Leak: test reports for 12,000mAh and 18,000mAh Silicon-Carbon batteries from Samsung

Exclusive Leak: Samsung SDI Pushes Boundaries with 12,000mAh & 18,000mAh Silicon-Carbon Batteries

Recent internal test reports, leaked on X (formerly Twitter), have unveiled Samsung SDI's ambitious progress in developing high-capacity Silicon-Carbon batteries. While these cutting-edge power cells, including 12,000mAh, 18,000mAh, and even 20,000mAh variants, promise revolutionary endurance, the initial findings indicate that significant development work is still underway.

Early Test Results: Performance Hurdles for Next-Gen Batteries

Focusing on the 12,000mAh and 18,000mAh Silicon-Carbon batteries, the leaked documents highlight a critical hurdle: both prototypes reportedly failed after approximately 960 charge cycles. This falls short of Samsung SDI's target of 1,500 charge cycles for commercial viability, underscoring the ongoing refinement needed to achieve desired longevity. There is currently no detailed information available regarding the 20,000mAh variant.

Detailed Design: The 12,000mAh SDI-DC12K-SiC-V2 Battery

The SDI-DC12K-SiC-V2 12,000mAh battery showcases an innovative dual-cell architecture. This design integrates:

• One 6,800mAh cell measuring 4.7mm thick.
• One 5,200mAh cell measuring 3.2mm thick.

The objective is to maintain a combined stack thickness below 9.3mm, although initial tests revealed that two out of seven samples exceeded this target.

Detailed Design: The 18,000mAh SDI-TC18K-SiC Battery

Even more ambitious is the SDI-TC18K-SiC 18,000mAh battery, adopting a robust triple-cell configuration:

• One 6,699mAh cell, 4.2mm thick.
• One 6,000mAh cell, 3.9mm thick.
• One 5,257mAh cell, 3.28mm thick.

The targeted stack thickness for this colossal power pack is approximately 12.3mm. However, the current iteration shows a slight increase to 12.8mm due to the thermal interface layers necessary between the cells.

Ongoing Development & Optimization by Samsung SDI

To address these challenges and meet their performance targets, Samsung SDI's engineers are actively working on several key areas. The leaked notes indicate a focus on redesigning the internal layering and stacking methodologies for these advanced cells. Simultaneously, improvements to the battery management firmware are critical to optimize performance, stability, and longevity.

Future Impact: Potential for Flagships and Foldables

When fully optimized, the 12,000mAh battery is projected to deliver an astounding 20-25 hours of screen-on time in a smartphone utilizing 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity, prioritizing overall stability. The larger 18,000mAh variant, conversely, is being engineered with an emphasis on maximum capacity and sheer endurance. These individual Silicon-Carbon cells, particularly the 6,800mAh or 6,699mAh units, are ideal candidates for future flagship smartphones, including the highly anticipated Galaxy S27 Ultra. Moreover, the inherent thinness and high energy density of these batteries make them exceptionally well-suited for improving the form factor and battery life of cutting-edge foldable phones.

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