This time, the iPhone 17 Air battery may have actually been leaked

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in Future Apple Hardware

New images purporting to be of the battery for the expected iPhone 17 Air have leaked -- and these are more plausible than the dubious last ones, which had to be retracted.

Two hands holding two closely stacked thin metal objects against a blue background.
Top: iPhone 17 Air battery. Bottom: iPhone 17 Pro battery -- image credit; yeux1122



On August 1, 2025, leaker Majin Bu released what he first claimed to be images of the battery for the iPhone 17 Air, but then retracted it. While he specified a battery capacity that roughly fit with previous rumors, the images themselves were not conclusive and he later said they were actually for the iPhone 17 Pro.

Now leaker yeux1122 has released different images, and while they are still not confirmed, they are at least of a battery that is noticeably slim. In one side-on image comparing it to a purported iPhone 17 Pro one, the leaker says the iPhone 17 Air battery is only 2.49mm.

Most recent rumors regarding the iPhone 17 Air claim that its overall thickness, including chassis and display, will be either 5.5mm or 5.6mm thick.

Two hands holding rectangular metal plates with rounded corners on a blue background.
Left: leaker yeuz1122's purported iPhone 17 Air battery. Right: Majin Bu's claimed iPhone 17 Pro battery -- image credits: yeuz1122 and Majin Bu



It's not clear from yeux1122's images how different the battery design is from that of the claimed iPhone 17 Pro. But compared to Majin Bu's leak, the battery appears to be a different shape, and also to have a raised area with what are potentially more connectors.

Leaker yeux1122 has a slightly better than average track record for accurate Apple leaks. He or she, for instance, claimed incorrectly that the iPhone 16 Pro would launch with a 2TB storage option.

Rumor Score: Possible

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 4
    avon b7avon b7 Posts: 8,338member
    This would probably be a silicon-carbon battery and a good move for Apple as one of the upsides to silicon-carbon is that it allows for use in thinner phones.

    There are plenty of manufacturing options now too that we are on 4th/5th Gen silicon carbon batteries in handsets which all the major Chinese Android manufacturers have been using for a few years now without issue. 


    muthuk_vanalingam
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  • Reply 2 of 4
    VictorMortimervictormortimer Posts: 264member
    Are they putting them in metal cases to contain the leaks?

    Or is it that the contents are corroding the metal and leaking?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 4
    thttht Posts: 6,021member
    VictorMortimer said:
    Are they putting them in metal cases to contain the leaks?

    Or is it that the contents are corroding the metal and leaking?
    Apple has slowly been using more and more metal encased batteries through the years. For speculation on why, always go with the boring mundane reasons. 

    The metal encased batteries are likely more reliable, easier to service, costs about the same as more typical pouch batteries, and thusly improves Apple’s margins. That’s about it. 

    They first started using them in Apple Watch models several years ago. About 5 to 6 years ago. Started using them on iPhones a couple of years ago. 

    Apple just doesn’t buy off the shelf parts. They most definitely specify a certain set of features that a component must meet, and participate in the design process of the component to get the features they want. For batteries, it’s like a 6 headed monster of trades they are doing. 
    darbus69
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  • Reply 4 of 4
    M68000m68000 Posts: 956member
    tht said:
    VictorMortimer said:
    Are they putting them in metal cases to contain the leaks?

    Or is it that the contents are corroding the metal and leaking?
    Apple has slowly been using more and more metal encased batteries through the years. For speculation on why, always go with the boring mundane reasons. 

    The metal encased batteries are likely more reliable, easier to service, costs about the same as more typical pouch batteries, and thusly improves Apple’s margins. That’s about it. 

    They first started using them in Apple Watch models several years ago. About 5 to 6 years ago. Started using them on iPhones a couple of years ago. 

    Apple just doesn’t buy off the shelf parts. They most definitely specify a certain set of features that a component must meet, and participate in the design process of the component to get the features they want. For batteries, it’s like a 6 headed monster of trades they are doing. 
    Could the metal case have something to do with heat control, heat distribution?  Not just for the battery but other things in the phone?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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