Everything to know, what each symbol means and how it affects you

The day came. From today, Juniode 2025, all mobile phones and tablets will have to have the energy label. Yes, that same label that we are used to seeing In every small and large house appliance. This regulation entered into force on September 20, but it has not been until now that the validity has been full. From today, if a manufacturer wants to sell its mobiles and tablets in European territory, you will have to add the label in the box.

It is an interesting change and that we will begin to notice sooner rather than later in the linear of electronics and websites. Thus, we are going to review everything that needs to know about this label, what each symbol means and what the regulation on ecological design that also comes into play.

What devices affects. According to Regulation (EU) 2023/1669 of the commission of June 16, 2023this new regulation will apply to mobile phones (with a tactile screen between four and seven inches), wireless landlines and tablets (with touch screen between seven and 17.4 inches). Those devices will have to have their energy EPREL energy tag (acronym for European Product Registry for Energy Labelling).

What is the label. Virtually identical to what you can find in any appliance and similar to the one you can see on these lines. There are several symbols and their meanings are as follows:

1. A QR code with a link provided by the manufacturer to product -related information.
2. The commercial brand of the device. If the mobile is Samsung, “Samsung”.
3. The identifier of the specific model. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256 GB is the SM-S938BZBDEUB.
4. The Energy Efficiency Scale: “A” is the maximum possible score and “G” is the worst.
5. The device efficiency level according to the anterior scale.
6. The autonomy of the battery per cycle measured in hours and minutes per complete battery charge. That is, how much the battery lasts for the mobile.
7. The reliability of the device in free fall: “A” is the maximum possible score and “e” is the worst.
8. The repair of the device: “A” is the maximum possible score and “E” is the worst.
9. Load cycles supported by the phone until the battery reaches 80% of its maximum capacity. In other words, the battery degradation rate.
10. Classification of Water Resistance, Dust and Subsibility. For this indicator the IP certificate.
11. The regulation number. In this case, “2023/1669“

Where will it be shown? The label must measure at least 68 x 136 millimeters, so we will probably find it in the back of the device box. However, the label must be visible in the linear and exposed products, so we will surely find it printed near the plate with the information and the price of the terminal. On the websites, the approach is the same as with the appliances: upload the label as a more product photo and adopt the reduced format for the preview.

How all this is measured. The European Regulation establishes that measurements and calculations will be made using harmonized norms whose reference numbers have been published in the Official Gazette of the European Union or other reliable, precise and reproducible methods that take into account the most advanced methods generally accepted. ” While these standards arrive, other transitory test methods have been established.

For example, the assigned capacity and autonomy of the battery in cycles is measured with respect to the standard IEC in 61960-3: 2017Rayado resistance based on the standard In 15771: 2010resistance to accidental falls depending on the IEC 60068-2-31, repeated free fall-Procedure 2etc. All this is detailed In Annex IV bis of the Regulation. It is not something “random” or that each brand can do as they want.

What if it is rounded? In fact, the regulation contemplates the possibility that a falsea brand the data. Annex IV establishes that manufacturers should not design their devices to change their behavior if they detect that they are being subjected to rehearsal, ergo that are being investigated. If detected, the device would not pass the certification and could not be sold at our borders. How to measure that? With common tolerances.

Suppose a country decides to check if what the X brand says about autonomy per cycle is true. When doing the test, we already know that it is standard, the value obtained cannot be less than the value declared in +3%. If the brand ensures that the battery endures 60 minutes, but the test determines that it endures 50 minutes, the device does not meet the tolerances (in this case the maximum acceptable would be 58.2 minutes) and, therefore, does not comply with the regulation. All this, again, comes detailed in the document.

That the devices hold more. Another interesting aspect is that the regulation establishes a series of minimums in the call Ecological Design Regulation. This imposes on manufacturers some figures that play in favor of the consumer, who put on the table not a few challenges and that, surely, to speak in the coming months. The main points are the following:

• Fall resistance: Mobile will have to endure 45 falls from a meter high without a case or protector. In the case of folding, 35 closed and 15 open falls (always with the pre -installed sheet).
• Rayados resistance: mobile phones must have a minimum level of level four on the MOHS scale. This obviously does not apply to folding.
• Water and dust resistance: mobile phones, all, must be resistant to objects of more than one millimeter already thickness and water splashes. It would be the equivalent of an IP42 or IP43.
• Battery autonomy: After 800 load cycles, the battery capacity must be 80% or more with respect to the original capacity. In that sense, manufacturers will have to Allow the user to limit by software The maximum battery charge at 80%.
• Operating system updates: Since the mobile is launched to the market, the manufacturer will have to offer at least five years of “Security updates, corrective updates or functionality updates”. The problem is that the regulation does not establish that they are five years of major updates (of Android 15 to Android 1617, 18 …), but seems enough to offer five years of support in general. For example, three years of major updates and two more security patches.
• Repaability: Manufacturers will have to guarantee spare parts for at least seven years since the product stops selling. Among the pieces are the battery, the camera modules, the cargo port, the mechanical buttons, the hinge module, the mechanism for folding the screen or the tray for the SIM. These pieces, in addition, must be delivered quickly (between five and ten days) and must be able to settle, in general, with tools available in the market (no owner screws, for example) and easily. It depends on the spare, but the idea is the same in all: repairing a mobile or a tablet should be possible and easy.

The positive part? That from now on we can make more informed purchase decisions and manufacturers will have to offer things that, for the moment, could not offer. It is no secret that the most economical cutting terminals are not updated to the rhythm they should, they degrade more speed and offer no water resistance. With the new regulation we will have at least a minimum guarantee.

The problem? On paper, the idea is very good. Reality, however, is different. Time will say, but what A manufacturer has spare parts For all models launched for a year during the seven years after its launch It is complex. We will also have to see what the five years of updates in the most modest mobiles and tablets whose components may not endure the passage of time. And above all, if all these regulations will not end up assuming an increase in devices prices.

Cover image | Xataka

In Xataka | Eight questions and answers to understand the new energy label for mobiles and tablets that enters into force in June