Samsung SDI will be supplying the batteries for Galaxy Z Flip 2, TheElec has learned. It will be for the initial batches of the phone.
The company had previous supplied batteries for Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the original Galaxy Z Flip.
Samsung SDI’s factory in Tianjin, China will be producing the battery cells, which will be small pouch-types. The cells will be assembled with protective circuits into modules at the company’s Vietnam plant.
Galaxy Z Flip 2, like its predecessor, will have dual batteries. The top half where the camera is will have a 903mAh, and the bottom half a 2,300mAh.
The newer Flip smartphone will retain a similar design to the original Flip, which is the reason why the battery capacity will remain the same.
Supplying battery cells for Samsung Electronics’ foldable smartphones is of growing importance to Samsung SDI.
This is because, while it supplies batteries for premium smartphones such as Galaxy Note10, Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S21, LG Energy Solution does so as well for these models.
At the same time, Samsung’s mobile business use Chinese companies such as ATL and BYD for its mid-tier brands Galaxy A and M, due to the firm expanding its use of original design manufacturers for these phones’ production.
Samsung Electronics is attempting to expand its foldable smartphones, which will be boon for Samsung SDI going forward.
According to market research firm Counterpoint, 2.8 million foldable smartphones were shipped last year. This will increase to 5.6 million units this year and 17 million units in 2022, according to the firm.
Samsung SDI also attempted to supply L-shaped pouch-type batteries to Apple a few years back, but failed, according to people familiar with the matter said. This has caused a stagnation in growth in its pouch-type battery business, they said.
Samsung SDI will continue to attempt to win orders for pouch-type batteries in niche markets such as foldable smartphones and wireless earphones, they added.
