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The Problem with these Smartphone Batteries

2026-02-06 Science & Technology
735.3k
40.7k
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Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee
21.0m subscribers

The Hidden Risk Delaying Silicon Carbon Batteries in Major Flagship Phones

Discover why major manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are hesitant to adopt silicon carbon battery technology, despite its massive energy density benefits. Learn about the critical longevity and safety concerns outweighing immediate performance gains.

Short Summary

  • Outcome: Major flagships (Apple, Samsung, Google) avoid silicon carbon batteries, favoring older lithium-ion tech for proven stability.
  • Why it Matters: Silicon carbon offers double the energy density but introduces significant risks related to expansion, cracking, and long-term swelling.
  • Key Insight: Market dynamics, especially in risk-averse regions like the US, allow companies to wait until the new chemistry proves its long-term safety at massive scale.

This analysis explains the fundamental chemical trade-off in silicon carbon batteries—higher capacity achieved by swapping graphite for silicon—and details the structural risks involved, such as up to triple expansion during charging. Companies are currently prioritizing minimized warranty claims over cutting-edge battery performance due to these unverified long-term risks at scale.

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Description

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Top Comments (10)

@Antman8823 2026-02-07

That thumbnail is wild and misleading.... Edit: They changed the thumbnail.

10.3k 186 replies
@MaxLab-n8s 2026-02-07

That thumbnail deserves a lawsuit... Edit: He changed it 😂

6.7k 68 replies
@TheElly750 2026-02-06

didnt stop my pixel's battery from expanding a year and a half after buying it.

5.0k 84 replies
@aaron_x3 2026-02-07

I only have to charge my Oneplus 15 every 3 days, so the number of charging cycles should be a lot less compared to my old phone

2.7k 79 replies
@drconfusedsoul 2026-02-07

OnePlus didn't pay him. Hence the thumbnail 😅 Edit : He changed it

1.6k 14 replies
@maddeception 2026-02-07

1:04 cant wait for apple to invent silicon carbon batteries in 2030 with a fancy name

1.3k 39 replies
@Indepthcricket 2026-02-07

So YouTube removed the dislike count for exactly this type of video.....

1.2k 21 replies
@notsosafe 2026-02-06

i feel like this could have been a short

994 14 replies
@dhruvkalkeri123_2 2026-02-09

Y'all this feels like a propaganda video from the big guys

754 24 replies
@GamingQuest4510 2026-02-09

imagine if apple started to use silcone battery. these guys wouldnt stop praising them

18 1 replies

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