Samsung SDI is taking full control of its Indiana battery plant. The South Korean cell maker is buying out General Motors’ 49.99% stake in their joint venture, according to a regulatory filing, ending GM’s ownership in the $3.5 billion factory.
That turns the New Carlisle, Indiana plant into Samsung SDI’s first wholly owned battery factory in North America.
There are plenty of smartphones in the 2,000-yuan price range that focus on stacking specifications, but very few invest in advanced cooling systems.
Looking across the market, phones in this price segment are usually competing on performance, cameras, and fast charging. Cooling solutions are often mentioned only briefly—or ignored completely.
It is not because cooling is unimportant. The reason is simple: with limited costs, manufacturers usually spend their budget on features that users can immediately notice.
However, overheating and performance throttling are exactly the problems that trouble mid-range smartphone users the most.
Examples include:
OPPO K15 is a practical all-round smartphone that brings an active cooling fan system into the 2K price segment.
The OPPO K15 is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7360 SUPER processor, OPPO’s Tidal Engine optimization system, an 8000mAh large-capacity battery, and IP69 flagship-level water resistance.
It also features:
The phone aims to solve two of the biggest complaints among mid-range smartphone users:
Honestly, I did not have very high expectations for cooling performance on a 2K-range smartphone. With cost limitations, simply keeping temperatures under control is already considered good enough.
However, OPPO added an active cooling fan this time, making me curious:
Is the cooling fan just a marketing gimmick, or can it actually reduce temperatures?
The OPPO K15 uses a new-generation Wind Cooling Engine, featuring a built-in micro cooling fan.
According to OPPO, the cooling system can:
The fan is integrated with the rear camera module design. Thanks to this approach, the back cover remains completely flat without a large camera bump.
The entire phone is only:
This means the cooling system does not negatively affect the grip or overall feel.
After completing temperature tests, I found that the fan performed better than expected.
Adding a cooling fan to a 2K-range smartphone reminds me of installing a turbocharger on an economy car—not to make it a racing machine, but to ensure it does not lose power when climbing uphill.
For flagship gaming phones, cooling is about achieving peak performance.
For mid-range phones, cooling is about maintaining stable performance during daily use.
The OPPO K15 features an 8000mAh Glacier Battery, providing enough endurance for heavy daily usage.
It supports:
The bypass charging feature allows power to directly supply the motherboard instead of continuously charging the battery during gaming sessions.
This helps:
The reverse charging function also allows the phone to act as an emergency power source for accessories such as:
The OPPO K15 features three 50MP cameras:
The main camera includes:
The ultra-wide-angle camera offers:
The front camera supports:
For a phone in the 2K price segment, this camera configuration is quite generous.
The OPPO K15 focuses heavily on durability.
It supports:
The phone also features:
The combination makes it more resistant to:
The OPPO K15 features a 6.59-inch centered punch-hole flat display.
The rounded corners and narrow bezels provide a comfortable viewing experience.
The display supports:
Daily activities such as:
all feel smooth and responsive.
The front panel uses high-strength Crystal Shield glass, while the back cover has a smooth texture that reduces fingerprints.
The OPPO K15 comes in two colors:
The review unit is the Speed White version, featuring a unique cloud-pattern texture.
When light reflects across the surface, it creates a flowing storm-like visual effect.
At the bottom of the back panel is the text:
“ACTIVE COOLING, MASTER THE WIND”
This highlights the phone’s cooling identity without making the design look aggressive.
The rear camera module is one of the most distinctive parts of the phone.
It uses:
Layout:
The fan and camera system are integrated into one flat module.
Despite including an internal fan, the phone remains:
This design is clever because many flagship phones now have large protruding camera modules, while the OPPO K15 maintains a cleaner back design.
When people think of smartphones with built-in cooling fans, gaming flagships usually come to mind.
However, for users in the 2K price segment, long-term stable performance is arguably more important.
Common scenarios such as:
can easily cause mid-range phones to heat up and reduce performance.
The OPPO K15 features the new-generation Wind Cooling Engine, which uses a three-layer cooling solution:
Large-area VC vapor chamber
The VC cooling plate quickly spreads heat away from the processor area.
