Apple to bring back battery case for iPhone 17 Air

Apple is expected to launch its iPhone 17 Air this fall, marking a return of the slim phone trend. With the device rumored to measure just 5.65mm, Apple will naturally have to cut some corners, including the battery capacity, rumored to be in the 3,000 – 4,000mAh range.

iPhone 17 Air dummy unit (credit: Unbox Therapy)

We now get a new set of details about a possible return of the Smart Battery Case, which would help extend the phone’s runtime. A new report from The Information reveals that Apple is planning to bring back the Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 17 Air.

Apple’s journey with battery cases began in 2015 with the official Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 6s and continued until the iPhone 11 series.

iPhone 11 and 11 Pro Smart Battery Case

Cupertino then moved to the MagSafe Battery Pack with the iPhone 12 generation, which was later discontinued in 2023 shortly after the iPhone 15 launch

According to the new report, early internal tests by Apple determined that only 60-70% of iPhone 17 Air users will get a full day’s use without needing a recharge throughout the day. For reference, the figures stand at 80% - 90% for the other iPhone 17 models.

The new report also mentions that Apple suppliers are only dedicating around 10% of their production capacity to the iPhone 17 Air due to uncertainties with demand. We also get confirmation that the device will feature a single rear camera, one speaker and no SIM card slot.

Source (paywall)