Improved battery design may lead to larger batteries in 2018.
Apple is collaborating with LGC to improve the design of the batteries used in iPhones, according to a report from KGI, obtained by MacRumors. iPhone X adopted a two-cell design with an L-shaped battery, but the company is working on a 1-cell battery with the same shape. This would result in up to 10% more power for the possible successor to the iPhone X.
The possible more space-efficient design would lead to a slight increase in the capacity. For example, while the iPhone X has a 2716mAh battery inside, the new design would increase the capacity to 3000mAh for a device with exactly the same design and innards as the current model.
As we previously reported, Apple may be working on three new iPhones for late 2018, and a possible hardware refresh of the iPhone SE in the Spring. Ming Chi Kuo believes that Apple will be releasing a large 6.5-inch iPhone 9 (X) Plus, and a successor to the 5.8-inch model. Additionally, there may be a 6.1-inch model with a cheaper price, LCD and metal back. The one-cell battery is likely to be used in the 5.8-inch OLED model and the 6.1-inch LCD device, while the larger ‘Plus’ device will remain with a two-cell battery, according to KGI.
Keep in mind that one-cell batteries with unusual shapes like ‘L’ are relatively difficult to manufacture, which may be an obstacle Apple won’t overcome in time for the 2018 lineup.
Source: macrumors