Large-capacity batteries + fast charging are popular, but the rate of mobile phone accidents is also increasing

[Editor's note from Tencent Technology] Bloomberg pointed out that smartphone manufacturers are constantly improving battery technology in order to attract consumers, but configuring large-capacity batteries and using fast charging technology may lead to an increase in accident rates. The recent "explosion gate" of Samsung Electronics is an obvious case. The following is a summary of the article.

Samsung Electronics has been pushing the limits of lithium-ion batteries to meet pressure from consumers who want longer battery life and faster charging in their smartphones, but the result has been the explosion of its new Galaxy Note7.

Developing a better battery is a long-standing problem for the technology industry. Smartphones are constantly improving, with better displays, better software, and cameras that rival those of professional cameras. However, batteries have not made significant progress, and their battery life has not increased to satisfy consumers, and charging still takes a long time.

"Everyone is rushing to add new technology and new features to phones, and that requires better batteries," said Martin Reynolds, an analyst at Gartner, a market research firm.

As smartphone makers try to win over consumers with thinner and lighter phones, they are demanding thinner and smaller batteries in addition to better performance, which puts pressure on production processes and increases the likelihood of product defects that can cause Samsung Electronics' phones to catch fire or even explode while charging.

The Galaxy Note7 was supposed to stand out with its stylus, curved screen and fast charging technology. Samsung Electronics launched the phone in August before its old rival Apple released the iPhone 7. Samsung Electronics could have used this product to suppress the iPhone 7, but the result was counterproductive.

Usually, smartphone manufacturers and mobile operators conduct rigorous testing before the phone reaches users, and the main test content is to ensure the compatibility of the phone with the operator's network. According to sources, Samsung Electronics gave operators normal testing time before the release of Galaxy Note7. Samsung Electronics showed the Galaxy Note7 prototype to operators in April and started testing in May.

At least one of Samsung's major partners is now retesting to prevent the problem from happening again, the sources said, and Samsung is meeting with key partners several times a week to discuss details of the latest investigation and try to mitigate the impact of the issue.

Headaches over lithium batteries aren’t limited to the smartphone industry. Overheating problems with battery packs made by Sony led Dell , Toshiba and other manufacturers to recall millions of laptops in 2006. The Boeing 787 also had problems with electrical fires after its debut in 2011.

Samsung Electronics said: "Based on our investigation, we believe this is an isolated issue with the battery. The battery cathode and anode abnormally met, causing the battery cell to overheat, which is a very rare manufacturing process error."

Samsung is working to fix the problem. Although only 35 incidents have been reported, Samsung has decided to recall 2.5 million Galaxy Note7s that have already been sold, an effort that could cost $2 billion. Samsung took out advertisements in major South Korean newspapers on Wednesday to apologize for the incident. To prevent more devices from exploding, Samsung updated its phone software on September 20 to limit charging to 60%. Samsung said the timing of the update varies by market.

The Galaxy Note7 has a larger battery than its predecessor, with a capacity of 3500mAh, compared to 3000mAh in the Galaxy Note 5. In comparison, the Galaxy Note7's main competitor, the iPhone 7 Plus, has a battery capacity of 2900mAh. While Apple also hopes to upgrade battery technology to support better-performing displays and faster graphics processors, it rarely uses improved battery life as a selling point. However, Apple's fall conference held not long ago was an exception. Due to better software and processor design, the company said that the battery life of the iPhone 7 increased by two hours compared to the previous generation.

Sources said Samsung SDI is the main battery supplier for Galaxy Note7. China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said that when the anode and cathode separators were partially thinned and the insulating tape did not completely cover the plate coating, a short circuit occurred, causing abnormal heating of the battery. In extreme cases, it may burn, posing a safety hazard. The number of Galaxy Note7s affected in mainland China is 1,858. Samsung Electronics said it will provide new mobile phones equipped with safe batteries from September 19, and the batteries used are from other suppliers.

In the past few years, Samsung Electronics has adopted the Quick Charge technology developed by Qualcomm in its mobile phone products . Through special chips, circuits and software, working with special chargers can speed up the charging process. Although this technology can make the Galaxy Note7 charge up to 50 minutes faster than the previous generation, it is also challenging the limits of materials and design in battery technology. Gartner analyst Reynolds said that fast charging is an important solution for batteries with poor battery life.

"Fast charging is usually a response to batteries with poor battery life," Reynolds said. "However, this is not a feature that consumers really need."

Kyle Wiens, founder of the well-known third-party disassembly website iFixit, said that the first batch of Galaxy Note7 batteries may have design defects that prevent them from working properly with certain battery pack chemicals.

Waynes also said that fast charging fills the battery with as much energy as possible, and the closer it is to the critical point, the more likely the battery will have potential safety hazards.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.