Silicon-carbon technology has long been one of the most important solutions enabling increased capacity in smartphone batteries. This technology, which enables longer battery life without compromising on thin designs, has now reached capacity levels of up to 7,000 mAh. However, now that physical limits are being pushed, manufacturers are turning to changing not only the battery’s content but also its design to increase capacity.

A smartphone battery revolution is underway

According to new information shared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, some smartphone manufacturers are preparing to radically change their battery shapes. This change will include restructuring the way the battery is placed inside the device.

An example is the L-shaped batteries that Apple has been using in its iPhone models for some time. Similarly, Chinese brands are reportedly working on new battery geometries that will maximize the available internal space.

The outer shell design, as well as the battery content, is a part of this process. The replacement of traditional aluminum or polymer exteriors with steel-encased battery designs is on the agenda. While steel doesn’t directly increase capacity, it improves thermal management, enabling safer battery systems. This structure, which maintains its performance, particularly under high temperatures, reduces potential fire risks and extends the battery’s overall lifespan.

The primary goal of all these changes is to enable the production of higher-capacity batteries without increasing existing case sizes. However, these design and material improvements are not expected to reach end-users until 2025. These developments are more likely to be seen in flagship models to be introduced by 2026.

With these battery innovations, manufacturers aim to offer not only longer battery life but also safer and more sustainable energy solutions. Energy capacity and management in mobile devices will continue to be one of the most important factors in hardware competition in the coming years.