The iPhone 17 Air will surprise with a 5.5mm thickness and a 2800mAh battery
By ForGeeks Apple is once again making sacrifices for design – the iPhone 17 Air will feature an ultra-slim body and a very small battery.
In 2025, Apple is set to replace the iPhone Plus lineup with an all-new model – the iPhone 17 Air. As the name suggests, the smartphone will focus on minimal weight and thickness. But judging by a fresh leak from the supply chain, this will not only affect size, but also autonomy.
According to a source close to production, the iPhone 17 Air will get a battery capacity of just 2,800 mAh. In comparison, the Galaxy S25 Edge – one of its main competitors – has a 3,900 mAh battery, and even that is considered inadequate by users. In the case of the iPhone 17 Air, the figure looks frankly frightening.
The smartphone will indeed be record thin at just 5.5mm. The device weighs in at around 145 grams, too. The Galaxy S25 Edge, for example, weighs slightly more at 5.8mm. So the race for thinness is obviously on this year.
Daring design at the expense of convenience?
Apple is rumored to be considering a denser battery to partially compensate for the low capacity. But there’s no confirmation of those plans yet. It’s much more likely that the company will once again offer users the option to buy accessories – this time battery cases.
Another rumor is that Apple is considering using a denser battery to partially compensate for the low capacity.
The situation is reminiscent of the story with headphone adapters after the 3.5mm jack was abandoned: minimalism in favor of design, and then paid solutions to bring back basic features. Only now it will hit the main “thing” of iPhone 17 Air – its thinness. A case with a battery simply negates the whole point of the ultra-thin body.
Apple is also counting on its proprietary AI – Apple Intelligence – to help the smartphone live longer without recharging. According to sources, the company is training the model on data from thousands of users to optimize apps and reduce power consumption. But given the way Apple Intelligence works in current versions of iOS, there’s not much hope for the technology yet.
Doubts and comparisons
Samsung has already faced criticism for the small battery in the Galaxy S25 Edge. Many buyers simply didn’t understand why such a smartphone was needed. And there’s a risk that Apple will do the same – the iPhone 17 Air may be too much of a compromise even for a loyal audience.
Design and lightness are certainly important parameters. But when you have to sacrifice autonomy and convenience, users aren’t always willing to make those concessions. Especially in an era when smartphones are increasingly used as a primary work device.
The iPhone 17 Air will surprise with a 5.5mm thickness and 2,800mAh battery was first published on ITZine.ru.
