Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?
When it comes to fast charging of mobile phones, the battery inside the phone is a crucial component. Mobile phone batteries can be divided into two types: single-cell and dual-cell. In this article, we'll talk about the difference between these two types of batteries.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801372686.png)
In the past, most mobile phones used nickel-metal hydride or nickel-cadmium batteries. These batteries were typically multi-cell designs, such as three or four cells.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801372766.png)
However, as mobile phones have become thinner and larger, the battery inside has also changed. Most mobile phones now use single-cell lithium-ion batteries with high energy density.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801373069.png)
Recently, fast charging has become a critical feature for more and more manufacturers, such as the realme 240W charger. However, the single-cell solution can be a major obstacle to faster charging speed. As a result, the dual-cell solution has been reused again. This is why we can now see two types of batteries inside mobile phones.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801373168.png)
We also collected the battery info of mainstream smartphones. Mobile phones with high-power fast charging, such as 150W or above, generally use dual-cell batteries. In contrast, mobile phones with low-power fast charging, such as 80W and below, generally use single-cell batteries.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801373451.png)
The iPhone X used the dual-cell battery design, but the current models are all L-shaped single-cell batteries.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801373594.png)
So, what's the difference between single-cell and dual-cell batteries?
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801373796.jpeg)
The most obvious difference is the full-charge voltage. The full-charge voltage of a single-cell battery is about 4.45V, while dual-cell batteries are usually connected in series, so the voltage is doubled to about 8.9V.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801374265.png)
When charging at a high power of 120W, the current carried by the battery is as high as 24A for single-cell batteries. The difference between the charger's output voltage and the battery voltage is pretty high, and the high temperature caused by conversion makes it difficult to achieve high-power charging. However, there are also advantages to single-cell batteries. Since there is only one battery cell, the charging and discharging will be more stable than the dual-cell batteries, and the battery capacity is also about 5%-8% higher than dual-cell batteries of the same size.
![Single-Cell vs. Dual-Cell Batteries: What's the Difference?-Chargerlab](https://www.chargerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023032801374688.png)
Dual-cell batteries, on the other hand, are connected in series. The full-charge voltage is about 8.9V, and when charging at 120W, the current carried by the batteries will drop to 12A, making it easier to achieve super-fast charging. However, due to the gap between the two battery cells, the battery capacity is lower than single-cell batteries of the same size. To achieve stable charging and discharging, both battery cells need to have high consistency.
Summary of ChargerLAB
Overall, both single-cell and dual-cell batteries have their own advantages and disadvantages. The energy density of single-cell batteries is higher, while the fast charging performance of dual-cell batteries is better. Both solutions cannot completely replace each other, and the ultimate goal will always be long battery life, fast charging, and a better user experience.
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