Apple has started implementing the new EU energy efficiency labels for its products. They have been mandatory since last Friday under the European Commission's so-called ecodesign requirements and are likely to confuse some users rather than make them easier.
At least that's what the iPhone company believes: over the weekend, he posted a 40-page document which details how the regulation is implemented and what it considers worthy of criticism. At the same time, Apple said that it is giving the new energy efficiency labels a reduced score.
For example, the current iPhone 16 has a “B” performance rating from Apple, even though the company expects it to actually score an “A.” It gets even crazier with the iPad: Three lines, the standard iPad, the Pro, and the Air, have Apple’s worst performance rating of “G.” Only the iPad Mini scores better with an “E,” but that’s still low.
Criticism of EU testing criteria
“The new EU regulation on energy labeling for smartphones and tablets sets out several preliminary testing procedures that contain unclear wording,” Apple says.
“As a result, the energy label is influenced by the decisions of manufacturers and testing laboratories that interpret the regulation.”
Apple's own test results are therefore "voluntarily minimal" in order to "take into account possible differences in interpretation."
The company says it hopes to resolve the issue of “ambiguities in testing procedures” with the Commission and other stakeholders in the future. In Apple’s view, the consultation before the introduction of the energy label clearly failed to achieve this.
In addition to its energy efficiency measurement methods, Apple has also made other downgrades. Such as the drop resistance rating of devices, that is, how likely they are to be damaged if they fall to the floor, for example.
According to Apple, the EU terms do not specify what surface and what type of wood or steel material the devices will hit. The EU energy label now also shows a value for repairability (the iPhone and iPad both have a “C”) and a rating for resistance to liquids and dust.
Apple doesn't want to commit to updates
Regarding updates, the Ecodesign Directive requires that updates be made available for at least five years after the end of sales.
Although Apple usually complies with EU requests without problems, the company does not want to guarantee it.
It will be interesting to see how the European Commission reacts.
Regulation 2023/1670 makes it mandatory to provide software updates for devices sold for at least 5 years by “manufacturers, importers or authorized representatives”.
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