High-conductivity graphite layer
The graphite material helps transfer heat more efficiently throughout the body.
Built-in micro cooling fan
The active fan pulls hot air away through the exhaust outlet, actively accelerating heat dissipation.
The key difference is that this is active cooling, not traditional passive cooling.
The fan is physically running, and heat is actively being removed.
First, we used the AnTuTu stress test to push the OPPO K15 into a high-load state.
After continuous full-load operation:
At this point, the phone felt noticeably hot in the hand.
Then we activated the cooling fan.
After 7 minutes:
The phone changed from hot to only slightly warm.
After waiting 12 minutes:
Compared with the peak temperature of 46.5°C, the rear temperature dropped by approximately 10°C.
The thermal imaging results clearly showed that heat was being transferred away through the fan system.
The temperature around the cooling fan area was noticeably lower than other parts of the phone, proving that the fan was actively removing heat.
The OPPO K15 also includes a High-Energy Outdoor Mode, which can be enabled through the accessibility settings.
Once activated, the system automatically:
This mode also includes several practical outdoor improvements:
The display automatically increases brightness, making it easier to see under direct sunlight.
When Bluetooth devices are disconnected, the phone automatically switches to the speaker and increases volume.
The display stays active longer, preventing interruptions during:
Frequently used applications can be pinned to a shortcut bar for faster switching.
There are also desktop shortcut cards that allow one-tap access to important functions.
The combination of cooling assistance and outdoor optimization makes the OPPO K15 more convenient for real-world use.
The purpose of active cooling in a 2K smartphone is not chasing the highest benchmark score.
It is about maintaining stable performance during long gaming sessions, navigation, and video recording.
Other phones compete for peak performance.
The OPPO K15 focuses on staying stable for longer.
The OPPO K15 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7360 SUPER processor.
Although positioned as a mid-range chipset, OPPO has added its own Tidal Engine optimization system to improve long-term performance.
The phone also features:
This combination provides a strong thermal foundation for a phone in this price category.
To evaluate real-world performance, we tested two popular mobile games.
For Honor of Kings, we set:
During a full 5v5 match:
Results:
The phone maintained smooth performance throughout the match.
Whether during:
there were no obvious frame drops or visible lag.
Average power consumption:
Energy consumption per frame:
After enabling the cooling fan in smart variable-speed mode, temperatures remained well controlled.
For PUBG Mobile, settings were:
During the entire match:
the frame rate remained around 60 FPS.
There were no common mid-range phone issues such as:
Average power consumption:
Energy consumption per frame:
The cooling fan helped maintain stable temperature during the gaming session.
The OPPO K15 represents a major improvement in imaging for the K series.
It features three 50MP cameras:
The main camera includes:
The ultra-wide camera provides:
Unlike many mid-range phones where secondary cameras are mainly for marketing, the OPPO K15 gives more attention to practical photography.
The 50MP main camera performs well in daylight scenes.
Strengths include:
Photos maintain good clarity even when zooming into details.
The large sensor also helps improve:
The 143.3° ultra-wide camera is useful for:
The wider perspective allows users to capture more content in a single frame.
The main camera’s large sensor and optical stabilization help improve nighttime shooting.
Night photos show:
For a mid-range smartphone, the camera performance is above average.
Battery life is one of the strongest selling points of the OPPO K15.
The phone comes with an 8000mAh Glacier Battery, which is significantly larger than the batteries commonly found in mainstream smartphones.
For users who rely heavily on their phones every day, such as:
the large battery capacity provides a clear advantage.
To evaluate real-world endurance, we used the Battery Dog testing tool developed by Kuai Technology.
The test simulated typical daily usage scenarios, including:
Testing conditions:
The results showed:
The OPPO K15 lasted:
14 hours and 33 minutes from 100% battery down to 20%.
Based on this result, the theoretical full battery endurance is approximately:
18 hours of continuous usage.
This result matches the expectations of an 8000mAh battery and demonstrates the phone’s excellent endurance.
