I think the biggest reaction will be that it will likely also impact the US and other markets. Just like with the previous EU regulation that mandated that everyone standardises on the same cables (USBC) it benifited the rest of the world as it was just cheaper to design and manufature one phone rather than multiple for the different markets. Probably the same here to.
I am curious to see how they will design around this requirement though. Curretly we’ve been ‘spoiled’ with some very sleek and clean designs, but if designers have to find a way for them to be easily openable either tooless or with non-propreietry tools and all the rest of it then it may change this.
Although, to be fair, I have noticed that phones have recently started getting bigger, heavier and clunkier. For example the difference between my recently retired Pixel 5 and new Pixel 7a is night and day. I actually regret upgrading - if it wasn’t for my son being ‘due’ for a new phone and being a little skint at the moment (easy ‘free’ birthday present), I wouldn’t have switched.
What is so different about my Pexel7a that’s any different to my 5?
Nothing that I even notice. Except for missing convenience such as the rear finger sensor.
And that’s the same for most models.
In fact in a desperate bid to make phones exciting again, manufacturers are trying to bring back the folding concept. And that’s just going to be a total fad since it doesn’t actually bring anything functional to the market.