iPhone 17 Air rumored to shrink battery & lean on iOS 26 to keep up

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AppleInsiderAppleInsider
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in Future Apple Hardware

Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Air may feature a significantly smaller battery than the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, with leaks pointing to a capacity smaller than anything in the iPhone 16 line.

A light blue smartphone with a single camera lens and logo on the back, set against a gradient blue background.
A render of what the iPhone 17 Air could look like, in light blue



Weibo account Instant Digital, a leaker with a mixed track record, claims the iPhone 17 Air will use a battery rated around 2,800 mAh. That's notably smaller than every iPhone 16 model.


  • iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh

  • iPhone 16 Plus: 4,674 mAh

  • iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582 mAh

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,685 mAh



The reduced size is likely due to the iPhone 17 Air's rumored ultrathin 5.5 mm frame, one of the slimmest designs Apple has ever attempted. That design limits internal space and makes it harder to fit a higher-capacity battery.

Software optimizations aim to close the gap



To compensate for the smaller battery, Apple plans to rely on iOS 26's Adaptive Power Mode, a new software feature designed to stretch battery life throughout the day. Instant Digital suggests the optimization will allow the iPhone 17 Air to deliver "full-day" usage despite the lower capacity.

That definition, however, is still vague, according to MacRumors. Apple's internal testing shows that only 60% to 70% of users will get through a full day without recharging. By comparison, current iPhone models reportedly reach 80% to 90% under the same conditions.

Apple may also reintroduce a battery case as an optional accessory. The last official battery cases were released for the iPhone 11 lineup, followed by the now-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack for the iPhone 12 and later.

These cases provide extra power along with physical protection and may appeal to users who want the iPhone 17 Air's design without giving up battery longevity.

September launch alongside full lineup



The iPhone 17 Air is expected to debut in September 2025 alongside the standard and Pro models. Positioned between them in pricing and features, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to share some internals with the iPhone 17 Pro line while delivering a new aesthetic focused on thinness and portability.

Battery life may be the main compromise. Users who spend long days away from a charger -- or those who rely on their phones for photography, navigation, or gaming -- may want to wait for real-world reviews or consider Apple's battery case accessory.

Rumor Score: Likely

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 13
    dijitaldijital Posts: 1member
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    stevedownunderAlex1NwilliamlondonPremium1
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  • Reply 2 of 13
    stevedownunderstevedownunder Posts: 73member
    dijital said:
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    Agreed, 50% increase in battery life for iPhones and Watch would be major selling points in their own right.
    My iPhone 14 PM is thin enough, then I add a leather cover to protect it.




    Alex1NwilliamlondonPremium1
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  • Reply 3 of 13
    brianjobrianjo Posts: 67member
    dijital said:
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    100%.  I want a SMALLER phone, aka the mini.  A little fatter so it lasts a couple of days would be perfectly fine.  Giant phones don't fit comfortably in my pocket and therefore would get left home instead.  Making the phone thinner makes it harder to hold as well, so people slap fat cases on it anyway.  What's the point in shaving a millimeter off of the width then??
    Alex1NwilliamlondonPremium1macgui
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  • Reply 4 of 13
    retrogustoretrogusto Posts: 1,161member
    dijital said:
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    Even thinner? They’ve been getting thicker with basically every new release for the past 11 years, and this is what keeps me from upgrading until I absolutely have to. Nobody wishes for worse battery life, of course, but I would love it if they could make something with the same thickness (6.9mm), weight (129g) and battery life as the iPhone 6 from 2014 (or in that ballpark) but with more modern specs. And maybe they should devote more resources to developing really great battery cases for people who don’t mind the bulk but need more battery life.
    Alex1Nwilliamlondon
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  • Reply 5 of 13
    nubusnubus Posts: 908member
    Perhaps Air was designed before AI workloads? Reviews will show.
    Alex1Nwilliamlondon
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  • Reply 6 of 13
    elijahgelijahg Posts: 2,904member
    retrogusto said:
    dijital said:
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    Even thinner? They’ve been getting thicker with basically every new release for the past 11 years, and this is what keeps me from upgrading until I absolutely have to. Nobody wishes for worse battery life, of course, but I would love it if they could make something with the same thickness (6.9mm), weight (129g) and battery life as the iPhone 6 from 2014 (or in that ballpark) but with more modern specs. And maybe they should devote more resources to developing really great battery cases for people who don’t mind the bulk but need more battery life.
    On behalf of all of those who want a phone to be functional and useful for a longer period of time versus being 2mm thinner, how is 2mm thinner with 25% less battery life an acceptable tradeoff to you? 
    Premium1
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  • Reply 7 of 13
    dewmedewme Posts: 6,093member
    The glass-half-full perspective is that any improvements Apple can make to their phones with smaller batteries will also be available on their big battery phones. Apple is forcing their own hand to push the envelope on battery efficiency using all of the hardware and software tricks at their disposal. Sounds like a win to me.

