Why Samsung’s New Battery Tech is Taking Its Sweet Time And Why That’s Good News for YOU!

Samsung, a company synonymous with cutting-edge electronics, is engaged in a quiet but profound transformation of battery technology. Unlike the rapid-fire release cycles of smartphones and other gadgets, the development of next-generation batteries within Samsung’s labs, particularly at Samsung SDI and the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), is proceeding with extreme caution and deliberate slowness. This measured approach, while seemingly frustrating for consumers eager for longer-lasting devices, is rooted in the complex realities of battery chemistry, stringent safety protocols, and the ambition to deliver truly robust and reliable power solutions for everything from your next Galaxy phone to the electric vehicles of tomorrow.

Key Takeaways:

• Samsung is prioritizing safety and long-term durability in new battery development, learning from past challenges.
• Two significant technologies under development are solid-state batteries and SUS CAN (Steel Use Stainless) battery tech.
• Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density, faster charging, and enhanced safety by replacing liquid electrolytes with solid materials.
• SUS CAN technology aims to improve battery capacity and potentially solve common issues like battery swelling in devices.
• The slow pace is due to the inherent complexity of battery chemistry, the need for extensive testing, and the focus on scalable, cost-effective manufacturing.
• Samsung SDI has already begun pilot production for some advanced battery types, with wider commercialization projected for the coming years.

The Ghost of Batteries Past: Why Caution Reigns Supreme

To understand Samsung’s measured pace, one must look back at the industry’s past. The infamous Galaxy Note 7 recall, triggered by battery fires, left an indelible mark on Samsung. This event underscored the critical importance of absolute safety in battery design and manufacturing. For a company that ships millions of devices globally, another battery-related incident could be catastrophic. This experience has instilled a deep-seated prudence, ensuring that any new battery technology is not just powerful but also unequivocally safe and durable under various real-world conditions.

Battery technology, unlike software, is bound by the laws of physics and chemistry. Every improvement demands painstaking research, often costly experimentation, and a careful balance of trade-offs. Achieving higher energy density (more power in a smaller package) while ensuring long-term stability and safety is a formidable challenge. The degradation of batteries over time, where tiny side reactions occur with each charge and discharge cycle, ultimately limits their lifespan. Addressing these fundamental issues requires extensive testing across thousands of cycles, under varying temperatures, and with different usage patterns – a process that simply cannot be rushed.

Unveiling the Future: Solid-State and SUS CAN

Samsung is actively researching and developing multiple next-generation battery technologies. Among the most prominent are solid-state batteries and a more recent development known as SUS CAN battery technology.

Solid-State Batteries: The Holy Grail of Power

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are widely considered the “holy grail” of battery technology. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on flammable liquid or gel electrolytes, SSBs use a solid electrolyte. This fundamental change promises significant advancements:

• Higher Energy Density: SSBs can store significantly more energy in a smaller volume. Samsung’s solid-state prototypes have demonstrated an impressive 500 Wh/kg, nearly double the 270 Wh/kg typical of mainstream electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This translates to longer operating times for consumer electronics and extended driving ranges for EVs, potentially exceeding 600 miles on a single charge.
• Enhanced Safety: The solid electrolyte is non-flammable, drastically reducing the risk of overheating and thermal runaway, a common cause of battery fires. This eliminates the need for complex cooling systems, leading to simpler and potentially lighter battery packs.
• Faster Charging: Some projections for SSBs indicate charging from 10% to 80% in as little as 9-15 minutes, addressing a major concern for EV adoption and improving the user experience for consumer devices.
• Longer Lifespan: With an estimated 8,000-10,000 charge cycles, SSBs significantly outperform current lithium-ion batteries in durability.
• Temperature Resilience: Solid-state designs tend to maintain performance across a wider range of temperatures, making them suitable for diverse climates and applications.

Samsung SDI has been making substantial progress in this area. In 2023, Samsung SDI launched the “S-Line,” the world’s largest pilot production line for solid-state batteries. Initial deliveries to luxury automakers are reportedly underway, with the first production vehicles featuring this technology slated for late 2026, targeting premium segments before potentially reaching mass-market models by 2030.

One of Samsung’s key innovations in solid-state battery technology involves the use of a silver-carbon (Ag-C) composite layer for the anode. This material choice is credited with enabling the battery’s high energy density, rapid charging, longer lifespan, and improved safety. The Ag-C layer allows for a thinner anode, leading to a more compact battery design. Each battery cell may require a small amount of silver, with a typical 100 kWh EV battery pack potentially using about 1 kilogram of silver.

Despite the promise, solid-state batteries face significant hurdles. Scaling up production to meet global demand, reducing manufacturing costs, and optimizing the interfaces between the solid electrolyte and electrodes remain major challenges. Issues like volume changes in anodes during charging and discharging, which can affect interface stability, are under intense investigation. Samsung SDI’s Ro-Press Solid-State Assembly process is a manufacturing innovation aimed at improving production speed and minimizing waste, with pilot facilities operational in South Korea and Michigan, USA.

SUS CAN Technology: Addressing Common Woes

Beyond the long-term vision of solid-state, Samsung is also reportedly exploring more immediate advancements, such as SUS CAN (Steel Use Stainless) battery technology. This technology, which Apple has reportedly employed in devices like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, could be a solution for common consumer frustrations.

• Improved Capacity: SUS CAN technology has the potential to increase the energy density of batteries, leading to greater capacity and longer battery life in devices.
• Solving Battery Swelling: A persistent issue in some smartphone batteries is swelling, which can damage devices and pose safety concerns. SUS CAN technology is believed to offer a solution to this problem, making batteries more robust and resistant to such degradation.
• Enhanced Durability and Repairability: While stainless steel might not dissipate heat as effectively as aluminum, it is more robust and resistant to corrosion. A stainless steel battery case could also simplify battery replacement, aligning with growing consumer and regulatory demands for improved device repairability, particularly in regions like the European Union.

