Apple Supplier TDK Says It Made a Battery Breakthrough. What Devices Could Benefit.
The Japanese company TDK said Monday that it has developed a next-generation solid-state battery capable of holding significantly more energy than existing versions of the technology.
The news could be a boost for Apple, although the new battery will be aimed at wearable devices, which account for a smaller share of its sales than the iPhone.
TDK said the new material for its small solid-state batteries has an estimated energy density of 1,000 watt hours per liter, around 100 times greater than its conventional solid-state battery.
The new material would offer a bit more than double the energy density of lithium-ion batteries commonly used for smartphones.
Solid state refers to batteries with no liquid in them to facilitate the flow of electricity. Solid-state batteries represent a potential improvement over other technologies, promising faster charging and lower costs, but they have proven difficult to produce at commercial scale.
“TDK’s technology is aimed at a solution that can be utilized in various wearable devices, such as wireless earphones, hearing aids and even smartwatches, with the goal of replacing existing coin cell batteries,” the company said in a statement.
Replacing coin-cell batteries means the new technology isn’t aimed at larger devices such as smartphones, at least for now. However, some Apple products such as the AirTag tracking device do use coin-cell batteries.
TDK shares closed down 0.6% in local trading in Japan. Apple shares were up 1.9% in Monday morning trading.
Write to Adam Clark at [email protected]