LFP was developed in the late 1990's and NCM in the early 2000.
They have already gone through multiple iterations: NCM523 first was mass-produced in 2007; the latest mainstream NCM is now NCM811, followed by the next-gen NCM9.5.5 (higher density). LFP is now up to the 4th generation.
That being said, the EV batteries aren't just driven by improvements in the cathode, but also in the anodes, such as silicon composite, or in this particular case, anode-free batteries.
LFP are common in EV’s and ‘solar generator’ style battery packs, but I’ve never seen them in phones or laptops (outside OLPC), reduced capacity makes them not great in these, better to go NMC.
which "high-end" phones and laptops use LFP? This makes no sense.
Also, LFPs are mostly deployed in low-range EVs and mostly in China. Most EVs outside China still favor NCM/NCA, but I suspect that LFP is going to gain market share in budget friendly, low-range EVs.
In China, the current trend in "high-end" smartphones/laptop is to switch to higher-energy silicon-anode batteries. LFP is primarily for low-energy dense (gravimetric/volumetric) storage devices, such as power banks; or in vehicles, low-end/low-range EVs, or stationary energy storage (ESS) -- BYD being one notable exception.
China implemented rules in mid-2025 banning uncertified (no 3C mark) and recalled power banks from Anker & Romoss models, from domestic flights due to fire risks.
They have already gone through multiple iterations: NCM523 first was mass-produced in 2007; the latest mainstream NCM is now NCM811, followed by the next-gen NCM9.5.5 (higher density). LFP is now up to the 4th generation.
That being said, the EV batteries aren't just driven by improvements in the cathode, but also in the anodes, such as silicon composite, or in this particular case, anode-free batteries.