Smartphone batteries are getting bigger — and 2025 might just be the start. A new leak from China suggests that by 2026, some mainstream phones from the country could break past the 10,000mAh mark, pushing battery life into uncharted territory. But while Chinese brands race ahead, Samsung, Google, and Apple seem in no rush to follow — and there’s at least one big reason why. For reference, Samsung’s 2026 flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is widely rumored to stick with a 5,000mAh battery.
Over the past year, we’ve seen battery capacities climb fast. Honor grabbed headlines with the X70’s massive 8,300mAh cell — in a 7.76mm phone. That followed earlier moves like the Honor Power’s 8,000mAh battery, setting a new bar for mid-range devices. Now, other brands like OnePlus, iQOO, and Xiaomi are rumored to be eyeing 7,000mAh+ packs for flagships before the end of 2025.
On July 19, 2025, well known leaker Digital Chat Station claimed on Weibo that a mainstream mid-range phone with a 10,000mAh battery is in the works for the first half of 2026.
Big batteries don’t have to mean bulky phones — the Honor X70 proves it. While advancements in silicon-carbon battery tech (which improves energy density) help pack more capacity into the same space, the rumored mid-range phone also reportedly uses a redesigned internal structure. Specifically, its PCB is said to be much more compact, freeing up room for a larger battery.
This approach isn’t entirely new — OnePlus teased a similar concept for the 13T, showing how a tighter PCB layout can create space for bigger batteries. Still, making an already densely packed board even more compact takes serious R&D. It’ll be interesting to see when Samsung, Apple, or Google finally follows suit.
It’s still unclear which Chinese brand will make the first move to 10,000mAh, but Honor is an obvious contender given their recent breakthrough in this aspect. 2026 might be the year the numbers finally hit five digits.
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