New EU energy label for smartphones, tablets, and other devices: VDE Institute expands testing services

(Frankfurt am Main, July 04, 2025) New labeling requirements for cell phones, telephones, and tablets: Like washing machines and refrigerators, smartphones and tablets launched on the EU market since June 20, 2025, must be labeled with an energy label. This provides information on the energy efficiency class, battery performance, repairability, and protection classes. In order to meet the new requirements, the VDE Institute is expanding its portfolio with testing for energy efficiency labeling for smartphones and tablets with immediate effect. The VDE is thus adapting its tests to the new European energy efficiency regulations.

The new Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 stipulates that smartphones and tablets sold on the European market must be labeled with the energy label to ensure transparency for consumers and promote energy efficiency. Among other things, this will enable users to assess how repairable devices are and how long the battery lasts after a full charge. They will also receive information on protection against dust and moisture and on how robust the device is in the event of a fall.

Energy efficiency put to the test

“Manufacturers must act now to ensure compliance with the regulations and secure their market access,” emphasizes Marcell Klinkert from the VDE Institute. To support companies with efficient and reliable energy consumption labeling tests and ensure that products meet the required energy efficiency standards, the VDE Institute has initiated a collaboration with SmartViser, a provider of automated testing solutions in the telecommunications sector.

“With Viser Test Automation, we now offer an optimized, automated approach to testing the energy efficiency labeling of smartphones and tablets,” explains Klinkert. This enables the VDE Institute to perform precise, automated energy tests that allow manufacturers to meet the new requirements on schedule.

About the VDE Institute 

The VDE mark is synonymous with safety and quality in electrical devices, components and systems for more than 100 years. The VDE Institute - a subsidiary of the VDE Group - is a worldwide partner for industry customers, business, government authorities, the electrical trade and consumers. More than 100,000 devices per year are subjected to product, quality and safety tests by the VDE Institutes independent testing engineers before they receive the VDE mark. Around the globe, VDE experts monitor more than 7,000 production facilities. Cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries ensure that the tests performed by the VDE Institute are internationally recognized. 200,000 types of products with millions of model variants bear the VDE mark worldwide. The VDE Testing and Certification Institute GmbH, a non-profit organization, employs more than 500 people in Offenbach am Main.

For more information, visit www.vde.com/institute

About VDE

VDE, one of the largest technology organizations in Europe, has been regarded as a synonym for innovation and technological progress for more than 130 years. VDE is the only organization in the world that combines science, standardization, testing, certification, and application consulting under one umbrella. The VDE mark has been synonymous with the highest safety standards and consumer protection for more than 100 years. 

Our passion is the advancement of technology, the next generation of engineers and technologists, and lifelong learning and career development “on the job”. Within the VDE network more than 2,000 employees at over 60 locations worldwide, more than 100,000 honorary experts, and around 1,500 companies are dedicated to ensuring a future worth living: networked, digital, electrical.  
Shaping the e-dialistic future. 

The VDE (VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. For more information, visit www.vde.com