According to the latest information, Samsung is applying Chinese ATL (Amperex Technology Limited) batteries to the new smartwatch ‘Galaxy Watch 4 (tentative name)’. Together with Samsung SDI, we entrusted the initial supply.
ATL has been rarely employed by Samsung Electronics for a while since the Galaxy Note 7 battery fire in 2017 and has been supplied since 2019. Recently, it has also supplied batteries to the Galaxy S21. Wearable devices such as smartwatches are being actively used since the same period.
As per the ATL in China is reported to be mass-producing small polymer batteries to be used in the Galaxy Watch 4. This is for the 41mm model. For the 45mm model, Samsung SDI decided to supply the battery. The capacity is 240mAh for the 41mm model and 350mAh for the 45mm model.
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Compared to the existing Galaxy Watch 3, the battery capacity has slightly changed. The 41mm model decreased by 7mAh and the 45mm model increased by 10mAh.
Considering the characteristics of a smartwatch with a narrow space, it can be interpreted that the core printed circuit board (PCB) and display design have changed. In the industry, it is expected that Samsung Electronics, which used the Tizen operating system (OS), used Google Wear OS on the Galaxy Watch 4.
As ATL supplied batteries to the Galaxy Watch 4, the wireless division of Samsung Electronics became a wearable device battery supplier, Samsung SDI, and ATL. We have selected EVE Energy in China and Barta in Germany as a supplier of coin cell (button type) batteries for some models of Galaxy Buds, but they have now been replaced by Samsung SDI. The battery for the charging case is divided between Samsung SDI and ATL, and the wireless earphone is in charge of Samsung SDI.
The use of ATL batteries by Samsung Electronics is a cost reduction dimension. According to data from market research firms, the cost of small polymer batteries used in wireless earphones and wearable devices is estimated at $4-5. Batteries for modern smartphones usually cost between $6 and $8.
Although the capacity is small, the price does not differ significantly compared to the battery for a smartphone. In addition, plans to adjust some small polymer production lines recently also seem to have had an impact.
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