iPhone 17 Air Could Be Apple’s Thinnest Yet, But It Might Not Last the Day
Apple’s iPhone 17 Air is set to be so thin, in fact, that it might come at the expense of your battery life. According to internal testing leaked via The Information, the ultra-thin design could mean more users might find themselves reaching for a charger before the day’s out.
A Sleek Look, But a Smaller Battery?
The iPhone 17 Air is said to measure just 5.5mm in thickness, which would make it the thinnest iPhone ever, and one of the thinnest smartphones, period. But as anyone who’s ever held a razor-thin device can guess, there’s only so much room for a battery in that kind of frame.
In Apple’s own testing, only about 60–70% of users made it through a full day without needing a recharge. That’s a notable dip from the typical 80–90% figure Apple reportedly expects with its other models.
Enter: The Return of the Battery Case
To help patch the gap, Apple is apparently dusting off an old strategy, the battery case. While the company hasn’t released one since the iPhone 11 era (unless you count the MagSafe Battery Pack), it seems the Air model may bring this accessory back into fashion.
Battery cases have always been a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it deal: not the prettiest, but undeniably useful. And in this case, perhaps essential.
What Else Is (or isn’t) in the Air?
Beyond battery life, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a minimalist’s dream, or nightmare, depending on how you use your phone. The report suggests this model will feature just one rear camera, a single speaker, and no SIM card slot anywhere in the world. It’s a bold move that strips the phone down to essentials, or what Apple deems essential, at least.
Related: iPhone 17 Air Getting 12GB RAM Like the Pro and Pro Max
The supply chain also appears to be playing it safe. Only about 10% of iPhone 17 production is reportedly being dedicated to the Air variant initially, possibly due to uncertainty about how much demand the super-slim model will actually generate.
Related: iPhone 17 Pro May Support Camera Bump Accessories, Leak Reveals
Apple’s quest for thinness has always walked a tightrope between elegance and practicality. With the iPhone 17 Air, it seems like the pendulum might be swinging hard toward design and leaving battery life behind. Whether that tradeoff pays off in the eyes of consumers remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: if you’re planning to grab the Air, you might want to keep a battery case on standby.
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