Apple is expected to introduce a new model alongside the iPhone 17 series this September event — the iPhone 17 Air. The leaks and rumours have suggested it could be Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet, with an ultra-light and sleek design. But with that slim body might come one big compromise – battery life.
According to a leak on Weibo from a reliable source known as Instant Digital, the iPhone 17 Air will have a battery capacity under 3,000mAh—likely around 2,800mAh. To compare, last year’s iPhone 16 had a 3,561mAh battery, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max version went up to 4,685mAh. Clearly, going thin means going small on battery.
Why the Smaller Battery Could Be a Problem
If the leak holds true, the iPhone 17 Air would have the smallest battery seen in an iPhone since the iPhone 13 mini, which launched in 2021. And that phone wasn’t known for lasting a full day without a recharge. The challenge is even bigger now, since the 17 Air is expected to come with a larger display, which generally requires more power.
So, what does this mean in real-world use? Early internal testing reportedly showed that only 60–70% of users could get through a full day on a single charge with the iPhone 17 Air. Compare that to 80–90% on the rest of the iPhone 17 models, and the gap is clear.
Apple seems to be preparing for this concern. The upcoming iOS 26 will include a feature called Adaptive Power Mode, which will automatically tweak performance to help stretch battery life when needed. Plus, Apple may release a new battery case specifically for the iPhone 17 Air, giving users the option of extra juice when on the go.
iPhone 17 Air: What else to expect
Apart from the battery, the iPhone 17 Air is also expected to get a design change with a single camera setup along with a horizontal bar. It may feature a 6.6-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for the first time on a non-Pro iPhone. Moreover, it is expected to be powered by an A19 chip under the hood. While the back may have a single 48MP camera, the front is expected to get a 24MP selfie camera.
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