The iPhone 17 Air is shaping up to be Apple’s slimmest and lightest iPhone ever, but a new leak claims that the company will have to make certain compromises to keep the ultra-thin design. A pair of images have leaked online, which showcase the L-shaped battery of the iPhone 17 Air in a metal casing, a design choice previously seen in the iPhone 16 Pro. The metal casing would also serve the purpose of dissipating heat inside the phone’s ultra-thin 5.5mm frame. It can be observed that Apple is aiming to balance the performance of the device without compromising the portability of the device.

Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet could struggle with battery life despite efficiency boosts from the A19 chip and iOS 26 features

The leaked battery, via Majin Bu, reportedly has a capacity of around 2,900 mAh, which is significantly smaller than the iPhone 16’s 3,651 mAh cell. This would make the iPhone 17 Air one of the least battery-capable iPhones in recent memory. Apple is willingly reducing the battery capacity to keep the thin form factor, but it will also optimize various aspects of the device, which will allow it to offset the impact of the smaller cell. However, the weak battery performance could be a negative trait of the device if Apple does not play its cards right, making it a secondary choice for the end user over the rest of the lineup.

The iPhone 17 Air will heavily rely on the efficiency of the A19 Bionic chip to help mitigate the impact of the smaller battery size. The chip is expected to deliver better power management, allowing users to get more usage out of each charge. On the software front, iOS 26’s Adaptive Power Mode will also play a key role by intelligently limiting background processes and adjusting performance to save energy. Even with these improvements, internal testing has reportedly shown that only 60 to 70 percent of users could make it through a full day without recharging the device.

To further tackle the situation, Apple also has plans to launch dedicated accessories, such as a battery case for the iPhone 17 Air. This will give users extra battery capacity without sacrificing the thin and light design. While some would say that a hefty case would negate the purpose of buying an ultra-thin iPhone, we believe that a case will be designed to be used as an occasional accessory, something that you take out when you are heading out for longer periods of time, or when you want to take a plethora of photos or videos.

The metal housing of the L-shaped battery will be similar to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which means that it can be easily removed with low-voltage electrical current from a 9V battery or another power source. We will share additional details on the iPhone 17 Air’s battery, so be sure to keep an eye out.