There's no reason for this other than corruption.
Whatever reason Apple gives is bullshit. They can very much design a watch that allows the user to easily replace the battery.
this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2026
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โBy way of derogation from paragraph 1, the following products incorporating portable batteries may be designed in such a way as to make the battery removable and replaceable only by independent professionals:
(a) appliances specifically designed to operate primarily in an environment that is regularly subject to splashing water, water streams or water immersion, and that are intended to be washable or rinseable;โ
How is a wristwatch not designed for an environment that is regularly subject to splashing water? I wash my hands several times a day.
I don't know how you do it, but I do wash my hands without getting my watch wet. Which is good, as not all watches are waterproof. And mine isn't. :D
Anyway, watches can be waterproof and have replaceable batteries. Like most watches, especially those that are not smartwatches.
Just for your information, the article notes this was a change pushed by U.S. officials in the context of the Meta glasses (the ones with always-on cameras), and that is applies to all sorts of wearable electronics (including the Meta glasses).
Of course, it is also in Apple's benefit to charge users a ridiculous amount of money for repairs, as it is for other big tech giants who produce wearables. No doubt all of them are colluding with the U.S. government, in exchange for money and likely personal data too
Ah so making it harder for new companies to develop a product while exempting the biggest offenders. Great.
It shouldn't be any more difficult than it was when smartphones first appeared and had them - they worked just fine. It was about squeezing customers by forcing them to upgrade when the batteries wore out.
The law that exempts every device that it would apply to....
It does not exempts new devices from small companies, making it more difficult to compete with the tech giants.
Gosh I hate the stranglehold corporate entities have over regulation. Example 3736281928372829177181833271537491613142
What! Change battery on a watch!! No, that's not possible...
I love the smell of regulatory capture in the morning
No special treatment for any company!
People getting click-baited. The reality is that ALL small wearables are exempted as is also stated in the article. This title is such a trash...
Apple Watch and other wearables gain exemption from EU battery rules
and
That includes smartwatches, smart glasses, fitness trackers, and other small wearable devices.
My opinion is it should not be exempted. Fairbuds and Pebble watch are proof that you can have swappable battery in small devices.
My wife and I both have a smart watch, both are about 1.5 year old and both have batteries that are starting to fail.
Replacing batteries innamart watches would not only be possible, it would be sensible. Then again, the world we currently live in makes no goddamn sense whatsoever, so at least that squares
yeah, sadly we are living in disposable world...
The only exception I've seen, based on a genuine engineering challenge: IP68 and higher ratings. If the device isn't explicitly rated for water and dust proofing such that it requires specialized tools to disassemble, it should be user replaceable
Not on my watch!!
(As in I don't own one)