One of the most common critiques of the iPhone 12 is its relatively short battery life, but that may change with the next generation of phones. According to a new report by a reliable Apple analyst, the iPhone 13 will feature a new kind of battery that will improve battery life.
The report comes from Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent industry analyst with a track record full of accurate Apple predictions. In an investment note directed towards supply chain investors, Kuo notes that Apple made a deal with Chinese-based battery supplier Jialianyi for a new kind of technology called soft board batteries.
Kuo says that the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini will be the first iPhones to utilize the technology for batteries. Apple has used soft board technology in the past, but only for LTE antennas.
Soft board batteries are based on a special material called Liquid Crystal Polymer. These batteries have fewer layers than the regular printed circuit boards that Apple has used for its iPhone so far, allowing for increased energy capacity without the need to create a bigger battery. Alternatively, it can hold the same amount of energy as the iPhone 12’s battery, but at a smaller size. The material the batteries are based on also benefits high speed, low latency data transfer.
Kuo expects that 40% to 50% of Jialianyi’s soft board battery orders next year will come from Apple for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. Apple will also work with fewer supplies than in the past, making Jialianyi the key benefactor to Apple’s switch to soft board batteries. Jialianyi expects to increase its revenue by 100% year-over-year in 2021 through its deal with the tech giant.
The soft board battery gives Apple several options for the next generation of iPhones. Since the batteries have increased capacity, the most obvious route for Apple would be to keep the size of its phone the same and improve its battery life. Alternatively, Apple can use the technology to design a slimmer iPhone without sacrificing battery capacity.
The report coincides with news that LG is working to create a new OLED panel for the next generation of iPhone. The new display would use about 10% to 20% less power than the iPhone 12’s screens, leaving more power to be diverted elsewhere. This means that Apple may be able to introduce 120Hz screens on its next iPhones, which rumors indicate is the company’s plan.
Kuo believes that Jialianyi will also be the main supplier of the AirPods 3 and mini LED iPad, both of which are expected to release next year. Apple recently announced a slate of new devices, including a new Macbook Pro, Air, and Mac Mini.
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Source: 9to5Mac