Silicon batteries already at their limits before Samsung or Apple could start using them
According to two industry insiders here and here (translated sources), silicon-based batteries will hit the maximum limit this year. This is approximately 8,500 mAh per singular battery cell, with higher capacities basically impossible to achieve.
As such, the smartphone industry is now moving towards improving how silicon is used instead of how much of it can be stuffed into a cell. According to the second report, one team is already experimenting with 9,000 mAh batteries.
To improve silicon batteries in the future, alternative materials could be combined with the silicon to limit its expansion when it’s hot. Another way to approach this problem is to use smarter software, namely AI-powered battery management. Such a solution would control how much battery usage is allowed per app, and also monitor the charging of the battery: with the goal of making it less stressful on the cell.
Meanwhile, Chinese phone manufacturers have adopted the new battery tech, and their phones boast much larger capacities. The Red Magic 10 Pro, for example, has a battery capacity of 7,050 mAh. Meanwhile, the Honor Power has a battery capacity of a mouthwatering 8,000 mAh, which is pretty close to current battery tech’s theoretical limit.
Battery capacity, after unobstructed displays, is my biggest pet peeve with modern phones. It’s one of the reasons that I still often suggest Chinese phones to people, as I think that Americans need to move past Samsung and Apple. I’m just hoping that both these companies aren’t too late to the party, and that something even better than silicon batteries is discovered soon.
