LG Chem to supply batteries for Note10

LG Chem will supply batteries for Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note10.

The deal marks the first time that LG batteries have been used in one of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy series phones.

“Among the total number of Note10s produced, batteries from Samsung SDI and LG Chem will be used at roughly an 8:2 ratio,” a person familiar with the matter told the JoongAng Ilbo on Friday.

According to the source, battery makers Samsung SDI and LG Chem will be dual battery vendors for the latest Samsung phone.

Since the Galaxy Note7 began bursting into flames due to a battery issue in 2016, Samsung has been expanding its partnership with LG Chem. Before the Note7, Samsung mostly sourced batteries from Samsung SDI, China’s Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) and Japan’s Murata Manufacturing. LG Chem’s batteries were only used in Samsung’s mid- to low-end smartphones.

Since 2017, Samsung has been excluding ATL from the list of battery partners for its flagship phones, starting with the Galaxy S8 and Note8.

The main reason for adopting the LG batteries for the Note10 is to ensure that battery safety is the utmost priority, according to the source.

It’s not only batteries that Samsung is diversifying vendors for.

The electronics giant has often adopted competitors’ parts for its high-end phones. One example is the image sensor used in its smartphone camera module. Samsung is using Sony’s 16 megapixel image sensors along with Samsung’s own image sensors on its Galaxy S and Note series smartphones.

The company is also expected to use Sony’s image sensors on the Galaxy Fold, the company’s first foldable phone to be released next month. The strategy ensures that Samsung does not depend on a single vendor - even a subsidiary - for any important smartphone parts.

BY KIM YOUNG-MIN [kim.jeehee@joongang.co.kr]