We already knew the iPhone 17 Air was going to be slim. Like, really slim. But now we’ve got a better look at just how far Apple is pushing the limits of battery design to make it happen—and yeah, it’s as extreme as you’d expect.
A new side-by-side photo has surfaced, showing what’s claimed to be the iPhone 17 Air battery sitting next to the iPhone 17 Pro’s. And the difference in thickness? Kind of shocking.
The Thinnest iPhone Ever
According to previous reports, the iPhone 17 Air will come in at around 5.5mm thick, making it the slimmest iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s even thinner than the legendary iPod nano, which is wild when you think about how much more tech is crammed inside.
But going that thin comes with trade-offs.
The biggest ones?
- Only a single rear camera
- Significantly smaller battery
2800mAh Battery in a 5.5mm Body
Thanks to new leaks, we now have a clearer picture, literally, of how Apple is making this work.
Leaker Majin Bu first shared images of the iPhone 17 Air’s battery last week. Then today, Chinese blogger Yeux1122 dropped a side-profile comparison shot showing the Air battery next to the iPhone 17 Pro’s.
The size difference is hard to ignore. If the leaks are accurate, the iPhone 17 Air’s battery will be 2800mAh, compared to the iPhone 16’s 3500mAh and the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max’s rumored 5000mAh cell.
This all but confirms what we’ve been expecting: the iPhone 17 Air will be the most portable iPhone ever, but you might need to keep a charger nearby.
This is Different
Apple isn’t chasing thinness just for fun. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to kick off a new design direction, possibly previewing what future mainstream iPhones might look like as Apple finds ways to balance size, power, and efficiency.
It’s also likely targeted at users who value portability above all. If you’re someone who misses the feel of those impossibly light iPhones from a decade ago, this one’s for you.
But keep in mind: less battery, fewer lenses, and probably tighter thermal constraints. It’s a statement phone, not a power user’s dream.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 17 Air is shaping up to be one of Apple’s boldest design experiments in years. These new battery photos make one thing clear, Apple is going all-in on thin.
Whether that trade-off is worth it will depend on what kind of iPhone user you are. But there’s no denying it: this is going to be one of the most talked-about devices of the fall.
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