Galaxy S27 Ultra May Skip Silicon-Carbon Battery Over Manufacturing Costs

Samsung’s Galaxy S27 Ultra will reportedly stick with traditional lithium-ion battery cells instead of jumping to silicon-carbon technology, but that doesn’t mean the company is holding back on capacity. According to a new claim reported by Wccftech, Samsung is currently evaluating a battery in the 5,600mAh to 5,800mAh range for its next flagship, a move that could finally push the phone past the 5,000mAh mark for the first time since the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

For mobile gamers who rely on their phones for long sessions of cloud gaming, emulation, or graphically demanding titles, battery longevity has always been one of the biggest pain points on Samsung’s Ultra lineup compared to rivals. If this rumor pans out, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could finally close that gap without the added expense of newer battery chemistry.

Why Samsung Is Avoiding Silicon-Carbon Cells

According to Wccftech, the leaker known as @phonefuturist explained on Telegram that switching to silicon-carbon batteries would cost Samsung between $22 million and $28 million for every one million Galaxy S27 Ultra units produced. That’s compared to just $12 million to $15 million for sourcing standard lithium-ion cells at the same volume, a gap significant enough to make Samsung think twice.

Wccftech notes that this cost sensitivity comes at a particularly bad time, with the ongoing DRAM shortage already squeezing manufacturing budgets across the smartphone industry. Samsung appears unwilling to pile on extra expenses tied to newer battery chemistry while memory prices remain volatile.

A Bigger Battery Without the New Chemistry

Despite skipping silicon-carbon tech, Wccftech reports that Samsung hasn’t given up on offering more battery capacity. Citing the same source, the outlet says Samsung is re-evaluating a battery roadmap from supplier SDI that includes 5,600mAh and 5,800mAh options, moving away from a previously settled 5,200mAh lithium-ion plan.

If internal testing goes well, Wccftech says the Galaxy S27 Ultra could ship with a battery exceeding 5,500mAh, all without adopting silicon-carbon chemistry. That would still fall short of the largest cells found in some Chinese flagship phones, but it would represent a meaningful jump for Samsung’s Ultra series after years of staying under the 5,000mAh ceiling.

Keeping Pace With the iPhone 18 Pro Max

The timing matters, too. Wccftech points out that Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also expected to feature larger batteries, following the pattern set by the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which reportedly delivered record battery life through software and hardware optimizations rather than sheer cell size alone.

Samsung may need every bit of extra capacity it can get, especially since the Galaxy S27 Pro is rumored to retain the same 5,000mAh battery as the current Galaxy S26 Ultra. Wccftech suggests Samsung doesn’t want to give buyers another reason to skip the pricier Ultra model, particularly with the broader memory crisis already threatening to dampen smartphone demand.

As with any early rumor, Wccftech cautions that these details should be treated carefully until Samsung confirms its final specifications closer to launch.

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