LG reportedly chosen as exclusive battery supplier for 2018 iPhone 9

By Brenda Stolyar Published July 22, 2017

Still a while away from the iPhone 8 release date, Apple is supposedly already making plans for the iPhone 9. According to an unnamed source Apple has chosen LG Chem as the exclusive battery supplier for the device set to be released in 2018, Korea Economic Daily reports.

The source claims LG has apparently invested “hundreds of billions” of South Korean won specifically for manufacturing facilities and will begin full-scale production early next year. Also added by the source is that the iPhone 9 will be expected to debut in the second half of 2018 and the South Korean company will supply all batteries, AppleInsider notes.

Recommended Videos

Reportedly, Apple is going to opt for an L-shaped battery module within the iPhone 9 — different than the standard batteries used in current iPhone models. Apple normally uses standard lithium-ion batteries, but this new module is designed to support longer battery life.

The L-shaped battery rumors first started circulating back in February with the iPhone 8. According to MacRumors, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the iPhone 8 would include a 2,700mAh L-shaped two-cell battery pack as well. Kuo also explained that with a more expensive logic board design, the OLED iPhone would have dimensions similar to a 4.7-inch iPhone but with comparable battery life to a 5.5-inch iPhone — or possibly even better.

Currently, iPhone models include a battery and motherboard placed vertically next to each other. Kuo said Apple is reportedly working to make the motherboard smaller which would leave room for the extended L-shaped battery. With this design, the iPhone will also be able to charge at much faster speed than any model now.

With a potentially redesigned battery also comes new charging methods for the iPhone. For the iPhone 8, Kuo predicts it will not only have a Lightning port but an embedded USB-C power delivery IC — resulting in higher charging efficiency. The OLED display also adds to saving battery life since it consumes less power by not using a backlight.

It still remains to be seen if Apple will include the L-shaped design in the iPhone 8 along with other features like touch ID, facial recognition, and wireless charging. However, it seems that whatever doesn’t make it into this year’s upcoming iPhone has a good chance of being included in the next one.

Former Staff Writer, Mobile

Brenda became obsessed with technology after receiving her first Dell computer from her grandpa in the second grade. While…

Topics

Phones

The Pixel 11 is almost here, and these are the 3 upgrades I’m begging Google to make

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

We're only a month away from Google's next big hardware event, with the Pixel 11 series officially arriving on August 12.

After living with the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10a over the past year, I've come to appreciate what Google's phones do well — and, more importantly, where they still fall short. With the smartphone landscape evolving faster than ever, there are three upgrades I'm hoping Google finally delivers this year. If you're a fellow Pixel user, chances are these are on your wishlist too.

Phones

5 reasons I keep coming back to Apple Reminders despite paying for premium task managers

I rely on OmniFocus for complex projects, but Apple Reminders still handles my everyday tasks better than any paid app.

Apple Reminders open on iPhone

The App Store is filled with premium task managers, and like Things 3, Todoist, and OmniFocus, despite buying and switching between several of them, I keep coming back to Apple Reminders.

Don’t get me wrong, I still use OmniFocus to manage my projects. But when it comes to daily tasks and quick capture, Apple Reminders still remains my go-to app. In this guide, I'll walk you through the five biggest reasons why.

Phones

Google may finally ditch Samsung’s modem in the Pixel 11, and Tensor G6 could be better for it

FCC paperwork for Google’s next foldable points to MediaTek, raising hopes for lower power use and a cleaner break from Tensor’s Exynos roots

AI recreation of Pixel 11's Pixel Glow feature.

Google may be preparing its biggest Tensor hardware split yet. As spotted by Android Authority, FCC testing for an unreleased foldable Google phone includes a reference to MediaTek radio-frequency software, adding weight to reports that the Pixel 11’s Tensor G6 could leave Samsung’s Exynos modem behind.

Every previous Tensor chip has used Samsung modem hardware. Changing suppliers won’t guarantee better battery life or reception, but it gives Google a fresh path after years of leaning on the same underlying technology.