The iPhone Air battery is being called one of the most groundbreaking innovations in Apple’s history. Gene Berdichevsky, co-founder and CEO of battery materials company Sila, and also Tesla’s seventh employee who led battery engineering for the original Roadster, recently highlighted why this new design is so remarkable.
According to Berdichevsky, the iPhone Air battery introduces a metal can design, unlike the common pouch cells used in most electronics. Traditional pouch batteries rely on plastic casing, which is cheap but prone to swelling. Apple’s new metal can approach makes the cell physically stronger, more reliable, and more flexible in shape.
Apple has struggled in the past with L-shaped batteries, which often created pinch points when swelling occurred. The iPhone Air battery solves this problem by allowing Apple to design batteries in any two-dimensional shape, fitting them into every small gap left after placing the phone’s internal components. This results in better space utilization and higher energy density, making the battery more efficient without compromising size.
Berdichevsky also pointed out that this technology is not just about durability but also about preparing for the next generation of battery chemistry. While Apple is still using carbon anodes in its lithium-ion cells, the metal can construction opens the door to silicon anodes in the future. Silicon can store about 50% more energy than graphite but tends to swell. The metal can design helps manage this swelling, making the transition more feasible.
Beyond smartphones, Berdichevsky believes the iPhone Air battery could influence smaller devices like AR and VR glasses, where unusual shapes and high energy density are crucial. He described it as a revolutionary piece of battery technology that could soon become an industry standard despite its higher cost.
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