    I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max. I think it may be the heaviest iPhone ever. As much as I'm amazed by its features and functionality, this thing is a pocket rock even before you dress it with a MagSafe case. If Apple can produce something that's a significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 Pro Max with comparable or better battery life and shave off some of the excess weight I will be seriously be considering an upgrade. 

    I'm happy that Apple is continuing to challenge themselves with things that many of us do not think are possible. This is exactly how innovation works. 
    tht
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  • Reply 8 of 13
    charlesncharlesn Posts: 1,538member
     I would love it if they could make something with the same thickness (6.9mm), weight (129g) and battery life as the iPhone 6 from 2014 (or in that ballpark) but with more modern specs. And maybe they should devote more resources to developing really great battery cases for people who don’t mind the bulk but need more battery life.
    Apple already made the phone of your dreams: it was called the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini. Same thickness as the 6, just a touch heavier (6 grams, about one-fifth of an ounce), significantly better battery life than the 6 and a significantly larger screen. Did you buy it? I'm guessing not, since it doesn't sound like you've upgraded in forever. See, that's the thing, people say they want this or that, but then Apple offers it and they don't buy it. That was the case, writ large, for the Mini, which died a quick death due to lack of sales. And when Apple kills a new product after just 2 cycles, you know sales had to be really dismal. 

    Samsung's Galaxy Edge, the iPhone Air dupe but with a better camera system, is already a flop in sales, proving what many people have been saying right along: there isn't a real market for a phone that compromises features and battery life for thinness, while serving up that combination at a higher price point. I mean, maybe there's a burst of Air sales out of the gate because of the novelty and the desire for something new in an iPhone form factor, but it won't be sustainable. 
    edited July 19
    dewme
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  • Reply 9 of 13
    Premium1premium1 Posts: 2member
    dijital said:
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    Apple did so they can go back to selling the phone AND a battery case (since rumors point to them bringing back the battery case). People are going to be tethered to outlets/portable chargers even more than they already are with this new design. Plus, it is crazy they are rumored to be charging top dollar for a mid tier (at best) spec'd phone. Android OEM's produce phones with huge batteries (and more than one camera) while still keeping it relatively thin. Apple has the air looking like an old moto droid X with the huge camera bump at the top while claiming "thin"
    dewme
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  • Reply 10 of 13
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,644member
    I've got a mini and a MagSafe battery pack. I take it with me on days that will see heavy use of the phone. There will be people who like this rumored phone, if it comes to be. Like the minis, there may not be enough to keep the phone a contender. The Back Pocket Brigade won't be happy. A phone as thin as rumored won't survive many back pockets, even if it has a Ti frame.

    We'll never see the likes of the minis, and mores the pity. A niche market Apple chose not to sustain. Good point about any improvements in battery life for the 17Air being incorporated into other phones.
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  • Reply 11 of 13
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,644member
    dijital said:
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    I've known a few business types, especially some women, how prefer or would prefer to keep the phone in an inside breast pocket but don't due to the weight, or do and lament the weight. I don't know how many customers like that there are and that they're enough to help sustain a model.



    charlesn said:
     I would love it if they could make something with the same thickness (6.9mm), weight (129g) and battery life as the iPhone 6 from 2014 (or in that ballpark) but with more modern specs. And maybe they should devote more resources to developing really great battery cases for people who don’t mind the bulk but need more battery life.
    See, that's the thing, people say they want this or that, but then Apple offers it and they don't buy it.
    No It's not. it's speculative bullshit. Tell me how many customers said they wanted a smaller phone and didn't buy it. How many? How many said that but didn't buy?

