Photograph: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Leaked photographs exhibit the alleged iPhone 17 Air’s small battery. Apple will seemingly enclose the cell in a steel shell for added safety and structural rigidity.
The battery will supposedly function a comparatively modest capability of two,900mAh.
iPhone 17 Air’s small battery might observe iPhone 16 Professional’s sensible design
Rumors recommend Apple will rejig its iPhone lineup this yr, ditching the Plus mannequin in favor of the super-slim Air. Leaks have already proven off the iPhone 17 Air’s insanely skinny 5.5mm design. However that thinness could come at a price, because the telephone will reportedly pack a tiny 2,900mAh battery.
Leaker Majinbu has shared alleged photographs of the iPhone 17 Air’s L-shaped battery. Just like the iPhone 16 Professional, Apple will reportedly encase the battery in metal. This design affords a number of advantages, together with improved structural rigidity and warmth dissipation.
Photograph: Majin Bu
Apple can even supposedly use its “ionic liquid battery adhesive” to carry the battery in place. As seen on the iPhone 16 Professional, the adhesive can loosen by making use of a low-voltage electrical present, making battery alternative simpler.
Will a 2,900mAh battery be sufficient?
Trendy smartphones usually function a 3,500mAh or bigger battery, with some Android flagships packing cells as massive as 6,000mAh to make sure all-day battery life. As compared, the iPhone 17 Air’s rumored 2,900mAh cell feels tiny and will battle to final a full workday.
Apple would possibly squeeze out extra runtime via software program optimizations in iOS 26 and its ultra-efficient C1 modem. Nonetheless, the iPhone 17 Air is more likely to supply noticeably shorter battery life than different iPhones.
Samsung’s iPhone 17 Air competitor — the Galaxy S25 Edge — has confronted widespread criticism for its disappointing battery life. Regardless of packing a 3,900mAh cell, which is considerably bigger than the iPhone 17 Air’s rumored 2,900mAh battery, it nonetheless struggles to final a full day.