For normal users, the OPPO K15 can easily handle:
without worrying about battery anxiety.
The OPPO K15 supports:
We tested charging with the included 80W charger.
Starting from:
1% battery
Charging results:
| Charging Time | Battery Level |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 11% |
| 10 minutes | 18% |
| 30 minutes | 43% |
| 60 minutes | 81% |
| 80 minutes | 100% |
Although the phone uses a large 8000mAh battery, it can still reach a full charge within around 80 minutes.
This provides a good balance between battery capacity and charging speed.
The OPPO K15 supports bypass charging, which is especially useful for gamers.
When enabled:
This means users can keep playing games while connected to power without constantly stressing the battery.
For people who often:
this feature is very practical.
The OPPO K15 also supports wired reverse charging.
The phone can temporarily act as a power bank for devices such as:
When traveling, this feature provides an emergency power solution without carrying an additional charger.
Beyond cooling, performance, and battery life, the OPPO K15 also includes many practical features that improve everyday experience.
The OPPO K15 supports:
It also passed eight military-standard durability tests covering:
This makes the phone suitable for more demanding environments.
During testing, we played Douyin videos on the OPPO K15 while placing it under running water.
The results:
The phone remained fully functional after exposure to water.
While IP69 protection does not mean users should intentionally abuse their devices, it provides additional confidence for:
The rear panel includes OPPO’s Mist Shadow Breathing Light system.
Users can customize:
Lighting effects include:
The fan lighting also supports:
Multiple colors are available.
At night, the lighting can synchronize with music, creating a gaming-style atmosphere.
Unlike inexpensive RGB lighting effects, the implementation feels more refined.
Users can also configure:
The OPPO K15 includes OPPO’s self-developed Mountain-Sea Communication Technology.
The system uses:
It is designed to improve connectivity in difficult environments such as:
During testing in an underground parking area:
Network results:
The phone maintained stable connectivity without obvious disconnections.
The OPPO K15 is equipped with:
During navigation testing with Amap:
The real-time navigation interface showed:
Even in complex environments such as:
the positioning performance remained reliable.
At the beginning of this review, the question was:
Is the cooling fan on a 2K-range smartphone just a gimmick, or does it really work?
After testing, the answer is clear:
It works.
During the AnTuTu stress test:
A temperature reduction of around 10°C was confirmed through thermal imaging.
The active cooling fan is the feature that truly separates the OPPO K15 from other phones in the same price range.
Many smartphones offer:
But fewer combine these features with an integrated cooling fan.
The phone delivers:
8000mAh large battery
Active cooling fan
IP69/IP68/IP66 protection
Stable gaming performance
80W fast charging
Three 50MP cameras
120Hz 1.5K display
Dual-frequency GPS
Strong signal performance
The OPPO K15 is especially suitable for users who care about:
However, users who want:
may prefer higher-end gaming smartphones.
The Dimensity 7360 SUPER is not designed to chase extreme benchmark records. Instead, it focuses on delivering stable performance over long periods.
Many smartphones in the 2K price range compete by making their specification sheets look impressive.
OPPO K15 takes a different approach.
Instead of only chasing higher numbers, it focuses on solving real user problems:
The built-in cooling fan is like adding a turbocharger to an economy car—not for racing, but to prevent losing power when climbing a hill.
After testing, the OPPO K15 proves that it can:
For users looking for a practical, durable, and reliable smartphone in the 2K price segment, the OPPO K15 is one of the most complete choices available.
OPPO K15: A truly practical smartphone built for real-world use.
The post OPPO K15 Smartphone Review: The Truly Practical Choice in the 2K Price Segment appeared first on IGeeKphone China Phone, Tablet PC, VR, RC Drone News, Reviews.
EcoPro said its investments in nickel smelting projects in Indonesia are generating an average operating margin of 20%, as the company expands its presence in the country to strengthen nickel supply security and improve cost competitiveness.
The company said on Aug. 11 that it held an investment seminar on its Indonesian BNSI project on Aug. 10 at the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul. More than 100 attendees, including EcoPro executives, independent directors and institutional investors, participated in the event.
