Samsung is the New Nokia?

Recent developments suggest that newly unveiled smartphone battery designs (Si-carbon) could significantly impact device slimness. Current smartphones typically measure around 8 mm in thickness, but next year’s models might slim down to approximately 5 or 6 mm.

Chinese brands like Vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, and OnePlus are pioneering the use of silicon-carbon battery technology, which offers higher energy density in a smaller footprint. This advancement allows for larger battery capacities without increasing device thickness.

Anyways, one of the first ultra-thin devices could be the next iPhone. Apple is reportedly working on the iPhone 17 Air, aiming to be the thinnest iPhone yet, with a thickness around 5.5 mm. This design is made possible by developing a battery with a thinner substrate.

However, Samsung has taken the lead by announcing the Galaxy S25 Edge. Despite its sleek design, the device doesn’t introduce a new battery technology or groundbreaking features.
It includes standard components like a powerful chip, heat pipe, and wireless charging. To achieve the 5 mm thickness, Samsung reduced the battery capacity to 3,900 mAh, which is lower than that of the standard S25 model. Moreover, the 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage variant is priced at €1,349.

This approach is reminiscent of Nokia’s strategy in 2010—launching new devices with similar or inferior specifications, expecting them to captivate consumers. If Samsung continues on this path, it might face a fate similar to Nokia’s, with another company eventually managing its brand (maybe even HMD, who knows).