Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air is shaping up to be the slimmest iPhone ever, featuring an ultra-thin battery just 2.49mm thick, including its metal case, according to recent leaked live images. The images, shared on a Korean Naver blog, show the iPhone 17 Air’s battery is nearly half as thin as the iPhone 17 Pro’s battery cell, highlighting Apple’s push for an exceedingly slim design.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to house a battery capacity of under 3,000mAh—specifically around 2,800 to 2,900mAh—which is considerably smaller than its direct competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which features a 3,900mAh cell. This size reduction aligns with the phone’s anticipated ultra-slim profile, reportedly measuring just 5.5mm in thickness, making it the thinnest iPhone to date.
Despite the battery’s smaller capacity, Apple is rumored to adopt “high-density” silicon-anode battery technology, supplied by TDK, which could boost the effective capacity by 15-20%. This advanced battery tech aims to balance the trade-off between slimness and endurance.
The iPhone 17 Air is also expected to be notably light, weighing about 145 grams, comparable to the iPhone SE 2 and iPhone 13 mini, which weigh 148 grams and 141 grams, respectively. However, some reports raise concerns about the device’s battery life, indicating that fewer users may get a full day of usage without charging compared to other iPhones. To address potential battery complaints, Apple may offer an optional battery case accessory.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, however, offers a more optimistic outlook, suggesting the battery life will be on par with current iPhone models, thanks to software and hardware optimizations within the new device.
The iPhone 17 Air’s slim battery pack and lightweight frame show Apple’s ongoing design focus on creating sleek, elegant devices, possibly at the expense of battery capacity. The phone is expected to be announced around mid-September 2025, alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup.