OnePlus and CATL have collaborated to develop the Glacier Battery, which promises to be a game changer in smartphone battery technology. OnePlus is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer that sells its phones also in the United States, the UK, Europe, among other markerts. CATL is the world’s largest battery manufacturer.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) is a Chinese battery manufacturer and the world’s largest battery manufacturer. They are a key supplier of EV batteries for companies like Tesla, NIO, Ford, and BMW.
The new Glacier battery jointly developed by OnePlus and CATL is based on silicon battery technology. It uses a new silicon carbide negative electrode material with a new battery cell, resulting in higher density and a reduction in battery thickness. The practical implications of this is that a 6000mAh battery can fit into the same space that has hitherto been able to accommodate no more than a 5000mAh battery. In some cases, the bigger battery will fit into an even smaller space.
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What to expect from Glacier Battery
Let’s have a look at the key features and benefits of the new battery.
Higher Battery Capacity: The new technology allows for greater battery capacity in phones. The first device to use Glacier Battery will feature a 6100mAh capacity. This should provide extended usage time without frequent recharging, allowing phone users to go a full day and more.
Slim Design: Despite its high capacity, the Glacier Battery is thinner (the first implementation of the battery in OnePlus phones is 5.51 mm thin) compared to regular phone batteries. This makes it possible to maintain sleek device designs while accommodating more features.
Fast Charging: The new battery supports 100W fast charging, allowing it to charge a phone battery from 0 to 100 percent in approximately 30 minutes.
Improved Power Efficiency: Glacier batteries are expected to retain charge more efficiently than traditional batteries, enhancing daily battery life and overall battery lifespan. OnePlus has said that this new cell will be able to provide at least 80% of its original capacity after four years of regular use. That will be a new record in the industry.
Debuts in OnePlus Ace 3 Pro
OnePlus Ace 3 Pro is the first smartphone that will use this new battery cell technology and it will feature a 6100mAh battery [1], as well as 100W fast charging. The phones gets a slim profile, a bigger and more efficient battery, and fast charging. That is a droolworthy proposition.
The new battery will be used in all future OnePlus flagships, including the OnePlus 13. As is the pattern, it will take some time for this technology to filter down to midrange and budget models.
Mobile phone users, as especially OnePlus fans, in the USA and Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and other markets, can expect to start getting their hands on phones using the new Glacier battery technology before the end of this year.
Smartphone battery technology has matured in recent years, such that most new Android smartphones have no less than a 5000mAh battery. As a matter of fact, 5000mAh capacity has become the default, making it possible for most phones to go a full day on a single charge. With the development and introduction of the Glacier Battery, it appears a new race for longer battery life might soon take off. We are seeing more new developments, almost side-by-side, in battery and charging technologies. An example is the development of the new GaN chargers.
I am a fan of slim phones. Anything thicker than 8mm and I am getting uncomfortable. I hope that race takes off, so more phone brands can give us more phones that are 7.9mm thick and less. So, if the question is, higher battery capacity, efficient charging, and a slim form factor? Sign me up, please.
References
- Weibo (link)