The Apple Watch Sequence 10 function I didn’t see coming was unbelievable battery life. I’ve written about it time and time once more, and I’m nonetheless blown away after greater than three months of utilization. The Sequence 10 routinely lasts round 30 hours on a cost. Even when I prepare laborious for my marathon races, I nonetheless get effectively over 24 hours of battery life.
Add the Sequence 10’s fast-charging assist, and I by no means must go greater than an hour with out the wearable on my wrist. That’s an essential issue for me, as I need to decrease the info gaps whereas monitoring my well being. I count on future Apple Watch generations to have even higher battery life than the Sequence 10 and Extremely, in addition to quicker charging speeds.
Whereas Apple’s plans to enhance battery life for its varied Apple Watch variants haven’t leaked, an enormous improvement simply materialized in South Korea. Samsung is on the point of manufacture solid-state batteries for small gadgets like wearables. If the corporate is profitable, I wouldn’t be stunned to see big battery life good points in 2026 Apple wearables just like the Apple Watch Sequence 12 and Extremely 4.
A report from AlphaBiz says that Samsung Electro-Mechanics is accelerating the event of this next-gen battery tech. The Korean-language information outlet famous that Samsung will prototype small solid-state batteries that includes an oxide-based stable electrolyte this 12 months. Mass manufacturing ought to begin subsequent 12 months.
“Our solid-state battery has secured the very best degree of vitality density and capability traits within the trade,” Samsung Electro-Mechanics CEO Jang Deok-hyun mentioned at a press convention at CES 2025. Samsung will spend money on new amenities this 12 months, forward of subsequent 12 months’s plans for mass manufacturing.
The corporate didn’t point out purchasers for these new batteries, and it’s too early for that. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t be stunning for Apple to check battery prototypes from varied suppliers, together with Samsung. In spite of everything, the Korean large performs an enormous function in Apple’s provide chain. For instance, Samsung Show makes nearly all of OLED panels the iPhone wants.
The report says the solid-state batteries that Samsung is growing may change current lithium-ion batteries in small gadgets like wearables. Rumors about two years in the past mentioned that solid-state batteries had been coming to iPhone and Galaxy gadgets. The AlphaBiz report doesn’t point out smartphones. It solely references wearables as a possible product that might use solid-state batteries by subsequent 12 months.
This battery tech replaces the liquid electrolyte routinely present in present batteries with a stable one. Because of this, solid-state batteries can supply elevated capability, which might result in important battery life enhancements.
Strong-state batteries also can recharge quicker than conventional batteries and degrade a lot slower. Since they don’t function a flammable liquid, they’re safer and fewer more likely to overheat and catch hearth.
One draw back is that solid-state batteries may enhance the load of gadgets barely. Additionally, they might be costlier to fabricate.
But when Samsung can ship such batteries for wearables, I wouldn’t be stunned to see a few of its opponents supply comparable parts. A technique or one other, Apple Watch Sequence 10 successors may get solid-state batteries.
If it had been to occur as quickly because the Apple Watch Sequence 12, the wearable may supply huge battery life and well being enhancements.
Assuming a 30% battery capability enhance with the identical accessible inner house because the Sequence 10, a solid-state battery may enhance the official Sequence 12 battery life estimate to virtually 24 hours. The batteries may recharge 20% to 40% quicker and final 1,000 to 2,000 cycles as an alternative of the present 500. The Extremely would see comparable good points, although these estimates don’t account for any power-hungry new options that may be launched by Apple.
We may be an essential milestone for client electronics batteries nonetheless. Even when the Apple Watch doesn’t get a solid-state battery anytime quickly, I wouldn’t be stunned to see the expertise equip wearables from Samsung and different distributors. Do not forget that Samsung may be very curious about well being, launching the Galaxy Ring good ring final 12 months and an Apple Watch Extremely different.
Separate stories have claimed that each Apple and Samsung are growing silicon-carbon batteries for iPhone and Galaxy telephones to reply to elevated competitors from Chinese language smartphone distributors. This battery tech must also be prepared subsequent 12 months.
