As Samsung’s Galaxy S24 line approaches, battery certifications have been spotted, hinting at the battery capacities of the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra models. The Galaxy S24 Plus is rumored to feature a rated capacity of 4,755mAh, an upgrade of 190mAh from its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Plus, which had a 4,565mAh rated capacity. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s rated capacity remains unchanged at 4,855mAh, similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Though these figures represent rated capacities, companies, including Samsung, typically emphasize the typical capacity of their batteries. For example, the Galaxy S23 Plus boasts a typical capacity of 4,700mAh, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra features 5,000mAh. Based on these typical capacities, it is expected that the Galaxy S24 Plus might have around 4,900mAh, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra will retain its 5,000mAh typical capacity.
While the battery capacity improvements may not be groundbreaking, it’s important to note that other factors, such as chipset efficiency, can also impact battery life. Newer chipsets tend to be more power-efficient, offsetting the increased power demands, which could positively affect battery performance. However, Samsung phones have historically charged slower than some of their competitors, which may contribute to concerns about battery life.
Notably, Samsung is not alone in its conservative approach to battery capacity improvements. Across the smartphone industry, only select affordable and gaming-oriented phones offer batteries exceeding 5,000mAh. As other aspects of smartphones continue to improve, the stagnation in battery capacity upgrades is disappointing for some users who prioritize extended battery life.
While increased battery capacity is desired by some, manufacturers likely face trade-offs, such as increased thickness and weight, when considering larger batteries. As a result, they may have decided that the current battery sizes strike the right balance between performance and form factor. As the smartphone landscape evolves, it remains to be seen whether companies will prioritize significant battery capacity enhancements in future device iterations.
