Samsung is reportedly working on innovative foldable battery technology designed to enhance the performance of future folding-screen smartphones. Currently, models like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 are equipped with two batteries—one on each side of the hinge—utilizing a 2,425 mAh battery on one side and a 1,975 mAh battery on the other. This configuration allows for satisfactory battery life in folding devices.
The potential introduction of a foldable battery, which could bend along with the screen, promises to optimize the internal space of smartphones and may even boost their energy storage capacity. Such advancements would facilitate the development of tri-fold smartphones.
While this new battery technology has not yet debuted in the market, a recently uncovered patent on the VeePN blog suggests that Samsung engineers are exploring this possibility. The patent, accessible on the US Patent Office’s website, outlines a design for a foldable battery that could streamline power and space management within foldable smartphones.
It’s important to note that the existence of a patent does not necessarily imply that the technology will be utilized in a commercial product. However, it reflects Samsung’s ongoing efforts to enhance its folding-screen smartphone lineup. The successful development of foldable batteries would represent a significant advancement in this category.
Additionally, Samsung has proposed designs for a smartphone capable of folding twice using this foldable battery technology, along with illustrations of a device that can fold multiple times. These developments align with reports suggesting that Samsung is working on a three-fold smartphone to rival Huawei’s Mate XT.
Despite the increasing sales of folding-screen smartphones, their overall market presence remains modest. According to forecasts from IDC, global shipments of folding smartphones are expected to rise by 10.5%, compared to a projected 6.2% growth for standard smartphones. However, this growth rate is beginning to slow as Chinese manufacturers pivot their investments toward GenAI smartphones. Concerns about sustainability and a lack of distinct use cases are additional factors impacting the expansion of this segment.