Why Apple and Samsung use smaller batteries
Many people have wondered about this. Chinese phones now offer 6500mAh or even 7000mAh batteries. So why are Apple and Samsung still using batteries around 5000mAh?
If you compare the Pro models across different brands, you will see a clear pattern. Xiaomi, OPPO, Honor, and vivo now commonly use batteries with 6000mAh or more. Apple and Samsung have not even passed 5000mAh. 
Even the top iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra only reach a little above 5000mAh, while Chinese phones reached this level two years ago.
Why Past Arguments No Longer Hold Up
In the past, people would say something like this:
iOS and One UI are better optimised. A 5000mAh iPhone can last as long as a 6000mAh Android phone.
This used to be true. System optimisation and the energy efficiency of the A series chips helped Apple match or even beat Android devices with much larger batteries. But times have changed.
How Chip and System Improvements Changed Battery Expectations
Qualcomm and MediaTek now offer much better energy efficiency. Android systems have improved control over background tasks and malware. With modern processors and updated systems, optimisation alone is no longer enough to cover a gap of more than one thousand mAh.
Battery life tests today show that the top-performing phones are usually models with very large batteries from Chinese brands. Apple and Samsung rarely appear in the top positions anymore.
Why People Blame Incremental Upgrades
Because the numbers look bad, some people think Apple and Samsung are just being lazy or only making small incremental changes. They wonder why these two global leaders do not simply use larger batteries like everyone else. It sounds reasonable, but this view misses the real reason.
The Hidden Factor That Limits Battery Size
The real limitation holding Apple and Samsung back has nothing to do with a lack of technology. It is an international regulation. More specifically, the United Nations rules on the transport of dangerous goods.
These rules state that a lithium battery with a single-cell capacity above 20 watt hours (Wh) is considered a dangerous item during international transport. For global companies like Apple and Samsung, this is a serious concern.
Why Transport Rules Limit Battery Size
Once a battery is classified as a dangerous good, it must comply with strict transport rules. This includes special packaging, clear warning labels, detailed declarations, and controlled storage. For companies that ship hundreds of millions of devices each year, this can increase logistics costs by several dollars per unit. Over time, the cost becomes huge.
Some readers may not know what 20Wh means, so let us break it down. A typical phone battery uses a voltage of 3.7V. Using the formula
capacity in mAh equals energy in Wh times 1000 divided by voltage,
20Wh comes out to around 5400mAh.
This means a single battery cell can only reach about 5400mAh. Anything higher cannot be transported through normal channels.
How Apple and Samsung Avoid Higher Costs
To avoid these restrictions, Apple and Samsung keep the energy of each battery cell below 20Wh. This allows the battery and the device to be treated as non-hazardous during international transport. It saves money and avoids complications across many supply chains.
We can already see this in the market. The European version of the Vivo X300 Pro reduced its battery from 6500mAh in China to around 5440mAh in Europe. The voltage was kept just under the 20Wh limit. Other manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Honor, and Huawei have done the same when selling globally.
For example, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a 6000mAh battery in China but drops to 5410mAh overseas. The Chinese version of the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra has 5700mAh, but the global version has only 5170mAh.
Will Apple Use Dual-Cell Batteries?
If Apple releases a foldable device in the future, the battery will likely stay around 5400mAh unless Apple accepts higher transport costs or uses more than one battery cell. Using dual cell designs is a known method to avoid the United Nations limit. As long as each cell stays under 20Wh and the total stays under 100Wh, normal logistics can still be used. Many foldable phones already use this idea.
If Apple still offers less than 5400mAh in a foldable phone, then the choice would be completely Apple’s and not because of rules.
Why Chinese Brands Can Use Larger Batteries
This challenge doesn’t affect Chinese brands. Apple and Samsung must follow strict international rules because they ship worldwide. A small increase in battery capacity could raise transport costs across global markets.
Many Chinese phones mainly serve the local market and do not face these worldwide restrictions. This gives them more freedom to offer larger batteries and benefit from their home market advantage.
At the same time, the European Union now requires removable battery designs. This adds even more limits for global brands like Apple and Samsung. They must respect both UN transport rules and EU design rules. Every step becomes a balance between cost, rules, and user experience.
Two Possible Future Paths for Phone Batteries
Looking ahead, phone batteries may split into two very different paths.
Apple and Samsung may solve battery life concerns by moving toward removable or modular batteries. This would allow users to swap a battery as easily as a SIM card and reduce battery anxiety without needing huge capacity.
Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers may continue to push silicon-carbon anodes and advanced stacking technology. This could take battery capacity beyond 10000 mAh in the future.
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