I've definitely heard about that. ARM-based CPUs are currently focusing on performance without giving up power consumption.
To be honest, I can't see it in iPhones and many Android smartphones which all are based on ARM CPUs. Their power supply leaves much to be desired.
That's also why that piece of news is particularly interesting since mining requires more power it by definition requires a beefier power supply. That means potential breakthroughs in new batteries.
Maybe you're right, but I can't see some revolutionary inventions in smartphone batteries.