Apple’s new iPhones officially hit stores tomorrow, and reviews are rolling in fast. One of the biggest concerns heading into launch was the iPhone Air. At just 5.6mm thin, Apple shaved off space for the battery, which had people worried that the Air would be a one-charge wonder.
Well, early tests suggest the panic may have been a little overblown.
The YouTube Stress Test
YouTuber The Tech Chap ran a continuous YouTube streaming test to see how long the iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air would last. Here’s how things played out:
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 7 hours 29 minutes
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 7 hours 58 minutes
- iPhone 17 Pro: 7 hours 34 minutes
- iPhone Air: 6 hours 43 minutes
- iPhone 17: 6 Hours 55 minutes
So yes, the Air died earlier than the Pro Max models, but not by a massive margin. In fact, the gap between the Air and the regular iPhone 17 (6 hours 55 minutes) was surprisingly small.
Interestingly Apple’s own official comparison of battery life between the 2025 lineup paints a slightly different picture, but that’s based on video playback, not streaming. You can check that out here: iPhone Air vs iPhone 17 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Which One Lasts the Longest?
Why This Matters
The thin design doesn’t mean disaster for everyday users. Sure, heavy gamers or power users will still get more mileage out of a Pro Max. But for people who just want a slim, light phone that still makes it through a busy day, the iPhone Air looks more promising than expected. Remember though, the Air charges slower than the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup.
Worth checking out: Why the iPhone 17 Makes More Sense Than the iPhone Air
A Word of Caution
Streaming YouTube nonstop isn’t exactly “real life.” Battery life depends on how you use your phone: scrolling TikTok, navigating with Maps, or snapping photos will all drain power differently. But these early results at least show that Apple’s efficiency tricks are working, and the Air isn’t the weak link many feared.
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