But consumers can then compare how energy efficient devices offering the same features are. That is useful and we already do this. A label doesn’t need to be perfect to be useful to consumers.

I think your article used a lot of straw-men. Criteria used in a label with change with time. When iPhone was first released they would have made more relaxed criteria than today.

And so what if the labels would have made iPhone look bad. If it was objectively true that it was not energy efficient then why not let consumers know that and let them take that into account when making their choices?

Your light bulb example was equally flawed. Nobody would have made rules demanding LED efficiency in the 1800s. Rules will be made according to industry standards and capabilities which exist at the time the regulations are made.

Literally everything works this way. Demands on emissions and pollution on industry are shaped by what is possible now not 100 years into the future.