Since 2022, EcoPro has invested a total of 500 million dollars in four projects within the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP). Through those investments, the company has secured annual rights to procure 29,000 metric tons of nickel.
Chief Executive Officer Song Ho-jun said the first phase of the company's investments has generated an average operating margin of 20%.
"In addition to nickel, we are generating further profits from by-products such as cobalt and chromium," Song said.
Building on the performance of its existing investments, EcoPro will participate as a major shareholder in the BNSI nickel smelter currently under construction in Indonesia's International Green Industrial Park (IGIP). Combining the first and second investment phases, the company expects to secure annual rights to procure a total of 65,000 metric tons of nickel.
The BNSI project is being developed jointly with China's GEM Co., Ltd. and Indonesian nickel mining company PT Vale Indonesia (PTVI). Construction of the smelter began in April last year, with commercial production targeted for the second quarter of next year.
Song said the company also plans to leverage the hydrometallurgical nickel processing technology and operational expertise gained in Indonesia to expand into the urban mining and battery recycling business, in addition to generating returns from the BNSI investment.
Samsung SDI said on Aug. 11 it will end its battery joint venture with General Motors (GM), bringing to a close the partnership two years after the companies agreed to establish the venture. Following the transaction, the remaining joint ventures between South Korean battery makers and global automakers in the United States will be Ultium Cells, operated by LG Energy Solution and GM, and StarPlus Energy, operated by Samsung SDI and Stellantis.
Samsung SDI disclosed in a regulatory filing that it will terminate its joint venture agreement with GM. The company will acquire GM's entire 49.99% stake in Synergy Cells Holdings, converting the venture into a wholly owned subsidiary. The company plans to rename it Samsung SDI Synergy Cells Holdings.
Samsung SDI did not disclose the purchase price for GM's stake.
"Under the agreement between the two companies, it is difficult to disclose specific details," a Samsung SDI official said. "The investment scale and production plans after the transition to a wholly owned operation have not yet been finalized."
As of the filing date, Samsung SDI's cumulative investment in Synergy Cells totaled 275.3 billion won.
Samsung SDI and GM agreed in March 2023 to build a battery manufacturing plant in the United States and signed a definitive agreement to establish the joint venture in August 2024. The companies had planned to invest approximately 3.5 billion dollars to build a battery plant with annual production capacity of 27 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in New Carlisle, Indiana, with mass production originally scheduled to begin in 2027.
The project was delayed as North America's electric vehicle (EV) market expanded more slowly than expected. In particular, after the US government eliminated the federal consumer EV tax credit under Section 30D last September, automakers scaled back EV investment and production plans. GM reduced planned EV output and revised its product strategy to place greater emphasis on hybrid vehicles. Battery manufacturers have also begun redirecting part of their US EV battery production capacity to the energy storage system (ESS) market.
GM and Stellantis are now the only automakers maintaining battery joint ventures with South Korean manufacturers in the United States. Ford Motor dissolved its BlueOval SK joint venture with SK On last year and no longer operates a battery joint venture in the country.
Both GM and Stellantis have also reduced the scope of their battery partnerships with South Korean companies. Last year, GM transferred the Ultium Cells battery plant under construction in Lansing, Michigan, to LG Energy Solution, which acquired the facility and related assets for 3.1354 trillion won and converted it into a wholly owned plant. In February this year, Stellantis ended its joint venture with LG Energy Solution in Canada, NextStar Energy, with LG Energy Solution acquiring Stellantis' 49% stake for 100 dollars.
Samsung SDI plans to operate the Indiana facility independently and use it as a manufacturing base for a range of products, including ESS and EV batteries. The company may prioritize ESS battery production because growing orders in the US market are increasing the need for additional manufacturing capacity.
Samsung SDI is already allocating a larger share of its US production to ESS batteries than to EV batteries. Three of the four production lines at StarPlus Energy Plant 1 have been designated for ESS batteries, and the company is considering adding another ESS production line to meet rising demand.
