Samsung is reportedly developing silicon-carbon (Si/C) battery technology, with internal testing focusing on configurations that could be deployed in a future Galaxy S27 Ultra smartphone. Multiple tipster reports indicate that Samsung engineers are working to improve the cycle life of these batteries, targeting 1,500 charge cycles—a threshold that has not yet been met in testing.
Development Status
According to a tipster using the name Schrödinger, Samsung engineers are currently working to improve the longevity of silicon-carbon batteries to reach 1,500 charge cycles. The same tipster stated that a silicon-carbon smartphone is in active preparation, with the Galaxy S27 Ultra identified as the most likely first device to use the technology. Samsung has reportedly not adopted silicon-carbon battery technology until it was ready for mass adoption.
Battery Configurations Tested
Samsung has reportedly tested multiple silicon-carbon battery configurations. Tested configurations include:
- 20,000mAh dual-cell battery: Consisting of a 12,000mAh primary cell (6.3mm thickness) and an 8,000mAh secondary cell (4mm thickness). This configuration reportedly failed testing at 960 cycles against a target of 1,500 cycles.
- 18,000mAh cell: Reported by multiple sources as being under testing.
- 12,000mAh dual-cell battery: Consisting of a 6,800mAh cell (4.7mm thickness) and a 5,200mAh cell (3.2mm thickness).
Technical Background
Silicon-carbon batteries use a silicon-carbon composite anode instead of graphite, which can hold more lithium ions and increase capacity. A disadvantage of silicon-based anodes is a lower lifespan compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Reports from sources such as Miror Pro indicate that Samsung aims for up to 1,500 charging cycles and is optimizing separator layers, stacking architecture, and advanced battery management firmware for charging and power usage. For context, Samsung smartphones have largely used 5,000mAh batteries for nearly a decade, with the Galaxy A9 Pro from 2016 cited as an early example.