Thin Design of iPhone 17 Air by Apple Potentially Yields Sizeable Disadvantage
The Skinny on the iPhone 17 "Air": ripped straight from the trenches of tech
Mark your calendars, tech enthusiasts, 'cause Apple's unleashing a state-of-the-art iPhone 17 "Air" this fall. Solid as a USB-C cable, this bad boy will have influencers drooling and cake-cutters quivering with anticipation. But be warned: the thinner the phone, the less candy we can store in it. A fact that'll become cruelly apparent when you discover the iPhone 17 Air's battery won't quite make it through the day for the majority of us hangry users.
: The iPhone 17 Air features a 3,150 mAh battery, offering roughly 17-18 hours of typical usage, though it's anticipated to suffice for just 60-70% of the public – a significant drop from the 80-90% seen on the standard iPhone 17 & 17 Pro models.
"But why the battery shortfall?" you ask. Well, it turns out our new favorite slim phone can't accommodate a larger battery without breaking a sweat (or its sleek design). And though Apple could slash power consumption with efficient chips, it seems they're sticking to their guns for the initial iPhone Air model, pulling a classic Apple move by offering a battery case as a forgive-and-purchase solution.
Yeah, hear that? That's the sound of your wallet crying. The iPhone 17 Air may set you back $900 or more, begging the question: Are svelte bragging rights worth the hefty price tag?
: And before you tar the iPhone 17 Air as an optimized-for-extortion device, consider this: the battery itself ain't all that different from the iPhone 16 models. Intense users might still find themselves running on empty before the day's end, which is never fun (unless you're a battery salesperson).
Stay tuned for more revelations – and an earful of unsolicited opinions – as we navigate this new thinner, lesser-battery-life iPhone landscape together. Be prepared to plug-in, party people. The iPhone 17 Air's arrival is inevitable.
: Speaking of your wallet, it's worth noting that Apple admitted in the past to selling a MagSafe Battery Pack alongside the iPhone 12, which – spoiler alert – was due to the phone's power-hungry 5G modem. The battery pack was discontinued a few years later, causing widespread speculation as to why. Conspiracy theorists suggest Apple stopped production because it didn't want to swap out the accessory's Lightning port for a USB-C one following the EU's push for the universal port. Food for thought!
: Also, looking for an early peek at the iPhone 17 models? Check out YouTuber Sam Kohl's video. He's got the breakdown on these soon-to-be famous handsets, complete with a side-eye glance at the absurdly skinny iPhone 17 Air.
Gizmodo's tech aficionados are eagerly awaiting the upcoming iPhone 17 "Air," as it promises cutting-edge technology and an eye-catching design. However, concerns about the phone's battery life, estimated to offer only 60-70% of the typical usage compared to standard iPhone 17 models, have surfaced. Moreover, tech enthusiasts are discussing the potential implications of Apple's decision to offer a battery case as a remedy, possibly hinting at the phone's power-hungry components, similar to the iPhone 12's 5G modem.