Honor is testing a smartphone battery that could fundamentally change how mobile users handle power. The company has put a 12,000mAh silicon-carbon cell into trial production. This density allows the device to store significantly more energy than current lithium-ion standards. Users who currently rely on external power banks may soon find those accessories unnecessary for daily use.
Honor tests high-capacity silicon-carbon cell for upcoming smartphone
The specific device housing this battery is likely the Honor Power 3 or a model in the Honor X series. The silicon-carbon chemistry enables this high capacity without increasing the physical volume of the cell. This approach mirrors trends seen in portable chargers, where Anker founder Steven Yang noted that power banks might become obsolete. The technology allows manufacturers to pack more energy into the same space as traditional cells.
Honor Power 3 Battery Specifications
- Battery Capacity: 12,000mAh (rated 11,790mAh/43.86Wh)
- Battery Chemistry: Silicon-carbon
- Fast Charge Output: 27W
The trial battery is rated at 11,790mAh, which equals 43.86Wh of energy. It supports 27W fast charging for other devices when used as a power source. Competitors are expected to enter the 10,000mAh era with similar silicon-carbon technology by 2026. This places Honor slightly ahead of the broader industry timeline for mass adoption of this chemistry.
Industry data highlights the shift away from portable chargers. Anker's revenue share from power banks dropped from over 70% in 2017 to below 12% in 2025. This decline suggests that smartphone batteries are already absorbing the market share once held by external accessories. We looked at the decline of portable chargers earlier while tracking smartphone battery advancements.
Source: NotebookCheck
