iPhone 17 Air's Battery Life Looks Promising Based on iPhone 16e

The new iPhone 16e has the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone. According to Apple's tech specs, 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.

iPhone 17 Air Fanned Feature
A key reason the iPhone 16e has longer battery life than the iPhone 16 is Apple's new C1 modem, which is the most power-efficient modem ever included in an iPhone. All other current iPhone models are equipped with Qualcomm modems.

Here is how Apple described 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.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with the C1 modem, which should contribute to the device having longer battery life.

It is not only the C1 modem that will boost battery life. With a large 6.6-inch or 6.7-inch display, there should be plenty of room inside the iPhone 17 Air for a larger battery, even with the device expected to have an ultra-thin design. So, despite being thin and light, the iPhone 17 Air's battery life might be more impressive than some may have anticipated.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16e, iPhone 17 Air
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 16e (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

bozzykid Avatar
7 months ago
It is wild how many articles are referring to the new C1 modem saving battery life when the battery information that Apple posts are based off of the phone being on WiFi. It is certainly possible it the C1 is more efficient than the current phones but you can't get that information based off what Apple has posted about the phone so far.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
7 months ago

In the age of +6500mah batteries on competition, Apple is trying to use smaller batteries. Samsung is also stuck on 5000 for like half a decade.
Yeah, but those are just milliampere hours, not magic Apple hours.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AdamHarbour Avatar
7 months ago
Put a c1 and a silicon carbide battery in! Woooooow
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
7 months ago

Can we please get someone from Qualcomm's marketing department to pipe in here with some marketing data that refutes such claims?
Not until these are in the wild so that there can be real & objective testing to see what they can and can't do... what they do well and don't do so well. Until then, it's very (biased) positive speculation to the moon.

Right up to that point, speculation should have this C1 letting owners walk on water and cure cancer too. Oh and I hear it's faster than Nvidia 5080. And attracts super models to owners. And can pick winning lotto numbers. ;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghostface147 Avatar
7 months ago
Reliable? We’ll see. Real world testing in hands of customers will pass or fail them initially.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
7 months ago
Sorry, fixed that. Love that Siri voice to text.

But perhaps C2 can make super models attack??? ;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)