Leaked documents show that the European Union may force all smartphones to use removable batteries in the future. This means that any company that wants to sell smartphones in the EU must ensure that all devices on the market use removable batteries, including Apple.

This proposal may still be a long way from being finalized, after all, it has not yet been announced to the public. This document was disclosed by Dutch media Het Financieele Dagblad, who stated that the specific release time may be in March this year.

Apple has long used non-removable batteries in its iPhones, encouraging users to take their devices to professionals if they encounter issues with reduced battery performance. The EU stated in the recommendation document that users should not be forced to rely on external help when faced with this situation, but should be able to replace the battery themselves.

The iPhone would have to undergo a massive design overhaul to switch to a removable battery. If this design is adopted, the iPhone may lose its waterproof properties and slim appearance.

Apple is already resisting an ongoing EU change related to a universal charging standard for mobile devices. The European Parliament hopes to unify chargers for all smartphones, tablets and other portable devices, and USB-C has great potential to win.

That could make the Lightning connector used on current iPhones, which Apple currently holds is too thin to accommodate a USB-C port, out of compliance with the law. From this point of view, if the EU advances the legislative process for removable batteries, Apple is likely to object again.