Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

Bendy smartphone dream moves closer thanks to Panasonic’s new batteries

Panasonic has revealed a new fully flexible lithium-ion battery unit that could one day pave the way for bendable smartphones and wearable devices.

The company plans to show off a battery that can be bent and twisted a thousand times while still retaining 99 per of its charge.

That’s possible due by a new means of proprietary lamination that’ll prevent the fluid from leaking, meaning it can be worn close to the skin.

Related: Best fitness trackers 2016
In its current guise, the batteries offer between 17mAh and 60mAh of power, so it’s nowhere near ready for the modern mobile device. However, it seems perfect for smart clothing.

“The battery can be used reliably for devices attached to the human body because of excellent safety,” Panasonic says (via SlashGear).

Many items of fitness clothing currently feature smart low-powered sensors, so this development could up the game somewhat.

The largest 60mAh battery is just 40mm x 25mmm in size so it could comfortably be added to the inner lining of a shirt without being too obvious.

Panasonic says suitable applications include “card devices, devices attached to the human body, smart clothing, wristband wearable devices, etc.”

The firm reckons samples will be heading out next month, but it may be a good while before we start seeing them in consumer devices.

Watch The Refresh: The best tech gossip and reviews every week

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

author icon

Editorial independence

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

author icon

Professional conduct

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

Trusted Reviews Logo

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the best of Trusted Reviews delivered right to your inbox.

This is a test error message with some extra words