Smartphone users often dream of a phone that simply keeps going, even after a full day of heavy use. It seems Apple might be listening. Reports suggest the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max, expected in September 2025, could pack the largest battery ever seen in an iPhone. This is a big deal for anyone tired of their phone dying mid-afternoon.
This juicy detail comes from Instant Digital, a tipster on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. They claim the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery around 5,000 mAh. To put that in perspective, this would easily beat the current iPhone 16 Pro Max, which holds the record at 4,676 mAh. It’s a significant jump, signaling Apple’s possible shift towards prioritizing battery life for its top-tier model.
Here’s how the Pro Max battery sizes have grown over the years:
- iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019): 3,969 mAh
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020): 3,687 mAh
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021): 4,352 mAh
- iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022): 4,323 mAh
- iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023): 4,422 mAh
- iPhone 16 Pro Max (2024): 4,676 mAh
A bigger battery usually means a slightly larger and heavier phone. It looks like the iPhone 17 Pro Max will embrace this. Apple appears willing to make the device a bit bulkier compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This design choice aims to give users all-day power, even if it adds a little more weight to their pockets. It’s a trade-off many power users will likely welcome.
But what if you prefer a super slim phone over marathon battery life? Apple seems to have you covered there too. The iPhone 17 series is rumored to include a new model called the iPhone 17 Air. This phone is expected to be incredibly thin, possibly around 5.5 mm. If true, it would be among the thinnest smartphones ever made. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, released in May 2025, measures 5.8 mm thin.
However, extreme thinness often comes at a cost, especially for the battery. Early whispers suggest the iPhone 17 Air might only have a 2,800 mAh battery. That’s a notable drop compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge’s 3,900 mAh, or even the original Samsung Galaxy Z Flip from 2020, which had 3,300 mAh. Most premium phones on the market today offer around 6,000 mAh. So, while the iPhone 17 Air might look stunningly sleek, users might need to carry a charger or power bank with them.
It appears Apple is setting up a clear choice for its customers. You can have the longest-lasting iPhone ever with the 17 Pro Max, or you can have one of the slimmest phones on the planet with the 17 Air. The company is betting that users will pick their priority.