Why do modern phones and laptops still need batteries and regular charging? Could we build them with a power source that lasts indefinitely, or at least for an entire lifetime, instead of relying on rechargeable batteries?
2 Answers
Some low-power devices already work without conventional batteries. Solar calculators, RFID cards, and crystal radios harvest energy from light or nearby radio waves. The issue is power density: phones and laptops need far more energy than those systems can conveniently collect.
Long-lasting nuclear or radioactive power sources do exist, but they’re unsuitable for ordinary consumer electronics. They can involve radiation hazards, strict regulation, safety concerns, and enough energy to create serious problems if misused. For now, rechargeable batteries are much safer and more practical.
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