[Exclusive] Samsung develops world’s first small-sized solid-state battery

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has developed a solid-state battery. (Samsung Electro-Mechanics)

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. has successfully developed the world’s first small-sized solid-state battery for wearable devices after more than three years of research and development.

According to industry sources on Sunday, Samsung Electro-Mechanics has produced prototypes of the small-sized solid-state battery and is currently conducting tests with its customers.

The new battery boasts stability, miniaturization and flexibility, and is expected to be a game changer, potentially replacing traditional lithium-ion batteries that are difficult to miniaturize.

The battery is created by thinly stacking materials for electrodes and solid electrolytes. These layers are alternately stacked and cut, ensuring wrinkle-free production.

Due to minimal volume changes during charging, the battery doesn’t require extra space or separators, saving room. It can also be cut and shaped into various sizes, offering design flexibility.

The battery also boasts excellent safety, with a reduced risk of fire. Samsung Electro-Mechanics leveraged its expertise in multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) processing to achieve this development.

With an energy density of 200Wh/ℓ, Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ solid-state battery holds the industry’s highest level of capacity.

A battery with an energy density of 100Wh/ℓ means that it can provide 100W of power for one hour from a 1-liter volume battery, and the higher the energy density, the more capacity a battery can hold.

Mass production is expected to begin in the first half of 2026 at the company’s plant in Busan, with applications likely to start with Samsung Electronics’ wearable devices such as the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds, and possibly smartphones later.

The battery’s low risk of explosion makes it particularly suitable for wearables that are in close contact with the body.

The solid-state battery is considered the first success of one of the company’s new business initiatives led by Chief Executive Officer Chang Duck-hyun.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics plans to ensure price competitiveness through continued technology development and customer acquisition.