Chinese smartphones have a clear advantage: their batteries are 11% larger than those in the rest of the world. A consolidated suspicion that is now measured thanks to Counterpoint Research.
The average in China reached 5,418 mAh in May 2025, compared to 4,900 mAh in the rest of the world. The difference has expanded to exceed 500 mAh in recent months.
Why is it important. China is adopting carbon-silicio batteries (sic), a technology that allows greater energy density without increasing the thickness of the device. The rest of the world maintains more conservative technologies even though Two years ago we warn of this impact.
The context. Chinese brands have opted to solve one of user’s biggest headaches: autonomy. With larger screens, more frequently soda and applications that consume more energy, including Local generative AIThey need more capacity.
6,000 mAh or more mobiles already represent 35% of the Chinese market, compared to 9% of a year ago. OnePlus leads with the greatest average capacity thanks to Your Ace series, exclusive to China.
- There is a revealing pattern: brands such as Honor, Huawei and Vivo launch models with larger batteries specifically for the Chinese domestic market.
- But their global versions maintain minor capacities.
Why does this happen? Because China is its test laboratory:
- SIC batteries certifications are more agile there.
- In China you can try that technology before facing the expensive and slow western approval processes.
It is cheaper to try at home than to risk out with a new technology.
And now what. China will maintain this short -term advantage while Western brands wait for SIC technology to mature. The gap will be reduced when more manufacturers adopt large batteries as a global differentiation factor, and not only in China.
Outstanding image | Xataka
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