Report: Apple Developing Custom Batteries for Launch in 2025

[MacRumors]

Apple is developing custom batteries with significantly improved performance that it aims to bring to its devices starting in 2025, ETNews reports.

Apple's custom battery technology has reportedly been in the works since 2018, with the company actively seeking patents and hiring new personnel related to the project. The company is reportedly seeking to create an "all-new" kind of battery with significantly improved performance by becoming directly involved in its use of materials.

Apple is apparently curating the battery's cathode materials to determine its performance, energy density, output, and stability. The battery apparently uses a completely different composition from those that currently exist on the market, adopting a new composition of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and aluminum.

The company is considering the use of carbon nanotubes to improve the conductivity of battery materials, delivering better performance from lesser-used battery materials. Apple is also looking to increase its battery's silicon content, replacing graphite to increase capacity, and shorten charging and discharging times.

The result is expected to be an innovative battery type that has not yet been commercialized. A source familiar with Apple's plans suggested to ETNews that the Vision Pro headset has dramatically increased the company's need for high-performance batteries. The headset features just two hours of battery life. Other devices such as the Apple Watch and iPad have been left with the same "all-day" battery life since their introduction.

Apple's custom battery project was reportedly co-developed with the company's electric vehicle project, but the mobile applications are now the main target for the technology. It is expected to begin being added to Apple devices starting in 2025.

Article Link: Report: Apple Developing Custom Batteries for Launch in 2025

 

[0xjf]

Well that’s one way to tacitly admit the iPhone 14 Pro batteries are cooked lol

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Well, its certainly within their power… No?

 

[Kissmo1980]

Hopefully they will also release SW that doesn’t drain it so fast….

 

[Thisismattwade]

Good, the more companies we have investing in better batteries the better for our future!

(I just hope it doesn't turn into a subscription service at some point...)

 

[Maigrais]

I dictate my electronics purchase decisions strictly on battery life 1st; any other feature set comes next. That’s why I put up with the larger Apple devices just for the sake of exceptional battery endurance. When I work, I never look at the battery indicator. That’s exciting news!

 

[Smolda]

Can't wait for a battery pro and ultra for a little extra $$$

 

[sziehr]

So they hired a few ex Tesla folks in Palo Alto, good work apple, they I am sure welcome a change in environment and to bring there expertise to something new.

 

[coffeemilktea]

I suspect it would probably also shut down the third-party battery market for old Apple products, meaning if you needed to replace a battery on an old MacBook Pro or an old iPhone, you can only buy it from Apple. 🤪

(right now, you can still get third-party replacement batteries off Amazon for cheap and replace your device batteries yourself if you have the tools, but if Apple becomes the sole supplier of these extra-special custom batteries, that will all change)

 

[eropko]

I will believe it when I see it.

 

[tothemoonsands]

Article image shows a MacBook Pro, but I’m kind of hoping it comes to iPhone, Vision Pro, etc first.

Not least of which because I just ordered the 14” M3 Max at $3200!

 

[Spock]

Apple should invest in extension cords for unlimited power, wireless is just a fad.

 

[CraigJDuffy]

I suspect it would probably also shut down the third-party battery market for old Apple products, meaning if you needed to replace a battery on an old MacBook Pro or an old iPhone, you can only buy it from Apple. 🤪

(right now, you can still get third-party replacement batteries off Amazon for cheap and replace your device batteries yourself if you have the tools, but if Apple becomes the sole supplier of these extra-special custom batteries, that will all change)

Honestly, good. Most of those third party batteries are used batteries rebranded to scam people or fire hazards.

 

[hieranonymous]

Battery tech has been stalled for nearly thirty years now. We’ve been hearing about promising new developments without any follow-through for much of that time. If Apple actually does manage to bring a genuine breakthrough to market, it will be a big deal. Batteries have become the biggest bottleneck in portable tech. Semiconductor and display tech during that same time have made massive leaps in performance and efficiency.

 

[jz0309]

Certainly battery technology needs a new break thru, esp for “wearables” and I’ll include the iPhone in that category …
But like with microLED, years in the making, hyped like crazy - and nothing, yet.
So we’ll see

 

[jarman92]

I suspect it would probably also shut down the third-party battery market for old Apple products, meaning if you needed to replace a battery on an old MacBook Pro or an old iPhone, you can only buy it from Apple. 🤪

(right now, you can still get third-party replacement batteries off Amazon for cheap and replace your device batteries yourself if you have the tools, but if Apple becomes the sole supplier of these extra-special custom batteries, that will all change)

True, except all third-party batteries are hot garbage (in my experience).

 

[rp2011]

And this is where Apple, especially with iPhone has lifted all boats. With its economy of scale it has brought new technologies to market and the masses by sheer force of volume. Once these technologies and scale are out in the wild, others can dip into the supply chain without having to reinvent every part of it.

 

[SpringKid]

Regardless of what kind of news is posted here on Macrumors, nowadays it’s always followed by comments full of negativity and complaints about all things Apple, instead of something actually related to the topic.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

As it is Apple, they will probably make the battery smaller instead of longer lasting.

I think MacStudios and iMacs should also get a small battery, so that they can still work, if have unplug them for a few seconds. That is the main reason why I prefer notebooks of desktop PCs.

 

[ksec]

The company is considering the use of carbon nanotubes to improve the conductivity of battery materials,

Sounds like current Carbon Nanotubes Batteries.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Wonder if they'll offer the new batteries to older phones when you have a battery replacement done in-store. Most likely Apple will save it for the most recently released model as a new feature and older devices will have to use the old style batteries. Got to keep giving people reasons to upgrade!

 

[philipmv]

Apple has a great track record with device charging technology. Can’t wait to charge my iPhone 17 Ultra and AirPods Pro 4th-gen and Apple Watch SE 3 on my AirPower mat with these innovative batteries.

 

[WilliApple]

Ah yes, we are getting Apple Lithium batteries, made out of lab made lithium that every mAH is 10nm, then they will shrink them even more, making the batteries last even longer, and are more reliable.

 

[mouthster]

Guess I won't be buying any new Apple devices until 2025!

 

[mongobongo]

Thats sure is one juicy Apple rumour! Hope it's true and they bring the same kind of improvements to battery life as Apple silicon brought to SoCs!