Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR Samsung is reportedly exploring more advanced “battery protection circuits” for the Galaxy S26 series, along with the previously reported SUS CAN casing.
These upgrades could leave room for Samsung to expand the batteries in capacity.
However, these upgrades may still not be able to compensate for the lack of a more advanced silicon-carbon battery.
Batteries on the latest Samsung Galaxy flagship phone have been a major reason for disappointment. With the Galaxy S26, Samsung may be looking to address the issue partly by improving the current battery technology and allowing for bigger batteries and potentially faster charging.
Samsung has reportedly entered a new agreement with South Korea’s ITM Semiconductor Co. for specialized solutions to extend the longevity of batteries to be used in the Galaxy S26 series. These solutions will include the use of additive fillers that reinforce batteries for protection against physical stressors.
In the case of the Galaxy S26 specifically, ITM Semiconductor is expected to offer “battery protection circuits” developed using epoxy molding compound (or EMC) technology, as per Korean news outlet The Elec. The report also notes these circuits will regulate the flow of charge and prevent the Galaxy S26’s batteries from overcharging or discharging too quickly.
For the sake of oversimplification, EMC deploys a thin layer of polymeric compounds, such as silica, that block any ingress of moisture, prevent electromagnetic interference from other electronic components on the phone’s circuit board, and help dissipate heat generated while charging or discharging. The third aspect is most important, as batteries tend to degrade faster when subjected to heat while charging or quick draining, as in scenarios such as gaming.
Notably, ITM already supplies similar, but less advanced, solutions to Samsung’s Galaxy A, Z Fold, and Z Flip series, as per The Elec. It also has experience supplying protection circuit modules packages (or PMPs) for batteries used in certain iPhone and AirPods models, as well as older Samsung flagships such as the Galaxy S21.
ECM utilizes a more advanced packaging technique that allows for protection circuits to get smaller. With each iteration, the protective circuits are reduced in size, allowing for more physical space inside the phone for the actual battery pack to occupy.
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