During its second-quarter earnings conference call on July 30, Samsung SDI said confirmed ESS orders already cover a significant portion of its production capacity through 2029.
"If projects with a high probability of being awarded in the second half are included, demand is expected to exceed production capacity beginning in 2028," the company said.
The termination of the joint venture is expected to have only a limited impact on South Korean battery equipment suppliers. Because construction of the Indiana plant had already been delayed, major production equipment orders had not yet been placed, and equipment manufacturers had not begun manufacturing the relevant systems.
Although Samsung SDI and GM are ending joint operation of the factory, the companies will continue collaborating on battery development. They have signed an agreement to jointly conduct early-stage development of next-generation prismatic batteries for electric vehicles.
LG Chem has been selected as the cathode material supplier for HL-GA Battery Company, the U.S. battery manufacturing joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, according to industry sources. By taking on a key material that accounts for roughly 40% of battery cell cost, LG Chem is expected to accelerate its transition from petrochemicals toward an advanced materials-focused business.
Industry sources said HL-GA selected LG Chem in July as a supplier of cathode materials for electric vehicle batteries. The materials are expected to be used in battery cells destined for 2029-model electric vehicles produced at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia.
Cathode materials are a key battery component that largely determines capacity and performance. LG Chem is expected to supply two nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode products: a high-nickel version and a mid-nickel version. High-nickel cathodes contain more than 80% nickel, while mid-nickel products contain roughly 60% nickel, both of which are among LG Chem's core battery material offerings.
High-nickel cathodes increase energy density by raising nickel content, making them suitable for extending driving range in electric vehicles, particularly in mid-size, large and high-performance models. Mid-nickel products offer improved cost competitiveness by reducing reliance on relatively expensive nickel.
Among the two products, the high-nickel cathode is expected to be adopted first for mass production. Supply volumes have not yet been finalized. Industry sources said orders are likely to be adjusted according to vehicle production plans rather than being fixed through long-term volume commitments.
"Most projects currently under discussion between automakers and suppliers are aimed at vehicles launching in the second half of 2028 or later," an industry source said. "For a 2029-model vehicle, materials suppliers need to be ready for mass production around the summer of 2028, meaning product specifications and supply conditions generally need to be finalized well in advance."
The supplier selection process reportedly included LG Chem, Umicore and Ecopro BM. All participants proposed supply chains that excluded Chinese-sourced materials.
The companies also relied on South Korean precursor suppliers. Precursors are intermediate materials used in cathode production and account for roughly 70% of cathode manufacturing costs.
LG Chem sources precursors from Korea Precursor Company (KPC), a joint venture with Kemco, a subsidiary of Korea Zinc, and from Eco & Dream. Umicore uses precursors supplied by Eco & Dream, while Ecopro BM utilizes materials from Ecopro Materials.
Industry sources said LG Chem's ability to meet performance specifications and pricing requirements, along with its existing relationship with LG Energy Solution, likely contributed to its selection among suppliers offering non-China-compliant supply chains.
Hyundai Motor Group has been increasing its requirements for non-Chinese materials across its battery supply chain. The company is expanding oversight beyond battery components to include raw materials such as nickel and cobalt. The strategy aligns with broader U.S. efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese battery materials and components.
The automaker is reportedly requiring non-Chinese battery materials not only for vehicles sold in the United States but also for models supplied to other regions, including Europe. An industry source said Samsung SDI, as well as SK On and LG Energy Solution, are reviewing plans to replace some Chinese-sourced materials with products from South Korean suppliers in response to Hyundai's requirements.
Located in Bryan County, Georgia, HL-GA began construction in 2023. The project faced disruptions in September 2025 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted an operation targeting undocumented workers, resulting in the detention of more than 300 workers at the site. The company is currently conducting pre-production trial operations and line stabilization activities with suppliers.
HL-GA is expected to supply batteries to HMGMA as well as Hyundai Motor's plant in Montgomery, Alabama, and Kia's facility in West Point, Georgia. While SK On currently serves as the sole battery supplier for those plants, LG Energy Solution is expected to join as a second supplier.
