Newly leaked photos reportedly show off the iPhone 17 Air’s small battery. Apple will seemingly enclose the super-slim phone’s battery in a metal shell for added protection and structural rigidity.
The battery supposedly will feature a relatively modest capacity of 2,900mAh.
iPhone 17 Air’s small battery could follow iPhone 16 Pro’s smart design
Rumors suggest Apple will rejig its iPhone lineup this year, ditching the Plus model in favor of a thin model likely called the iPhone Air. Previous leaks showed off the iPhone 17 Air’s 5.5 mm-thick design. But that insane thinness may come at a cost, as the phone will reportedly pack a tiny battery.
On Friday, leaker Majin Bu posted photos purportedly showing the iPhone 17 Air’s L-shaped power cell. As with the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple reportedly will encase the battery in steel. This design offers multiple benefits, including improved structural rigidity and heat dissipation.
Photo: Majin Bu
Apple supposedly will use its “ionic liquid battery adhesive” to hold the battery in place. As seen on the iPhone 16 Pro, the adhesive can be loosened by applying a low-voltage electrical current, making battery replacement easier.
Will a 2,900mAh battery be enough?
Modern smartphones typically feature a 3,500mAh or larger battery, with some Android flagships packing cells as big as 6,000mAh to ensure all-day battery life. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Air’s rumored 2,900mAh cell seems tiny and could struggle to last a full workday.
Apple might squeeze out more runtime through software optimizations in iOS 26 and its ultra-efficient C1 modem. Still, the iPhone 17 Air is likely to offer noticeably shorter battery life than other iPhones.
Samsung’s iPhone 17 Air competitor — the Galaxy S25 Edge — faced widespread criticism for its disappointing battery life. Despite packing a 3,900mAh cell, which is substantially larger than the iPhone 17 Air’s rumored 2,900mAh battery, it still struggles to last a full day.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
