Telecoms equipment maker Nokia has announced what it claims is a major battery breakthrough, producing 5G-ready lithium nanotube batteries said to last more than twice as long as normal batteries.

Smaller longer-lasting batteries are the last frontier for smartphone evolution, as mobile devices move into the 5G age.

Nokia Bell Labs says it has recently developed a lithium nanotube-aided battery that promises as much as 2.5 times the longevity of today’s alternatives.

They are aimed at power-hungry 5G devices such as drones, IOT devices as well as smartphones and tablets.

The new battery electrodes use a composite of carbon nanotubes and lithium storage materials and charge faster than current power cells.

Nokia Bell said it is working to develop next-gen IoT devices with integrated batteries that can last up to 25 years.