New technology extends the life of Apple devices’ batteries by 100 times

A battery supplier to Apple’s devices has revealed a major breakthrough that could mean longer battery life for AirPods and Apple Watches.

TDK, the world’s largest smartphone battery maker, said it has developed a material that could be used in a new battery with a “significantly higher energy density” than its current cells.

Energy density refers to how much energy a battery can store relative to its size or weight. The material will be used in TDK’s CeraCharge solid-state battery, which it says has an energy density of 1,000 watt-hours per liter, nearly 100 times greater than a conventional solid-state battery.

These batteries use a solid oxide-based electrolyte, as opposed to the liquid electrolyte used in the lithium-ion batteries widely found in electronic devices, making them “extremely safe.” Solid-state batteries are smaller, charge faster, last longer and are less susceptible to damage from temperature changes.

“The smaller size and higher capacity contribute to smaller device footprint and longer operating time,” the Tokyo-based company said.

The battery is designed to replace primary coin-shaped batteries, such as those found in wearable devices such as wireless headphones, smartwatches and hearing aids. The new batteries will be rechargeable, in line with new European Union battery regulations aimed at reducing the environmental impact of batteries.

TDK said it is working to mass-produce solid-state batteries, boosting the capacity of the batteries with multi-layer lamination technology and expanding their operating temperature range.

Noboru Saito, president of TDK, told Bloomberg in January that the company is continuing to develop future battery technology to differentiate itself in an increasingly crowded space and remain competitive.

“Some may say our battery sales are gradually declining, but I disagree,” Saito said. “I guarantee that batteries will be a sustainable and significant pillar of the group’s portfolio, even in the long term.”