I’m worried about the iPhone 17 Air after this battery reveal

The leaked battery component for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air has sparked concern about the new super-skinny smartphone’s battery life. Rumors have been swirling about Apple’s plans to release a slim smartphone to rival the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge later this year.

One particular worry is the reported thinness of the iPhone 17 Air’s battery, which measures just 2.49mm thick when coupled with the metal case. This is in stark contrast to the battery for the iPhone 17 Pro, which appears to be much thicker.

The leaked images, posted on a South Korean blog via Android Headlines, show the slim battery of the iPhone 17 Air side by side with the thicker battery of the iPhone 17 Pro. The battery for the iPhone 17 Air is said to have a capacity of only 2900mAh, significantly lower than the Galaxy S25 Edge’s 3900mAh cell.

While iPhone batteries have historically been smaller than those of Android devices, iOS is known for its energy efficiency. The iPhone 16, for example, features a 3561mAh battery. However, even by Apple’s standards, the iPhone 17 Air’s battery capacity raises concerns about its longevity.

If the leaked capacity claims hold true, the iPhone 17 Air may harken back to the days of the iPhone 12 in terms of battery life. The iPhone 12 was capable of lasting all day under normal usage but struggled with more demanding tasks.

Apple is expected to equip the iPhone 17 Air with a modern and energy-efficient processor, which could help mitigate some of the concerns about battery life. It remains to be seen how the combination of a slim battery and efficient hardware will impact the overall performance of the iPhone 17 Air. Apple fans will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on this development as the release date approaches.