Rumor: Next iPhone to Feature Ultra-Thin, Quick-Charging, Eco-Friendly Batteries?

There’s a slick new battery technology on the loose, and it just might be headed for Apple’s next iPhone. The new battery technology (called Organic Radical Battery) was developed by NEC, and uses incredibly thin polymer films to create batteries as thin as 0.3mm, while reducing the weight.

Besides being thinner and lighter, the new batteries can charge much faster than traditional battery cells, and are completely eco friendly as they contain no toxic elements. According to a new report from International Business Times (via iDownloadBlog), Apple has taken an interest in including the new battery technology in their upcoming next-gen iPhone.

This time, Apple could go green and opt for eco-friendly features in its next generation devices. […] Apple is expected to use the mesmerising ORB in its iPhone 6.

Using this technology, Apple could make their next iPhone significantly thinner and lighter while increasing its battery capacity and reducing the time it takes to charge the device. It’s unclear what the cost of these batteries might be, but if they’re not ungodly expensive, it seems like a no brainer for Apple to use them in future devices.

Imagine how the new Retina iPad might have been different with this technology – it could have been thinner and lighter, and eliminated complaints from some users that it takes longer to charge. With Apple’s portable devices becoming increasingly powerful and battery-intensive, this seems like a fantastic move.

The report goes on to suggest that Apple may include a curved glass screen in the next iPhone.

The tech giant has contacted G-Tech and Fuji Crystal, the lens technology companies. Both the companies are major sources to supply the required equipment to polish the curved glass. Hence, the Organic Radical Battery could be easily incorporated into the curved screen.

It’s worth taking this rumor with a grain of salt, however, as there’s no real evidence to back up any of these claims, and the ORB battery technology is still in its infancy (and may not be able to output enough power at one time to drive a smartphone).

J. Glenn Künzler

Glenn is Managing Editor at MacTrast, and has been using a Mac since he bought his first MacBook Pro in 2006. He lives in a small town in Utah, enjoys bacon more than you can possibly imagine, and is severely addicted to pie.