Main points
- Chinese brands are introducing silicon-carbon batteries that allow smartphones to run for several days without charging.
- OnePlus 15, Motorola Razr Fold, Realme P4 Power, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and Honor Magic V6 are examples of smartphones with such batteries that provide long-lasting autonomy.
5 Android smartphones with new silicon-carbon batteries / Collage by Channel 24
Chinese brands are actively implementing a new technology that allows for much larger batteries without increasing the thickness of the case. Silicon-carbon batteries are gradually moving out of the experimental category and becoming a reality in smartphones. Some Android models have already received batteries with 6-10 thousand mAh and work for several days.
Silicon-carbon battery technology was first commercially applied in 2023, when Honor showed a flagship with such a battery. Its energy density was about 12.8% higher than traditional lithium-ion solutions. Despite this, global players such as Apple, Samsung or Google are not in a hurry to switch yet – partly due to the risks of durability, as silicon changes volume during charging cycles, 24 Channel reports.
However, Chinese manufacturers continue to develop the technology. Modern silicon-carbon batteries allow for increased battery capacity without increasing the thickness of smartphones, which is especially important for ultra-thin foldable models. Some devices already use batteries over 7,000 mAh.
Which smartphones last longer than a day?
OnePlus 15 / Photo IGN
OnePlus 15 became one of the most notable examples. The smartphone received a Silicon NanoStack battery with a capacity of 7300 mAh with support for fast charging of 120 W via cable and 50 W wirelessly. The manufacturer claims up to 31 hours of video playback, and in tests the device worked for up to two days without recharging, writes TechRadar.
In addition to a large battery, this is a full-fledged flagship with a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, a frequency of 165 Hz, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, and a 50 MP triple camera.
Motorola Razr Fold / Photo by TechRadar
Motorola's first foldable book-sized smartphone, the Razr Fold , also features a silicon-carbon battery with a capacity of 6,000 mAh and supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Due to the thin body (4.7 mm when unfolded), the battery is likely to consist of two parts. The company promises at least a full day of battery life. The smartphone has an 8.1-inch foldable display, a 6.6-inch external screen, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, and up to 1 TB of memory.
Realme P4 Power / Photo by Realme
Among the mid-range, the Realme P4 Power stands out, which received a record-breaking 10,001 mAh battery. According to the manufacturer, the third generation of silicon-carbon technology made it possible to achieve such a capacity with a body thickness of 9.08 mm and a weight of 219 g.
The smartphone can work for more than 32 hours while watching YouTube or up to three days in normal mode. It is also claimed to have up to 1650 charging cycles before the capacity drops below 80%. The model is equipped with a 6.8-inch OLED screen with a frequency of 144 Hz and a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra processor.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra / Photo by Xiaomi
The flagship Xiaomi 17 Ultra offers a 6000 mAh Surge battery with support for 90 W fast charging. The smartphone can also work as a power bank. The manufacturer promises up to a day and a half of autonomy and about 1600 charging cycles before noticeable degradation.
The device has a large 6.9-inch display, a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, up to 1 TB of memory, and a camera with a 200-megapixel periscope module.
Honor Magic V6 / Photo CNET
Another interesting example is the ultra-thin foldable Honor Magic V6 . The Chinese version has a 7,150 mAh battery with a 32% silicon content, while the global version will have a 6,660 mAh battery with 25% silicon.
The battery has an energy density of 921 Wh/L. The smartphone supports 80W wired and 66W wireless charging, and is equipped with two 120Hz OLED screens and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, CNET reports in its review.
In general, silicon-carbon batteries already show significant potential. They allow for the creation of smartphones with autonomy for several days or sophisticated models with a large battery. Although such devices are not yet widely available on the market, they can be purchased in China or Europe, or international versions can be imported.