New EU labels: Apple criticizes test methods, classifies iPhone and iPad down

Apple has started to implement the new EU energy labels for its products. As part of the so-called ecodesign requirements of the EU Commission, they have been mandatory since last Friday and are likely to confuse one or the other user rather than make it easier for him to make a purchase decision. At least that’s what the iPhone group believes: he has for the weekend A paper, which is almost 40 pages, Published in which he lists how he implements the regulation and what he considers to be worthy of criticism. At the same time, Apple stated that for reasons of caution, the classification was reduced. The current iPhone 16 from Apple only gets a “B” as an efficiency label, although the company assumes that it is actually “A”. The iPad gets even wilder: three series, the standard IPAD, the Pro and the Air, get the worst efficiency level “G” from Apple. Only the iPad Mini achieves a better value with “e”, but still the most third -party level.

Criticism of EU test criteria

“The new EU regulation on energy consumption marking for smartphones and tablets prescribes several preliminary test methods that contain unclear wording,” writes Apple in his paper. “As a result, some information on the energy label is influenced by the decisions of the manufacturers and test laboratories that interpret the regulation.” Apple’s own test results were therefore “voluntarily downgraded” in order to “consider possible differences in interpretation”. The group hopes that the commission and the other participants will be able to fix the problem of “unclears in the test procedures” in the future. As part of the consultation before the introduction of the energy labels, the Apple view was apparently not successful.

In addition to the methods of recording energy efficiency, Apple has also made other downgrades. This includes the new value for the case of the devices – i.e. how much they are damaged if they fall onto the ground. According to Apple, the EU conditions lack which interface needs to be used, such as what type of wood or steel, which the devices then encounter. The EU energy label now also shows a value for repairability (iPhone and iPad have a “C” here), indicate an IP value for fluid and dust resistance. In addition, the possible battery life in charging cycles and the “battery maintenance per cycle” is called.

Apple does not want to be nailed with updates

In terms of updates, the ecodesign guideline would like to determine that updates are issued at least five years after the end of sales. Apple usually stops this without any problems, but the group does not want to guarantee this. Upon request, the company only referred to the existing practice for security patches for old devices and its durability approach.

It is now interesting here how the EU Commission reacts. Regulation 2023/1670 stipulates “manufacturers, importers or authorized representatives” to provide software updates for sold devices for at least 5 years. Whether this must also be guaranteed in writing remains open.