TDK Corp., one of Apple Inc.’s major suppliers of iPhone batteries, will launch an improved state-of-the-art product version this year to help mobile devices keep up with rising power demand from built-in AI.
CEO Noboru Saito said in an interview that the Tokyo-based company plans to mass-produce its third-generation silicon-animal cells starting from the end of the summer. Silicon batteries are more complex in manufacturing, but more complex than traditional ones, but most major Chinese phone manufacturers have already received more energy, and saito has seen further growth.
“Our continued investment in R&D is one of the advantages of our business, and we plan to accelerate that momentum,” the 58-year-old executive said.
Among the world’s leading provider of mobile batteries, Hong Kong-based subsidiary Amperex Technology Ltd. first introduced lithium-ion cells with silicon anode in 2023 after years of research and fine-tuning. These energy density is 5% higher than graphite anode cells, and this improvement has steadily risen to 15% capacity in the upcoming 2025 edition. This leads to devices like the recent Vivo X200 Pro, which is the same size and weight as a phone with a capacity of 5,000mAh but contains a 6,000mAh battery.
TDK competitors LG Energy Solution Ltd. and Samsung SDI Co. also recognize the potential of silicon batteries, both developing products for electric vehicles. TDK and ATL’s Silicon Anode provider, the United States-based Group14 Technologies Inc. sees Porsche AG as a strategic investor and EVS as the next area of technology after smartphones.
“Almost all automakers are looking at silicon batteries” because they may charge faster, Group14 CEO Rick Luebbe said in an interview. He added that silicon car batteries can be charged in five to seven minutes and use graphite for 40 minutes or more.
Sito said TDK is investing in capabilities and continuing research and development. He believes the company’s advantages in mass production speed and ATL’s expertise put all kinds of elements together. TDK is currently the only company that can produce silicon batteries in large quantities because their mass assembly is complex, said Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Toyo Securities. This is a big advantage for a company, but not for its customers.
“Only one company can make supply shortages between customers and often prevent widespread adoption of the technology,” Yasuda warned.
While the Si-Animal segment of TDK’s business remains small, Saito is confident that customers will see the value of the technology and growth will be “step by step”.
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