If the benchmarks for Apple’s iPhone 16e battery are any consideration, the future looks good for the iPhone 17 Air battery.
Per Apple’s tech specs, the iPhone 16e’s battery offers the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone. Apple has cited that the iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of battery life for video playback, compared to up to 22 hours for the standard iPhone 16.
A large part of this can be credited to Apple’s new C1 modem, which is the most power-efficient modem ever included in an iPhone. To date, all other current iPhone models feature Qualcomm modems.
Apple offered the following description of the C1 modem:
“Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. Apple silicon — including C1 — the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.”
Back in July of 2024, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the model now known as the iPhone 16e and an ultra-thin iPhone 17 would be equipped with an Apple-designed modem. If that remains Apple’s plan, the power-efficient C1 modem should extend to the iPhone 17 Air, and that should contribute to the device having longer battery life.
It’s also thought that for iPhone models featuring a large 6.6-inch or 6.7-inch display, there should be plenty of room inside the next-gen iPhone for an even larger battery, even if the device is centered around an ultra-thin design. This, in turn, could lead to an even larger battery with an even longer life span.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors