ISLAMABAD – For quite some time, mobile phone batteries seemed stuck at same size, and no matter how powerful phones became, Apple and Samsung flagships rarely crossed 5,000mAh mark.
On the other hand, Mi, Oppo, Nothing and OnePlus,surged ahead with massive batteries, leaving users wondering why premium flagships from Apple, Samsung, and Google still lag behind in capacity. Now, a new explanation is lighting up the tech world — and it has nothing to do with innovation or cost-cutting.
According to prominent tipster Ice Universe, the real barrier may be U.S. federal transportation law.
A few people know that it stemmed to US regulation governing lithium-ion battery transport, alongside International Air Transport Association (IATA) dangerous goods rules. These laws draw a firm line at 20 watt-hours (Wh) per lithium-ion cell.
Batteries rated at 20Wh or less can be shipped under simplified procedures. Cross that limit, however, and the battery is instantly classified as a Class 9 hazardous material, triggering a cascade of stricter requirements, specialized packaging, hazard labeling, and extensive documentation.
As phones batteries are typically treated as single lithium-ion cells, manufacturers carefully engineer them to remain under this 20Wh ceiling. Once capacities cross 5,000 mAh, they risk triggering hazardous goods classifications — a risk major brands seem unwilling to take.
A look at today’s biggest-name smartphones reveals a clear pattern. Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup, including Pro and Pro Max, carries batteries ranging from 3355 mAh to 4702 mAh, translating to roughly 12.75Wh to 17.87Wh at around 3.8V.
Not everyone is playing by the same rulebook. Some manufacturers have found a clever loophole: dual-cell battery designs. By splitting large battery into two smaller cells, each safely below the 20Wh limit, companies can dramatically increase total capacity without violating transport regulations.
The reason flagship phones from Apple, Samsung, and Google haven’t adopted massive batteries may have less to do with design choices, and more to do with global logistics and American safety law.