Another Hyundai Motor Group battery joint venture in the United States, Hyundai-SK Battery America (HSBMA), is already using non-Chinese materials. Umicore supplies cathode materials produced at its Cheonan facility in South Korea. The venture currently uses high-nickel products and is expected to transition to mid-nickel cathodes for 2028-2029 model-year vehicles.
An LG Chem spokesperson declined to comment on reports regarding its selection as a supplier for HL-GA.
LG Energy Solution has agreed to purchase more than 5 trillion won worth of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials from Chinese battery materials supplier Lopal Tech, deepening cooperation as it ramps up LFP battery production for energy storage systems (ESS).
Lopal Tech disclosed on Aug. 6 that it signed an LFP cathode supply agreement with LG Energy Solution. The contract runs for three years from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2028. The annual transaction cap is 9 billion yuan, equivalent to a total of 27 billion yuan, or about 5.7 trillion won, over the contract period.
Neither company disclosed shipment volumes or delivery regions. Given that more than 80% of LG Energy Solution's LFP battery production capacity is concentrated in North America, a substantial portion of the materials is expected to be supplied there.
The two companies are also expanding cooperation in raw materials. LG Energy Solution will supply Lopal Tech with lithium carbonate and other materials required for LFP cathode production. The annual transaction cap is 6 billion yuan, equivalent to 18 billion yuan, or about 3.75 trillion won, over the three-year period.
Cathodes are a key battery material that determines capacity, output and overall performance, accounting for more than half of battery manufacturing costs. South Korean materials suppliers have traditionally focused on nickel-based ternary cathodes, leaving domestic LFP cathode supply capacity relatively limited. China, meanwhile, established large-scale LFP material supply chains after investing heavily in the segment for years. LG Energy Solution, already a large-scale producer of LFP batteries, has increasingly relied on Chinese suppliers to secure materials quickly.
LG Energy Solution has been working with Lopal Tech subsidiary Changzhou Lithium Source since 2024. The company, commonly known as LBM, was included among key partners at LG Energy Solution's 2026 Partners Day event earlier this year.
The two companies signed a long-term agreement in February 2024 covering the supply of 160,000 metric tons of LFP cathode materials through 2028. In December of the same year, they expanded the agreement to 260,000 tons. Industry estimates at the time valued the deal at more than 2 trillion won to 3 trillion won. LG Energy Solution also acquired a 20% stake in LBM's Indonesian subsidiary, PT LBM Indonesia, in February 2025.
LBM's Indonesian facility plans to expand annual LFP cathode production capacity to 240,000 tons. After launching a first-phase plant with annual capacity of 30,000 tons in 2024, the company completed a second-phase facility with 90,000 tons of capacity. Last month, it began construction of a third-phase plant capable of producing 120,000 tons annually with an investment of about 230 billion won.
Business between LG Energy Solution and Lopal Tech has grown rapidly. Lopal Tech's sales to LG Energy Solution increased from 7.7 billion won in 2023 to 300 billion won last year. During the first part of this year alone, sales reached 350 billion won, already exceeding last year's total. Raw materials supplied by LG Energy Solution to Lopal Tech also increased from 37 billion won last year to 137.7 billion won this year.
The expanded agreement appears aimed at supporting growing production of LFP batteries for North American ESS applications. LG Energy Solution has been producing JF2 LFP cells for ESS applications in North America since the second half of last year.
The company currently manufactures ESS batteries at four sites: Holland, Michigan; L-H Battery Company in Ohio; Ultium Cells in Tennessee; and NextStar Energy in Canada. An ESS production line at its Lansing, Michigan facility is also scheduled to begin operations later this year. LG Energy Solution plans to expand global ESS battery production capacity to more than 60 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by the end of this year, with North America accounting for more than 50 GWh.
As of the end of last year, LG Energy Solution had secured approximately 140 GWh of cumulative ESS battery orders worldwide. The company booked 90 GWh of new orders during 2025 and plans to exceed that figure this year. Its ESS customer base includes Tesla, Terra-Gen, Excelsior Energy Capital, EG4 Electronics and Hanwha Qcells.
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