Lithium-ion batteries take over an hour to charge fully. Graphene batteries can reduce that time to just 12 minutes. That’s what Samsung claimed when its Advanced Institute of Technology successfully synthesized its patented graphene ball last year. The company said that this could be used to make lithium-ion batteries charge faster and last longer.

Many have since been interested in finding out when this battery technology will make its way to the company’s smartphones. The existing technology limits just how much capacity manufacturers can put inside a device while making space for all of the other components. Graphene batteries are said to be the solution.

Samsung could start using graphene batteries for smartphones next year

Chinese social media network Weibo is awash with rumors that Samsung is done with the development of graphene batteries. The company is expected to start using them in smartphones from next year.

Samsung’s Advanced Institute of Technology said last year that this graphene ball material will increase battery capacities by 45 percent. It also said that the charging speed would be improved by five times. The batteries can even maintain a higher temperature so they would be safer too. Samsung has patented this technology in the United States and South Korea.

There’s no such indication that this battery technology will be introduced with the Galaxy S10. The company’s next flagship smartphone is due in early 2019. It’s possible that the next Galaxy Note handset could be the first to get it. Given Samsung’s inclination to bring new technologies to mid-range devices first now, the possibility can not be ruled out for a more affordable device as well.

This is all based on speculation right now. There’s nothing out from Samsung yet to suggest that this technology is ready to be used commercially. Take this with a grain of salt, as you would any and all rumors from Weibo.