If previous years are something to go by, the flagship telephones launching this yr ought to supply nice battery life. The iPhone 16 Professional Max and Galaxy S24 Extremely supply nice battery efficiencies that result in improved battery life.
Their predecessors ought to characteristic much more energy-efficient elements, which may enhance battery life even with out massive battery capability adjustments. Chips just like the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the upcoming A19 processors ought to drastically assist.
The improved effectivity of inner elements will enable Samsung and Apple to launch ultra-thin units like the Galaxy S25 Slim and the iPhone 17 Air. These telephones will characteristic smaller batteries, however they need to nonetheless supply respectable battery life. Neither Samsung nor Apple would contemplate providing patrons such units in any other case.
However come subsequent yr, smartphone distributors like Samsung and Apple would possibly want new battery tech breakthroughs to proceed enhancing battery life other than much more environment friendly chips and elements.
Samsung SDI is already engaged on such expertise. If this yr’s pilot is profitable, the corporate plans to start out manufacturing new batteries for small devices subsequent yr.
The corporate is testing stacked battery designs for telephones just like the Galaxy S and the iPhone. The battery expertise has been utilized in EV battery design to enhance power density.
If profitable, this battery tech would possibly make it to subsequent yr’s Galaxy S26 and iPhone 18 flavors.
Korean information outlet The Elec talked about Samsung’s curiosity in stacked battery design in a brand new report. Samsung SDI is eying small electronics with its stacked battery tech.
What are stacked batteries?
Batteries for telephones like the present iPhone and Galaxy S fashions use a rolling approach. The cathode, separator, and anode are rolled right into a cylindrical “jelly roll” construction.
Stacked batteries organize the identical three elements in layers, stacked flatly on high of one another like steps. This design advantages from a extra environment friendly use of quantity, which results in elevated battery power density.
The Elec gives an precise instance involving a Galaxy S cellphone. Present batteries rated at 5,000 mAh may exceed 5,500 mAh if the stacking construction is employed with out occupying extra quantity. This could give telephones no less than a ten% battery capability enhance and, subsequently, a major bump in battery life.
Stacked batteries can be particularly helpful in telephones just like the Galaxy S26 Slim, the iPhone 18 Air, and the foldable iPhone. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 foldable telephones are additionally anticipated subsequent yr. Thickness shall be a key think about designing these handsets, which may be available in shops all through 2026.
Nevertheless, stacked batteries will even enhance life in thicker units, just like the Galaxy S26 Extremely and iPhone 18 Professional Max.
All of that is hypothesis for now. Samsung is barely testing the expertise this yr. It’ll determine whether or not to maneuver to mass manufacturing throughout the yr.
The report doesn’t point out the Galaxy S26 and iPhone 18 telephones by identify, however it says that Samsung SDI is concentrating on Samsung Electronics and different main smartphone distributors with its stacked battery tech.
Additionally, if Samsung could make stacked batteries for small units, it’s possible that its major opponents wish to deploy related tech breakthroughs. Because of this Apple is preserving tabs on all these developments for its future merchandise.
What about silicon batteries and solid-state batteries?
Individually, firms like Apple and Samsung are learning silicon-carbon batteries, which may deployed in telephones just like the iPhone 18 and Galaxy S26. That’s a special battery breakthrough, unrelated to stacked battery tech.
On that word, it’s too early to say whether or not stacked batteries will make use of silicon within the anode or not. Battery capability may enhance much more than within the instance above if stacked batteries for smartphones have been to characteristic silicon-carbon anodes.
Stacked battery tech apart, Chinese language distributors already promote flagships with silicon-carbon batteries.
Lastly, in keeping with a special report from Korea, Samsung can be creating a 3rd battery innovation for future units: solid-state batteries. The expertise may benefit devices just like the Apple Watch within the coming years.
What I’m getting at is that a method or one other, telephones just like the Galaxy S26 and the iPhone 18 ought to get bigger capability batteries with out rising in dimension, and that’s an thrilling prospect.
