One of the key upgrades coming to phones in 2025 is the introduction of silicon-carbon batteries. These batteries retain a lithium-based cathode but utilize a silicon carbide anode, offering various benefits such as improved resilience to extreme weather conditions and increased durability.
Hardwired
In Hardwired, AC Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda explores all things hardware, including phones, audio products, storage servers, and routers.
What makes this development exciting is the increased density; manufacturers can utilize this technology to incorporate larger batteries into their phones without increasing the overall size or weight, which is always a positive. Some 2025 phones available globally, such as the Find X8 Pro and Vivo X200 Pro, are already benefiting from silicon-carbon batteries, providing extended two-day battery life.
While other companies are beginning to adopt silicon batteries, Honor took a step in this direction two years ago with the Magic 5 Pro. The Magic 6 Pro released this year continues to utilize this technology, showcasing its durability in freezing conditions. Additionally, the Magic V2 and Magic V3 foldables have also seen improvements with this technology, with the Magic 7 Pro featuring a silicon-carbon battery with a capacity of up to 5850mAh.
The silicon-carbon technology is quite intriguing, so I had a conversation with the brand responsible for its production. Honor is using Group14’s SCC55 silicon-carbon material in the Magic 7 Pro, and I spoke with the brand’s VP of Global Strategy, Grant Ray, to gain a deeper understanding of the differences in these batteries.
Ray explained that the advantage of SCC55 is its simplicity as an alternative to graphite, requiring minimal changes during the manufacturing process. Manufacturers can seamlessly incorporate this material by adjusting the mix without the need for extensive modifications to production lines or plans.
This ease of adoption allows phone manufacturers to integrate silicon-carbon batteries on a larger scale. Ray revealed that the Group14 facility in the U.S. has already produced two million batteries’ worth of SCC55, with plans for a new facility in 2025 to increase production capacity significantly.
Another benefit of using a silicon-based anode is the reduction in reliance on graphite, offering greater flexibility for brands in choosing the silicon carbide and graphite ratio for optimal density. While the technology is still in its early stages, it has garnered interest in the EV industry and consumer electronics.
Aside from phones, silicon-carbon batteries could find applications in smartwatches, XR glasses, and other wearables, presenting enhanced durability. The efficient charging capabilities of these batteries remain consistent with conventional batteries, as observed during tests with the Magic 6 Pro, Find X8 Pro, and Vivo X200 Pro.
The transition away from lithium-ion cells towards newer technologies is the next big advancement in phone batteries. In the meantime, silicon-carbon technology offers a promising solution for better density and longevity. Honor’s clear advantage in this area is evident, and having experienced their previous silicon-carbon batteries, I am eager to see the performance of the Magic 7 Pro compared to its competitors.