Less than a year out from enforcement, the European Union’s mandate for user-replaceable batteries in smartphones and tablets is upending device manufacturing. Come February 18, 2027, every phone and tablet sold in the bloc must let consumers swap batteries using common tools—no glue guns, no proprietary screws, no specialist help required. The Olive Press laid it out plainly this week: batteries must stay available for five years post-production, potentially saving Europeans €20 billion by 2030 through fewer full replacements. This stems from the 2023 Batteries Regulation, a sweeping law tackling the bloc’s 5 million tonnes of annual e-waste from 150 million smartphones and 24 million tablets. Less than 40% gets recycled properly now. The rules demand designs where batteries pop out with off-the-shelf tools; if anything fancier is needed, manufacturers supply it free with purchase. But. Waterproof devices get a carve-out, allowing pro replacements instead. Manufacturers face a scramble.…