Beyond the price tag: why the energy label may determine your purchase
Energy labels are helping smartphone users to choose well. The new label rates smartphones and tablets on energy efficiency, durability, and repairability
Beyond the price tag
You may have recently noticed new energy labels displayed next to smartphones and tablets on sale in stores and online. This is part of a new European-wide requirement and that effects the eco-design and energy labelling regulations for these products. Energy labels can be a great tool to help you incorporate energy and environmental considerations when you purchase a new product.
This blog will give you some tips on how to use the energy label to choose products, along with some practical benefits of selecting more durable and repairable smartphones and tablets.
What is the energy label?
The energy label helps you understand a products’ energy efficiency, repairability, and durability. You’ll find it next to or on products displayed for sale, whether in stores or on online shops. Energy labels have been used for over 30 years, covering an expanding range of household appliances and products.
The new energy label for smartphones and tablets presents information on the products’ battery performance, durability, and repairability. Similar to the energy labels already in place for other product categories, such as washing machines, ovens, or heat pumps, the energy label for smartphones and tablets allows you to easily compare products based on performance characteristics.
6 ways you can use the label to inform your purchasing decision
Energy Efficiency
Looking at the energy efficiency class is an easy way to compare products’ energy efficiency at a glance. For example, a product rated B will be more energy-efficient than a similar product rated C or D.
This rating, which spans from A (highest energy efficiency, in dark green) to G (lowest energy efficiency, in red), is calculated using the product’s battery endurance in hours (determined by a harmonised test), divided by the amount of energy the specific battery can store.
2. Battery endurance
Measured in hours per cycle, it refers to how long the battery lasts from a full charge to when it needs to be recharged again. This gives you a good indication of how long your device will last between charges.
For example, if a smartphone or a tablet has a battery life of 20 hours per cycle, it means you can expect to be able to use it for around 20 hours before needing to recharge it.
Alongside the energy efficiency scale and the battery life, the 4 icons situated at the bottom of the label give you some more specific technical information on the product’s repairability and durability parameters.
3. Repeated free fall reliability
This indicates how well the device withstands accidental drops. A higher rating means greater resilience and fewer functional failures from everyday mishaps.
The repeated free fall reliability class (or impact resistance) is determined based on the number of falls that the device can withstand without problems to functionality. This rating is calculated with a standard test method used by all manufacturers.
4. Repairability
The repairability class of a smartphone or a tablet considers how easy it is to repair the product, based on the availability of spare parts, repair information, and the complexity of the repair process. Products rated as "A” are the most repairable.
Manufacturers of smartphones and tablets will have to provide end-users with certain spare parts, access to repair services and related information. Repairing your device can help to extend its lifespan at an affordable price.
Repair your device instead of buying a new one: it is usually much cheaper, and better for the environment.
5. Battery lifespan
Battery lifespan is the number of charge / discharge cycles a battery can go through until its capacity has reached 80 % of its initial rated capacity.
With time and after many charge and discharge cycles, the performance of all batteries will decline. This parameter will give you some indication of how long you can expect to have a product with optimal battery capacity.
6. Ingress protection
The Ingress protection rating indicates how well the device is sealed against dust and water. It is a standard used to define the levels of sealing effectiveness against foreign bodies.
A good rating means your product is better protected and therefore more durable. For example, a smartphone with an IP68 rating is dust-tight and can be submerged in water down to 1 meter or beyond for a specified time.
Why use the energy label?
On an individual level, using the label to learn about a product’s energy efficiency, durability, and repairability helps you select the best product within your budget. Choosing products with high energy efficiency, repairability, and durability ratings can save you money in the long run. It also has a positive impact on the environment, by ensuring the natural resources used to manufacture a product are in use for longer before they are discarded and recycled.
The Ecodesign and Energy Labelling regulations are projected to save 2.2 TWh of electricity in 2030, a 31% saving compared to doing nothing (Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2024 ). They also encourage repairing devices instead of replacing them, helping products last longer. This means fewer environmental impacts from manufacturing and lower costs for you.
