By focusing on smartphone batteries instead of smartphones, Sony might get a much-needed boost in profits.
The fact that smartphones won’t last longer than a day when used normally has become common knowledge. This is why Sony plans to make batteries that last 40% longer in order to rid ourselves from the constant hassle of charging our phones. Even though 40% might not look much at first glance, it really makes a huge difference when you urgently need your phone to stay alive during the day.
The technology titan Sony has been the first company to introduce the lithium-ion type batteries on the public markets, but today, this Li-ion battery needs to evolve in order to maintain its viability. The research meant to design a new type of battery hasn’t been underway only at Sony, with other phone manufacturers like Samsung or LG striving towards longer battery life while at the same time keeping their phones slim.
The main struggle of this research is finding a viable counterpart to the electrodes found in the battery itself. A first step was made in considering sulfur-based electrodes while keeping the lithium part intact. Though this type of battery holds a greater capacity than its older counterpart, its short lifespan makes it commercially nonviable. But by replacing lithium with magnesium, batteries will become stronger while at the same time lowering their construction price.
A magnesium-sulfur based battery would also dismiss the lithium battery danger of catching fire after prolonged degradation. The biggest marketing flaw that this research will have will be its public access, Sony claiming that a viable solution won’t be found until the year of 2020.
This is extremely surprising if one were to look at the new Oukitel K10000 which will allegedly have a battery life of two full weeks after just a single charge. True, the phone will not have the hardware capabilities of other smartphones, relying on more battery efficient components and software, but the fact that it lasts at least 14 days remains.
Taking into account that the Oukitel smartphone will launch in January 2016, Sony will have to pick up the pace in its research if it hopes to actually attract consumers to their new battery products. The reason why a Sony counterpart may remain relevant even though it will have only a 40% boost may be its advanced hardware, without any sacrifices being made towards longer battery life.
It is currently not clear if Sony will release more information in regards to their battery life research during CES 2016. But odds are pretty low if the company wants to make this product available only after 4 long years. Unfortunately, it seems like the Japanese company is losing more and more ground in the smartphone market as time goes on.
Even so, the news that Sony plans to make batteries that last 40% might provide a much-needed boost for the company. Only time will tell if Sony’s competitors will leave said company biting the dust in the great smartphone race.
Image source:www.pixabay.com
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