iPhone 17 Battery and Charging: All expected changes
The iPhone 17 lineup is shaping up to deliver the biggest behind-the-scenes charging and battery upgrades we’ve seen from Apple in years.
While the headline specs might not include ultra-fast 200W charging or oversized 6,000mAh cells like some Android phones, Apple is reportedly making smarter improvements where it counts: denser stacked battery tech across all models, easier battery replacements, and possibly even 45W MagSafe wireless charging.
Add to that long-awaited reverse wireless charging, efficiency gains from the new A19 chip, and AI-powered battery optimization in iOS 19, and the iPhone 17 series could quietly turn into Apple’s most user-friendly lineup yet — even if the iPhone 17 Air ends up with a much smaller battery.
iPhone 17 series rumored battery upgrades
Apple isn’t expected to overhaul battery capacity in 2025. So you won't see any of those massive 5,000–6,000mAh cells you’d find on some Android phones coming from the Chinese market. However, the real upgrades lie elsewhere…
All iPhone 17 models are expected to continue using stacked battery technology, first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro. These batteries are denser and more thermally stable, which helps with long-term battery health and lifespan.
Apple’s electric adhesive — the clever tech that allows batteries to be removed more easily using a small electric current — is expected to be used across the entire iPhone 17 lineup. This feature was first introduced on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, but not on the Pro models. If this rumor pans out, it would mark the first time that all iPhones, including the Pro and Pro Max, feature the more repair-friendly design, making battery replacements simpler and more consistent across the lineup.
Will the iPhone 17 series have better battery life?
Chances are yes, especially for the Pro models.
The standard iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 17 Air will likely use the new Apple A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max models will feature the A19 Pro. While it’s not clear yet whether these will be 3nm or 2nm chips, even a refined 3nm chip could bring better energy efficiency.
Add to that the rumored Wi-Fi 7 support, possibly more efficient custom Apple 5G modems, and new OLED M14 panels with lower power consumption across the lineup — and the iPhone 17 series could very well last longer on a single charge, even if battery sizes remain similar.
It's hard to imagine, however, that Apple Intelligence would be enough to fully counteract some of the more questionable hardware decisions we expect with the new iPhone 17 Air this year…
That said, the iPhone 17 Air in particular is shaping up to be an outlier — and not in a good way.
In contrast:
As usual, no charger is expected in the box — so if you're upgrading, make sure your charger supports at least 27W USB PD.
Will the iPhone 17 series have better battery life?
Chances are yes — but mostly for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are rumored to run on the Apple A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max will use the more advanced A19 Pro. These chips are expected to be built on a refined 3nm process, potentially improving energy efficiency.
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air are rumored to run on the Apple A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max will use the more advanced A19 Pro. These chips are expected to be built on a refined 3nm process, potentially improving energy efficiency.
| Model | Expected Battery Capacity |
|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | ~3,600 mAh |
| iPhone 17 Air | ~2,800 mAh mAh |
| iPhone 17 Pro | ~3,700 mAh |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | ~4,700 mAh |
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ultra-thin at just 5.5 mm thick and weighing only 145 grams. But that sleek design comes at a cost: a significantly smaller battery than even last year’s base models, and one of the smallest in a modern iPhone. For comparison, Samsung’s slim Galaxy S25 Edge has a 3,900 mAh battery — still small, but noticeably larger than Apple’s new Air.
Despite some rumors of denser battery chemistry, there’s no concrete evidence Apple is using newer tech like silicon-carbon cells. That means most of the burden of achieving acceptable battery life will fall on software optimizations, including Apple Intelligence — which, to date, hasn’t proven to be that effective.
Despite some rumors of denser battery chemistry, there’s no concrete evidence Apple is using newer tech like silicon-carbon cells. That means most of the burden of achieving acceptable battery life will fall on software optimizations, including Apple Intelligence — which, to date, hasn’t proven to be that effective.
iPhone 17 series rumored charging upgrades
While there's still no sign of faster charging speeds, one long-rumored feature is finally expected to arrive: reverse wireless charging.
