Xiaomi is putting larger rivals to shame when it comes to battery capacity, thanks to a 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery in its new Redmi K100.
Battery life continues to be the Achilles heel of modern smartphones. While capabilities have increased exponentially over the last couple of decades, in many cases those advances have been inversely tied to battery life. The more capable the smartphone, the shorter the battery lasts.
Among the largest phone makers, much of the issue is tied to the technology used in their batteries, with most still relying primarily on the older lithium-ion technology. As a result, batteries from Apple, Google, and Samsung usually top out in the 5,000 to 6,000mAh capacity. In contrast, Chinese phone makers have been more aggressively incorporating silicon-carbon technology, which allows for higher capacity. While Samsung has begun using silicon-carbon in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, it uses a much lower percentage than its Chinese rivals, resulting in its phones staying in that 5,000 to 6,000mAh range.
According to Android Authority, Xiaomi’s Redmi K100, launched in China, has a whopping 10,000mAh battery, thanks to silicon-carbon tech. What’s more, the phone also sports 100W fast-charging. Those specs are sure to be a huge hit with anyone who hates worrying about whether they’ll make it through the day without a top-up.
Silicon-carbon is not without its disadvantages, however. In general, a silicon-carbon battery is rated for fewer charge cycles before dropping to 80% capacity than the older lithium-ion tech. For example, according to EU regulatory documents, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 was rated for 2,000 charge cycles before dropping to 80%. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is rated for 1,200 cycles.
Despite the lower number of cycles, it’s probably a safe bet that most users would prefer a phone that lasts longer on a single charge. If a person charges their phone every night, 1,200 charge cycles still represents over three years of use, meaning that any potential reduction in capacity is unlikely to impact many buyers. Even if it does, battery replacements have become cheap enough to largely be a non-issue.
This writer currently has the Samsung Z Fold 8, having upgraded from the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Z Fold 7’s battery was 4,400mAh and would not last through a day of use without being charged at least once. In contrast, thanks to the silicon-carbon tech, the Z Fold 8’s 4,800mAh battery easily lasts through a moderate to heavy day of usage, with anywhere from 20 to 30% remaining at the end of the day.
If Apple, Google, and Samsung follow Xiaomi’s lead and more aggressively incorporate silicon-carbon, we could finally return to when a phone lasts multiple days on a single charge.