Electric Vehicles Take the Lead, Galaxy Phones Trail Behind
Samsung SDI has recently partnered with Korean car manufacturer KG Mobility to develop next-generation battery packs, focusing on cutting-edge cylindrical cells for electric vehicles (EVs). Meanwhile, Samsung’s smartphone lineup, including the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, continues without silicon-carbon (Si-C) batteries—today’s breakthrough battery technology generating excitement in the industry. This divergence highlights a gap between Samsung’s innovation in EVs and the smartphone segment.
Community Poll: When Will Samsung Use Si-C Batteries in Smartphones?
- Late 2026 – 13.64%
- 2027–2030 – 35.66%
- After 2030 – 8.39%
- Never – 5.94%
- The moment Apple does it – 36.36%
Why Silicon-Carbon Batteries Are a Game-Changer
Silicon-carbon anode batteries offer higher energy density, faster charging, and improved longevity compared to traditional lithium-ion cells. This technology significantly enhances battery performance—perfect for applications demanding longer runtime and durability, such as electric vehicles. Despite their advantages, smartphone adoption of Si-C batteries remains limited, with Samsung focusing efforts on EV applications first.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: Same Battery Capacity, New Efficiency Tweaks
The Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to feature a 5,000mAh battery, a capacity Samsung has maintained through the last six generations of its flagship Ultra phones. Instead of increasing battery size, Samsung plans to improve battery life using the new M14 OLED display technology. However, leaks indicate that while the M14 panel supports impressive specs, it might not deliver a significant visual upgrade over competitors like the iQOO 15, which maximizes brightness, color spectrum, and high-frequency dimming.
Reports suggest Samsung is prioritizing power efficiency for the S26 Ultra, possibly by limiting the display to 8-bit color depth, capping peak brightness at around 2,600 nits, and utilizing low-frequency PWM to preserve battery life with the same 5,000mAh cell.
Recommended Reading
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- New Galaxy Foldable Model Inspired by Apple’s Foldable iPhone in Development
- Leaked Weight and Thickness of Foldable iPhone Suggest Samsung’s Lead in Design