    I can more accurately speculate that everyone or nearly everyone who wanted a smaller phone bought a mini. Because the minis sold. Wasn't enough in either case. It's possible that some people wanting a smaller phone weren't happy with what Apple delivered. It happens. That's not the same as your implication of "people say". That line is trotted out a lot and never with any substantiation other than Apple dropped the line. The sales weren't to Apple's liking. That doesn't support your "people say" premise at all.

    Maybe @retrogusto will say why he didn't buy a mini. Maybe it was as you stated. Or maybe what Apple shipped wasn't he's dream phone for some other reason than size and weight.

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  • Reply 12 of 13
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,644member
    elijahg said:
    retrogusto said:
    dijital said:
    Who keeps asking Apple for an even thinner iPhone with worse battery life? I’ve never met anyone with those requirements.
    Even thinner? They’ve been getting thicker with basically every new release for the past 11 years, and this is what keeps me from upgrading until I absolutely have to. Nobody wishes for worse battery life, of course, but I would love it if they could make something with the same thickness (6.9mm), weight (129g) and battery life as the iPhone 6 from 2014 (or in that ballpark) but with more modern specs. And maybe they should devote more resources to developing really great battery cases for people who don’t mind the bulk but need more battery life.
    On behalf of all of those who want a phone to be functional and useful for a longer period of time versus being 2mm thinner, how is 2mm thinner with 25% less battery life an acceptable tradeoff to you? 
    Not that I'm a heavy user but I could never live with that. I have friends who have no worries every getting down to 20%-30% battery life and it's not the end of the day. None of them carry a charger aren't worried. It seems to work for them but I'd have Percentage Anxiety. Apple probably dropped the MagSafe Battery because non-mini MagSafe phones don't really need it for most users. Or Apple says they don't.

    Apple didn't deliver the mini with the battery life I wanted. I compromised because the compact size was better than the other phones, even though it wasn't a 5S. With a car charger and a MagSafe battery on occasion, I can get through a 12 hour shift with no anxiety.
    elijahg
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  • Reply 13 of 13
    dewmedewme Posts: 6,093member
    charlesn said:
     I would love it if they could make something with the same thickness (6.9mm), weight (129g) and battery life as the iPhone 6 from 2014 (or in that ballpark) but with more modern specs. And maybe they should devote more resources to developing really great battery cases for people who don’t mind the bulk but need more battery life.
    Apple already made the phone of your dreams: it was called the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini. Same thickness as the 6, just a touch heavier (6 grams, about one-fifth of an ounce), significantly better battery life than the 6 and a significantly larger screen. Did you buy it? I'm guessing not, since it doesn't sound like you've upgraded in forever. See, that's the thing, people say they want this or that, but then Apple offers it and they don't buy it. That was the case, writ large, for the Mini, which died a quick death due to lack of sales. And when Apple kills a new product after just 2 cycles, you know sales had to be really dismal. 

    Samsung's Galaxy Edge, the iPhone Air dupe but with a better camera system, is already a flop in sales, proving what many people have been saying right along: there isn't a real market for a phone that compromises features and battery life for thinness, while serving up that combination at a higher price point. I mean, maybe there's a burst of Air sales out of the gate because of the novelty and the desire for something new in an iPhone form factor, but it won't be sustainable. 
    Very true. Once Apple hits the sweet spot for the majority of consumers, which they already do in my opinion with a fairly narrow mix, everything around the sweet spot becomes outliers to address relatively low mass appeal. 

    One thing that has happened more in the Tim Cook era, and it’s not a knock, is a constantly expanding portfolio of product offerings in the same product lines.  They are going after more and more nooks and crannies to eke out more sales wherever they may be hiding. The Apple Store experience used to be far fewer products but more customer to associate interaction. 

    Today they’re nothing like Walmart but a trip to the Apple Store requires doing a few laps around the store to see the much wider selection of products that are available. It’s probably not hurting the bottom line at all, it’s just more effort on the part of customers and a greater challenge on the associates  to understand the subtleties of the wider choices, especially when there are overlapping capabilities. 

    It’s different for sure, whether it’s better or worse is a personal opinion. 
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