According to multiple sources, Apple is testing 7.5W reverse wireless charging on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. This would let you charge accessories like your AirPods or Apple Watch using the back of your phone — a feature Android users have enjoyed for years.
According to multiple sources, Apple is testing 7.5W reverse wireless charging on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. This would let you charge accessories like your AirPods or Apple Watch using the back of your phone — a feature Android users have enjoyed for years.
There's also a possibility that the new iPhones will come with Qi 2.2 wireless charging support, which could mean an increase to 25W using third-party chargers (from 15W).
How fast will the iPhone 17 series charge?
Apple remains conservative with charging speeds, but there might be one small improvement this year.
All iPhone 17 models are expected to support up to 35W wired charging, according to recent reports. That’s a modest step up from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series, which maxed out around 27–30W.
All iPhone 17 models are expected to support up to 35W wired charging, according to recent reports. That’s a modest step up from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series, which maxed out around 27–30W.
In real-world use, we expect a full charge to take under 90–100 minutes thanks to this upgrade. That’s good news across the entire iPhone 17 lineup, but it could be especially beneficial for the iPhone 17 Air, which is rumored to have a smaller battery. Faster charging could help offset any concerns about battery life and make the overall experience feel more balanced.
Will the iPhone 17 series have wireless charging?
Yes, all iPhone 17 models will support wireless charging, and this time, we may see a major leap.
Reports suggest Apple is preparing a new Qi 2.2-compliant MagSafe charger capable of up to 45W output. This would be a huge jump from the current 25W MagSafe peak on the iPhone 16 series — and more than double the 15W limit from just a year ago.
The new charger was spotted on Taiwan’s NCC database and tested across several iPhone generations, but only Qi 2.2-compatible models like the iPhone 17 are expected to unlock the full 45W speed. Along with faster wireless charging, Qi 2.2 improves alignment and efficiency, while remaining backward compatible.
Reports suggest Apple is preparing a new Qi 2.2-compliant MagSafe charger capable of up to 45W output. This would be a huge jump from the current 25W MagSafe peak on the iPhone 16 series — and more than double the 15W limit from just a year ago.
The new charger was spotted on Taiwan’s NCC database and tested across several iPhone generations, but only Qi 2.2-compatible models like the iPhone 17 are expected to unlock the full 45W speed. Along with faster wireless charging, Qi 2.2 improves alignment and efficiency, while remaining backward compatible.
Will the iPhone 17 series have reverse wireless charging?
Yes — at least on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, according to leaks.
Apple is reportedly testing 7.5W reverse wireless charging, which would bring the iPhone in line with many Android flagships. This would be a first for Apple.
Apple is reportedly testing 7.5W reverse wireless charging, which would bring the iPhone in line with many Android flagships. This would be a first for Apple.
No word yet on whether the iPhone 17 or 17 Air will support it, but it’s more likely to remain exclusive to the Pro models.
What charger will the iPhone 17 series use?
The entire iPhone 17 lineup will use USB-C with USB Power Delivery (USB PD), just like the iPhone 15 and 16.
Apple’s approach to charging is more open compared to some Android phones:
Apple’s approach to charging is more open compared to some Android phones:
- You don’t need a proprietary charger to get near-full charging speeds.
- High-quality third-party PD chargers (like those from Anker or Ugreen) will work just fine.
- Apple doesn’t use any weird voltage profiles, unlike Xiaomi, OnePlus, or Motorola.
In contrast:
- Xiaomi’s HyperCharge, Motorola’s TurboPower, Honor SuperCharge, and OnePlus/Vivo/Oppo VOOC rely on custom voltage and current profiles. You won’t get full speed unless you use the original charger and cable.
- With iPhones, all you require is a solid USB PD charger and a USB-C to USB-C cable. No proprietary nonsense, just plug and go. Same goes for Samsung and Google.
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