Apple iPhone 17 Air reportedly launching with battery case to compensate for tiny battery

The Apple iPhone 17 Air is set to be unveiled in September, alongside the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro. The ultra-thin model is expected to replace the iPhone 16 Plus in Apple’s iPhone lineup. However, according to rumours, Apple may have had to make a bunch of trade-offs to achieve the slim 5.5 mm (~0.2 in) chassis. For instance, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature only one rear camera and use the Apple A19 processor instead of the faster A19 Pro.

Perhaps one of the most significant compromises is the inclusion of a smaller battery. Given the battery is one of the largest components in a smartphone, Apple may have had no choice but to scale it down. According to a new report by The Information, the company expects only 60 to 70% of iPhone 17 Air users to get through a full day on a single charge, compared to the typical 80 to 90% predicted for thicker iPhones.

To address this, Apple is reportedly preparing to launch a battery case aimed at users who require extra power on the go. This case will presumably charge both the iPhone 17 Air and itself when connected to a power source via USB-C or MagSafe, eliminating the need to charge the case and smartphone separately. That said, adding such a battery case could make the iPhone 17 Air at least as thick and heavy as the iPhone 17 Pro, potentially negating the benefits of the slimmer design. Apple allegedly anticipates the iPhone 17 Air to account for around 10% of all iPhone 17 series sales.