Skip to main content

Samsung using EV tech to boost battery capacity on its phones

Samsung is reportedly planning to employ the battery tech used for electric vehicles to improve the battery life on its smartphones. According to a report from The Elec, the company’s SDI division is readying the use of the stacking tech that goes into making Gen 5 EV batteries for the development of battery packs for smartphones.

Compared to the standard winding method, the stacking method has multiple advantages such as higher energy density, lower internal resistance, and high volumetric capacity. To put it simply, a smaller stacked battery can retain the same amount of charge as a larger winded battery. If available space remains unchanged inside a phone, a stacked battery will offer a higher capacity.

Man playing a game on the Google Pixel 6 Pro.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Using the stacking tech, Samsung can reportedly boost the energy density by more than 10%. Theoretically speaking, if a Samsung phone packs a 5,000mAh battery, it can be substituted with a 5,500mAh battery of the same size by using the stacking system. And if increasing the battery capacity is not a priority, the space reserved for a battery pack can be eliminated to make slimmer and lighter phones.

There is no word on whether stacked batteries will be making an appearance in Samsung phones in the immediate future, but the development of multiple assembly lines dedicated to smartphone battery tech is a sign that it will happen sooner rather than later.

If it ain’t fast, at least go big

Samsung, alongside Apple, has lagged far behind the other smartphone brands when it comes to fast-charging tech. Take for example Xiaomi, which has already pushed 120-watt fast charging on phones that cost as little as $300. The likes of Realme have already touched the 150W fast-charging figure, and OnePlus is also following suit with the upcoming OnePlus 10R. In fact, the race for bringing 200W fast-charging tech to the market has already started.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra, which starts at over $1.000 maxes out at 45W wired charging. That is even slower than the peak wireless charging output on phones such as the OnePlus 10 Pro and the Xiaomi 12 Pro. Yes, there are concerns that hyperfast charging can take a toll on battery life, but the convenience of fully topping up your phone’s battery in just 20 to 25 minutes is simply unbelievable and a great quality-of-life feature for smartphone users.

Samsung is playing it safe with fast charging despite all the money in its coffers for R&D, and is instead focusing on battery capacity, which is as important as charging speeds, if not more. Fast charging is convenient, but not everyone carries their bulky 100W adapter with them at all times. This can be a hassle if the phone happens to have a small battery linked to a power-hungry chip and a demanding screen.

Samsung is familiar with the aforementioned issue due in no part to the smallish 4,000Mah battery fitted inside the Galaxy S22 that struggles to last a full day of usage. Fitting in a bigger battery sounds like the perfect solution for making phones that aren’t unwieldy, but offer all the firepower and tricks one expects from a bona fide flagship phone.

Editors' Recommendations

Nadeem Sarwar
Nadeem is a tech journalist who started reading about cool smartphone tech out of curiosity and soon started writing…
How one bad decision is ruining all of Samsung’s new phones
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 in cream, blue, and black.

This summer’s Galaxy Unpacked event was the usual great fun. We got a new Galaxy Z Fold 5 with an improved hinge and more powerful chip, plus the Galaxy Z Flip 5 with a cover screen that’s large enough to see what’s going on. These were joined by the return of a much-loved design in the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, with some refinements to make it even more classy, plus a standard Galaxy Watch 6 and a full new lineup of Samsung tablets.

However, Samsung’s latest product lineup also confirms the road I’ve feared the South Korean gadget maker has been on for at least a few months now. Samsung is getting more serious and less fun and whimsical in its product designs, especially when it comes to color choices.

Read more
I’m buying a new Samsung folding phone, but not the one you’d expect
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 5 resting on a table.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (left) Galaxy Z Fold 5 (right), and Galaxy Z Flip 5 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I bought the original Samsung Galaxy Fold, which I still have today, and I absolutely loved its futuristic design, multimedia ability, and feeling like I was right on the cutting edge of consumer mobile tech. I purchased the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in 2021 and upgraded to the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in 2022 — so surely I’ve already pre-ordered the Galaxy Z Fold 5, right?

Read more
The real reason Samsung wants you to buy a folding phone this year
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5's cover screens.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (right) and Galaxy Z Flip 5 (left) Andy Boxall/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

“Not everyone upgrades [their phone] every year. Relatively. I mean; but we'd love that to be more!” Nick Porter, vice president of product management and commercial operations at Samsung U.K. and Ireland, laughed as we talked about the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 just ahead of the official launch over a Microsoft Teams call.

Read more