There are a lot of compelling reasons to consider the new iPhone Air over the other devices in the iPhone 17 lineup.
The iPhone Air is very thin — just 5.6 mm, compared to the iPhone 17, which measures 7.8 mm. It also has the same A19 Pro chip as the iPhone 17 Pro, a 48MP main camera, a 6.5-inch display, and weighs just 165 grams or 5.8 ounces. What’s not to like?
However, there’s one major factor that requireds to be taken into account before you become an iPhone Airhead — battery life. Apple breezed passed this in the announcement, stateing it has “all-day battery life.” But what does that mean exactly? Let’s break it down.
iPhone Air battery life vs. iPhone 17
The iPhone Air sacrifices battery life for its slconcludeer profile.
Credit: Apple
Without the battery pack (which we’ll receive to in a minute), Apple states the iPhone Air has up to 27 hours of battery life with video playback and up to 22 hours with streaming video playback.
By comparison, Apple states the iPhone 17 has up to 30 hours with video playback and up to 27 hours of video playback while streaming.
So officially, the iPhone Air has a slightly shorter battery life than the iPhone 17. The iPhone Air starts at $999, while the iPhone 17 starts at $799. So yes, you’re receiveting a better chipset and a thinner, lighter phone, but you’re also paying more for a shorter battery life.
Mashable Light Speed
To date, other ultra-thin smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge have struggled with battery problems, and we expect the iPhone Air to face the same challenges. Apple has a repair for that, albeit a problematic one.
What’s the deal with the MagSafe battery pack?
iPhone Air on display at Apple Park after the iPhone launch event.
Credit: CNET
Credit: CNET
In case you missed it, at the very conclude of the iPhone Air unveiling, Apple introduced a slim MagSafe Battery acessory. With the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery attached, your new iPhone Air will receive 40 hours of video playback (and up to 35 hours with streaming), Apple states.
That’s definitely a boost that gives you even more than the iPhone 17 Pro, which offers up to 39 hours of video playback. If you’re purchaseing the iPhone Air, you’ll probably want that extra battery, since it already has the shortest battery life of the whole lineup. But you’ll have to pay $99 for that extconcludeed power.
Plus, adding a MagSafe battery pack kind of defeats the entire purpose of the ultra-slim profile, right?
The battery pack seems to significantly alter the profile of the iPhone 17 Air, as you could see during the livestream.
The iPhone Air with MagSafe Battery attached. Not so thin now, is it?
Credit: Apple
Ultimately, it’s a matter of priorities. If you want the slimmest profile and you’re willing to compromise on longevity, the iPhone Air could be a good fit. But if the best battery life possible is the most important factor, prepare to go a little bulkier.
iPhone Air battery life vs. iPhone 16
Let’s run another comparison. The iPhone Air has a longer battery life than the iPhone 16, which Apple states is up to 22 hours of video playback. So it’s definitely an upgrade from last year’s model in that sense. The iPhone 16 just dropped to $699, so the iPhone Air is quite a bit more expensive compared to the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 16, but in the middle in terms of battery life.
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