Deutsche Umwelthilfe halts Huawei misleading battery replacement claims

The German environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has successfully halted a misleading marketing claim made by technology giant Huawei. The claim falsely stated that the battery in the Huawei Mate X7 smartphone (model DEL-LX9) could be easily replaced by consumers.

DUH investigated the repairability of the foldable device and found that replacing the battery is an intricate process. It requires specialized tools and significant technical expertise, involving approximately 129 steps. These steps include dismantling multiple cameras, circuit boards, the display, and the speaker to access the battery.

Following DUH's action, Huawei has legally committed to ceasing the misleading advertising and will refrain from making such claims in the future. The organization highlighted that battery replacement accessibility is a crucial purchasing criterion for many consumers.

Deutsche Umwelthilfe is now calling on all smartphone manufacturers to prioritize repairable designs. This initiative aims to extend product lifespans, conserve valuable resources, and reduce electronic waste. The organization also urges market surveillance authorities to enforce existing eco-design and labeling requirements more strictly and to impose penalties for non-compliance.