A fresh leak claims Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup will see meaningful battery bumps, with the top-end model reportedly breaking the 5,000mAh barrier for the first time in an iPhone. The figures, shared by leaker ShrimpApplePro and surfaced via MacRumors, are said to come from Chinese regulatory filings that often preview final hardware specifications ahead of launch.
The leaked capacities by model
According to the documents, iPhone 17 Pro is listed at 3,988mAh with a physical SIM tray and 4,252mAh for the eSIM-only version. The iPhone 17 Pro Max reportedly comes in at 4,823mAh (with SIM tray) and 5,088mAh (eSIM-only). The rumored iPhone 17 Air is said to sport 3,036mAh with a SIM tray or 3,149mAh without one, while the standard iPhone 17 is pegged at 3,692mAh with a single capacity figure noted, leaving the SIM configuration unclear.
If accurate, that 5,088mAh figure for the Pro Max would mark an Apple first. Historically, iPhone batteries have stayed under 5,000mAh, even as rivals such as Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra (5,000mAh) and Google’s Pixel 8 Pro (about 5,050mAh) pushed beyond that threshold.
Why the SIM tray matters
The split capacities highlight how reclaiming the SIM tray’s internal volume can be repurposed for battery. Apple already sells eSIM-only iPhones in the U.S., while other regions still receive units with physical SIM slots. The differences here are not trivial: the Pro’s eSIM-only pack is roughly 6.6% larger than the SIM-tray version (4,252mAh vs. 3,988mAh), the Pro Max sees about a 5.5% jump (5,088mAh vs. 4,823mAh), and the Air rises around 3.7% (3,149mAh vs. 3,036mAh).
Translated to real use, a 5–7% capacity gain can mean an extra hour or two of mixed usage, depending on workload and display settings. It also gives Apple more thermal and power headroom for features like brighter sustained HDR, higher peak GPU clocks, and next-gen camera processing.
What this could mean for battery life
Battery life is a three-way dance between capacity, silicon efficiency, and software tuning. Even modest mAh increases can deliver outsized benefits when paired with more efficient chipsets and modems. Apple’s next A‑series silicon is expected to advance on TSMC’s 3nm family, which typically brings single-digit percentage gains in performance-per-watt. If iOS power management continues to mature—as we’ve seen through features like adaptive refresh rates and aggressive background task scheduling—the Pro Max’s larger cell could translate into noticeably longer longevity under heavy camera, gaming, or travel use.
The smallest number in the lineup belongs to the rumored iPhone 17 Air. On paper, 3,036–3,149mAh looks lean next to the standard iPhone 17’s 3,692mAh. That said, radio efficiency can be a big swing factor. Industry reports have long suggested Apple is developing an in-house cellular modem; if the “Air” eventually ships with a more efficient baseband, it could offset the raw capacity gap. Until there’s confirmation from Apple or teardowns, consider this a best-case scenario rather than a given.
Context: stacked cells and energy density
Supply chain chatter in recent cycles points to Apple evaluating stacked battery construction and higher energy-density chemistries—techniques already familiar in EVs and, increasingly, high-end phones. Stacked designs can improve thermal behavior and longevity while enabling tighter packaging. If those approaches are coming to more iPhone models, they’d dovetail with the capacity gains shown here, especially in eSIM-only variants where space is at a premium.
How it stacks up against recent iPhones
For perspective, third-party teardowns place the iPhone 15 Pro Max around 4,422mAh and the iPhone 15 Plus near 4,383mAh. Apple’s official endurance claims hinge on usage scenarios rather than mAh, but real-world testing by outlets like Consumer Reports and AnandTech has consistently shown Apple extracting long runtimes from relatively modest capacities. A move to 5,088mAh in the Pro Max, coupled with process and modem gains, would make multi-day life more attainable for moderate users and reduce anxiety for power users who record a lot of 4K video or rely on mobile hotspotting.
Proceed with healthy skepticism
Regulatory databases such as China’s 3C and MIIT have a strong track record of revealing battery specs ahead of time, but last-minute changes and regional variations are always possible. ShrimpApplePro has previously shared accurate details on iPhone display hardware and component dimensions, yet no leaker’s record is flawless. Until certification photos or teardowns corroborate these exact capacities, treat them as informed—but preliminary—guidance.
If these numbers hold, the headline is clear: the iPhone 17 family is poised for a tangible battery upgrade, with eSIM-only models benefiting the most and the Pro Max crossing a symbolic 5,000mAh threshold. For many buyers, that could be the most practical improvement of the generation.