use, are exempt from this minimum resistance requirement.

• Repairability Index (VIII): This is one of the main innovations of this new labeling system and aims to promote the circular economy and maximize the lifespan of smartphones and tablets. This index is calculated based on the ease of disassembly, parts replacement, and access to the technical information needed for repair, and will be indicated by a letter system ranging from A to E, with A being the highest level of repairability. This new index seeks to standardize the measurement of this parameter and promote repair and refurbishment over the purchase of new devices.

• Battery life (IX): This figure shows the number of times the battery can be charged and discharged (charge cycle) before it begins to lose capacity significantly, allowing users to quickly understand the battery's estimated lifespan. New regulations stipulate that smartphone and tablet batteries must retain 80% of their initial capacity after 800 charge cycles. In this regard, brands like SPC are implementing intelligent charging systems that promote battery health to extend their lifespan.

• Dust and water resistance (X): The labeling also specifies the level of protection the device offers against dust and liquid ingress, following the Ingress Protection (IP) rating system. This system consists of two numbers: the first indicates dust resistance (6 being the highest protection) and the second indicates water resistance (9 being the highest). In this regard, the new regulations establish a minimum IP44 rating, protecting smartphones against splashes of water from any direction and solid particles larger than 1 mm; and a minimum IP40 rating against accidental splashes of water and solid particles of 1 mm or more for tablets.

• Regulation number (XI): This is the code with which the product is registered in the EPREL Register.

SPC, aligned with the new European sustainability standards

This new system makes energy efficiency, sustainability, and repairability key factors when choosing a device. The labeling also provides transparency and allows users to easily compare different models on the market, highlighting aspects that were previously hidden or not standardized. In this context, brands like SPC, with their own design in Spain and comprehensive control over the development process, are at the forefront of regulatory adaptation. Even before the official implementation, SPC had already fully integrated the requirements as part of its commitment to sustainability, responsible consumption, repairability, and technological accessibility.