What are Lithium-Ion Polymer Batteries?
Lithium-ion polymer batteries represent an evolution of traditional Li-ion technology, using a polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. This allows for more flexible form factors, as manufacturers can produce these batteries in various shapes and sizes, making them ideal for thin devices like ultrabooks and tablets. The polymer electrolyte also reduces the risk of electrolyte leakage.
Advantages Over Traditional Li-ion
- Can be manufactured in custom shapes to maximize space utilization within device enclosures
- Typically lighter than equivalent Li-ion cells and can be made thinner
- Solid or gel electrolyte provides slightly better safety characteristics
You will commonly find Li-Po batteries in premium smartphones, tablets, ultraportable laptops, and wearable devices where thin profiles and custom form factors are required. Many modern MacBooks, Surface devices, and high-end Android phones utilize Li-Po technology.