The latest iPhone 17 Air battery leak is a worrying one – but iOS 26 could help

• The iPhone 17 Air battery could be under 3,000 mAh
• This fits in with previous leaks about the handset
• iOS 26 could extend battery life to last an entire day

It appears highly probable that a brand-new model, the incredibly thin iPhone 17 Air, will be available when Apple finally launches the new iPhone 17 series in September. According to a recent rumor, battery capacity may suffer as a result of that slimness.

According to renowned leaker Instant Digital (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Air will have a battery with a capacity of less than 3,000 mAh. Comparatively, the iPhone 16 has a 3,651 mAh battery.

Although we are unsure of how it will actually affect battery life, it appears that the new phone may find it difficult to match the existing models’ duration between charges. Apple claims that the iPhone 16 can play videos for 22 hours on a single charge, while longer battery life is required for more taxing tasks.

• Also Check: iPhone 17 Air leak might have revealed the model’s biggest flaw

According to the same tipster, you can use the iPhone 17 Air for a day with moderate use thanks to its power-saving mode, which will be improved with a new adaptive mode in iOS 26, which is also scheduled for release in September.

Battery size and battery life

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that the iPhone 17 Air will have a smaller-than-usual battery. It stands to reason that there will be less space for a battery to power the phone if the chassis gets thinner.

According to earlier rumors, the iPhone 17 Air’s battery has a capacity of 2,800 mAh, which aligns with the latest data. But there have also been reports about new battery technology that would allow smaller batteries to last longer.

Although it obviously plays a significant part, it’s also important to note that battery capacity isn’t the only factor that affects battery life. Although iPhones usually have smaller batteries than the top Android phones, software and design improvements can extend battery life.

Keep in mind that until Apple makes it official, nothing is certain. See our evaluation of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to get a sense of what a high-end, ultra-thin phone would be like to use in 2025.