A smartphone with a worn-out battery, a washing machine sidelined by a pump failure, a computer no longer receiving updates: behind every replacement lies an economic calculation. How much does the breakdown cost, who can fix it, and for how long? Looking ahead to September 2026, the European rules adopted in recent years are changing the parameters of that equation. For manufacturers and retailers, repairability is becoming a matter of inventory, margins and customer relationships. The obligations are clear; their commercial effects remain to be seen.
Brussels changes the price of disposability
The shift does not hinge on a single measure. Since 20 June 2025, European ecodesign requirements for smartphones and tablets within their scope have mandated, among other things, greater resilience, longer-lasting batteries and extended availability of certain parts. Batteries must, in particular, withstand at least 800 charging cycles while retaining 80% of their original capacity. Parts covered by the rules must remain available for up to seven years after the model is no longer placed on the market.
The European energy label also introduces a repairability class for these devices. It makes a feature once confined to specialist reviews visible at the point of purchase. In France, the repairability index had paved the way as early as 2021. A durability index, incorporating reliability among other factors, replaced it in 2025 for televisions and washing machines. The commercial objective is straightforward: to make lifespan part of the comparison between two products.
Another milestone is the European repair directive, adopted in 2024, which must be transposed into national law and applied by 31 July 2026 at the latest. For categories covered by European repairability requirements, it places an obligation on manufacturers to provide repairs under certain conditions, including outside the warranty period. It also provides for an extension of at least twelve months to the legal liability period when the consumer chooses repair rather than replacement. It is therefore not a universal right to have any object repaired.
Spare parts become a strategic asset
For a manufacturer, promising seven years of availability is not simply a matter of keeping a few boxes in a warehouse. It requires anticipating failures, reserving capacity with suppliers, documenting part numbers and organising distribution. Too many parts, and capital sits idle on shelves. Too few, and a theoretically possible repair becomes an interminable wait. After-sales inventory thus becomes part of the true cost of product design.
This constraint could encourage standardisation. A battery, pump or connector shared across several models simplifies purchasing and reduces the number of part numbers that need to be stocked. Conversely, multiplying cosmetic variants and proprietary internal architectures makes long-term support more expensive. The potential is clear, though far from guaranteed: finance departments could become allies of engineers advocating accessible, interchangeable components.
The price of parts nevertheless remains decisive. A device that can be taken apart is not necessarily economical to repair if its screen costs almost as much as a refurbished model. The European framework seeks to limit unjustified obstacles to repair, notably through provisions on access to parts and reasonable pricing. But that concept leaves a practical question: how can storage, logistics and quality be paid for without making the repair prohibitively expensive?
After-sales service steps out of the back room
For retailers, repair can turn a one-off purchase into a lasting relationship. Fnac Darty has already demonstrated this approach with Darty Max, a maintenance and repair subscription. The model is no longer limited to selling an appliance followed by an extended warranty: it involves supporting an installed base. Diagnosis, repairs, maintenance and eventual replacement all become opportunities for contact with the customer.
Yet this recurring revenue is no guaranteed income stream. A poorly priced subscription may primarily attract households with ageing appliances that are expensive to restore to working order. Profitability then depends on remote diagnosis, first-visit resolution rates and technician availability. An inexpensive part can turn a repair into a loss-making job if it requires two visits.
The retailer nevertheless has an advantage: it knows the original purchase and can offer a trade-in, a loan device or a refurbished alternative. For manufacturers, after-sales service also provides valuable information about real-world failures. But that data needs to reach design teams, rather than serve solely to sell another service contract.
Software can undo hardware improvements
A new battery will not save a phone that has become incompatible with essential apps. Durability therefore depends as much on software support as on a screwdriver. European requirements for smartphones and tablets also govern the availability of updates. Meanwhile, Google and Samsung announced seven years of updates for certain product ranges as early as 2023 and 2024: a commitment that shifted competition beyond processor performance.
Parts-pairing mechanisms are another sensitive issue: a working part may require software validation to regain full functionality. Security and theft prevention may justify certain checks, but they cannot become blanket explanations for every restriction. For independent repairers, access to diagnostic and configuration tools will matter as much as access to components.
Who will capture the value of a device that lasts?
Extending the useful life of devices could slow sales of new products. But it could also support trade-in values and streamline refurbishment. A well-documented model that is still supported and easy to restore to working order presents fewer uncertainties for a second-hand dealer. Manufacturers may seek to capture that value through trade-ins and resale, while retailers focus on maintenance and loyalty.
The outcome will depend above all on the consumer’s decision. Consumers weigh a repair bill, a waiting time and the risk of another breakdown against the price of an immediately available replacement. In France, the repair bonus, rolled out since late 2022 through QualiRépar-certified professionals, aims precisely to narrow that gap. But no subsidy can fully compensate for an opaque quote or several weeks without a device. Convenience remains a formidable rival to resource conservation.
What next? The most credible scenario for the period after 2026 is not the disappearance of replacement, but competition over the total cost of ownership. Manufacturers and retailers will have to make their promises verifiable: parts prices, length of support, repair turnaround times and subscription terms. Those that genuinely simplify repair could benefit on several fronts, from after-sales service to the second-hand market. The others risk discovering that a good score on display is not enough to retain a customer faced with a broken device.