It remains unclear when Samsung plans to integrate SUS CAN technology into its Galaxy phones and tablets, though some reports suggest it could appear in devices like the Galaxy S26.

The Intricacies of Battery Development: Why It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

The deliberate pace of battery development is not unique to Samsung. It’s an industry-wide reality driven by several factors:

• Fundamental Chemistry: Batteries store and release energy through complex chemical reactions. Manipulating these reactions to enhance performance without compromising safety or lifespan requires a deep understanding of material science and electrochemistry.
• Safety Imperatives: As power sources for devices used in close proximity to humans and for critical applications like electric vehicles, batteries must meet rigorous safety standards. Any new material or design must undergo extensive testing to prevent thermal events, short circuits, or other failures.
• Longevity and Durability: Consumers demand batteries that perform reliably over many charge cycles and years of use. This necessitates materials and designs that can withstand repeated expansion and contraction during charging and discharging, as well as varying environmental conditions.
• Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness: A breakthrough in the lab is only truly impactful if it can be mass-produced affordably. Many high-performance battery materials are rare or require expensive manufacturing processes. Bringing down production costs while maintaining quality is a significant engineering and economic challenge.
• Infrastructure Integration: For technologies like solid-state batteries in EVs, wider adoption also depends on the development of compatible charging infrastructure capable of delivering the required high power.

Samsung’s approach reflects this intricate reality. The company offers extended firmware support for many products, a testament to its focus on long-term durability. Introducing batteries that degrade quickly would contradict this philosophy. Furthermore, the company is mindful of past issues, particularly the Galaxy Note 7, and is taking a longer, safer road to ensure that when new battery technologies are finally rolled out, they are thoroughly tested and reliable.

Beyond the Horizon: Samsung’s Broader Battery Vision

Samsung SDI, the battery arm of the conglomerate, is not solely focused on solid-state and SUS CAN. The company is pursuing a diverse range of battery innovations and applications:

• 46-Series Cylindrical Batteries: Samsung SDI recently began production of its 46-series cylindrical batteries, a new generation of larger cylindrical cells (46mm in diameter). These batteries feature high-nickel NCA (Nickel, Cobalt, and Aluminum) cathodes and proprietary SCN (Silicon Carbon Nanocomposite) anodes, which aim to increase both energy density and lifespan while preventing swelling. These are initially targeted at micro-mobility devices but are planned for expansion into electric vehicles.
• “No-Thermal Propagation” (No-TP) Technology: For EV batteries, Samsung SDI has finalized development of its No-TP technology, designed to prevent the spread of heat in the event of a thermal incident. This technology incorporates specialized safety materials and a cooling plate to isolate thermal events at the cell level, increasing safety and potentially allowing for localized component replacement.
• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Cobalt-Free Batteries: Samsung is also exploring more affordable and sustainable battery chemistries, including LFP and cobalt-free options, to broaden its market reach and address raw material concerns.
• Energy Storage Systems (ESS): Samsung SDI is a major player in ESS, providing solutions for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications, integrated with renewable energy sources. This includes large-scale uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for AI data centers, showcasing high-power output and enhanced safety features.
• Microbatteries: For the rapidly expanding market of wearable devices and IoT, SAIT is developing high-power, safe battery technologies utilizing 3-dimensional structures with high-density electrodes and solid electrolytes.

Samsung’s patience and meticulousness in battery development underline a commitment to delivering not just incremental improvements, but fundamental shifts that will redefine power solutions for the next generation of electronics and beyond. While the wait may feel long, the potential for safer, longer-lasting, and more efficient batteries makes this slow and careful journey a necessary one for the future of technology.

FAQ Section

Q1: What exactly are solid-state batteries and why are they considered better?

A1: Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are a type of battery that uses a solid electrolyte instead of the liquid or gel electrolytes found in traditional lithium-ion batteries. They are considered better because they offer higher energy density (meaning more power in a smaller space), greatly enhanced safety due to the non-flammable solid material, faster charging capabilities, and a significantly longer lifespan compared to current battery technology.

Q2: Why is it taking Samsung so long to release new battery technology?

A2: Battery development is inherently complex and time-consuming. Samsung’s slow and careful approach is driven by several factors: the need for rigorous safety testing (especially after past incidents like the Note 7 recall), the intricate chemistry involved in maximizing energy density while ensuring long-term durability, and the challenges of scaling up production to be both efficient and cost-effective for mass adoption.

Q3: What is SUS CAN battery technology, and how does it help?

A3: SUS CAN (Steel Use Stainless) battery technology refers to using a stainless steel casing for the battery cells. This approach aims to improve battery capacity and, critically, address common issues like battery swelling in devices. Stainless steel is more robust and resistant to corrosion, potentially making batteries more durable and easier to replace.

Q4: Will these new battery technologies make my phone last for days on a single charge?

A4: While the goal is significantly longer battery life, whether a phone lasts “for days” will depend on device usage and specific battery capacity. Technologies like solid-state batteries promise substantial improvements in energy density, which means more power can be packed into the same or smaller size, leading to notably extended usage times compared to current models.

Q5: When can consumers expect to see these new Samsung battery technologies in their devices?

A5: For solid-state batteries, initial applications are likely to be in premium electric vehicles around late 2026, with broader consumer electronics adoption potentially following later, perhaps closer to 2030, as manufacturing scales and costs decrease. SUS CAN technology might appear in consumer devices, such as Galaxy phones, sooner, with some reports suggesting its potential inclusion in models like the Galaxy S26. The exact timeline depends on the rigorous testing and production scaling that Samsung prioritizes.