Thin as an excuse to be late, light as a Monday after a vacation – but with a battery that can give out before dinner. The iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to hit the stage in September 2025, is already raising eyebrows. Why? Because it will be as thin as a sheet of paper (5.5 mm!) and lighter than many mini models – with it comes one obvious sacrifice: the battery.
Although it does Apple likes to boast about elegance and technological sophistication, this time it seems that it might pay for beauty with the lifespan of... the phone, of course. And also the nerves of the user - the new iPhone 17 Air.
iPhone 17 Air: Design for magazine covers, but not necessarily for long days
The new iPhone 17 Air will weigh just 145 grams and feature a 6.6-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Face ID, and – as expected – Dynamic Island, which Apple has now specifically “appropriated”. Despite the large display, the phone itself will be thinner than many garage keys. And here we get to the heart of the matter: battery capacity may only be 2800 mAh – a number that takes us back to the times of the iPhone 12.
For comparison:
- The iPhone 16 has 3561 mAh
- iPhone 16 Plus as much as 4674 mAh
- even the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is barely thicker (5.8 mm), squeezes 3900 mAh into it.
This means that Apple probably won't be able to promise users "all day without charging" - at least not without an asterisk and some fine print.
The tech wizards in Cupertino are (maybe) already mixing an AI potion
Apple, as expected, will not just give up. It is expected to enter the game dense battery technology (we are talking about silicon-carbon) and AI optimization in iOS 19, which could stretch every cent of the battery, like a grandmother stretching the last piece of dough for a strudel.
According to some estimates, these technologies could increase the effective capacity of the battery by 15-20 %. In practice, this means that a 2800 mAh battery would perform better than one with 3200-3300 mAh. Certainly better, but still not superior to the competition.
Apple is also reportedly considering bringing back the optional battery case — because of course, there's no more ironic way to emphasize an ultra-thin design than to immediately wrap it in a thick silicone case with an additional battery. But hey, aesthetics are subjective.
What else do we know (and what don't)?
In addition to a thinner profile and questionable battery, the iPhone 17 Air will likely feature an A19 chip (in the base, not “Pro” version), a single 48MP rear camera, and Apple’s new C1 modem for more power efficiency. This means it will be more focused on a minimalist yet powerful experience – without the extra cameras and clutter.
Comparison table – numbers don't lie
| Model | Battery (mAh) | mm | g) | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Air | 2800 | 5.5 | 145 | 6.6 |
| iPhone 16 | 3561 | – | – | 6.1 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 4674 | – | – | 6.7 |
| iPhone 12 | 2815 | – | – | 6.1 |
| Galaxy S25 Edge | 3900 | 5.8 | – | – |
Is the trade-off worth it? It depends on how much you're on the charger
If you're a user who lives in the clouds of Wi-Fi, with low power mode on and three hours of screen time a day - you'll probably get through the day. But if you're more of a "all day TikTok, half an hour video call, photo editing and music streaming" type, then don't be surprised if by 6pm you're already asking your coworker if they have a USB-C cable.
Conclusion: Air or “ouch”?
The iPhone 17 Air looks like a technological sculpture – thin, light, minimalist. But as with any work of art – form sometimes trumps function. The battery will be a sticking point for many users, despite the promised optimizations and tricks from Apple's lab.
If you value elegance, lightness, and the latest design – this is probably your new digital crush. But if you’re looking for a device that won’t let you down during a marathon day – you might want to go for models with “Plus” or “Pro” in the name.
See you in September when Apple officially reveals whether it's really a technological masterpiece... or just very pretty packaging with a little juice.
