Leaked iPhone 17 Battery Capacities: eSIM vs SIM Tray Differences and Pro Max Exceeds 5,000 mAh

As anticipation builds for Apple’s September 9 launch event, intriguing details regarding the battery capacities of the iPhone 17 lineup have emerged from a Chinese regulatory database. The lineup includes the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, as well as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. While earlier reports hinted at larger batteries overall, the latest leak indicates that Apple may provide different battery capacities for models depending on whether they feature a SIM card slot.

Battery Upgrades for iPhone 17 Models: eSIM vs. SIM Tray Comparisons

This battery capacity information was disclosed by renowned leaker ShrimpApplePro on X. The disclosed data distinguishes between versions equipped with a traditional SIM card tray and those utilizing eSIM technology, a feature that Apple is likely to expand in markets outside the United States. Although Apple has yet to officially confirm these figures, the leaked data appears to be highly credible.

Battery Capacities for iPhone 17 Models

Here’s a breakdown of the anticipated battery capacities for each model, categorized by SIM card presence:

iPhone 17 Air:

With SIM card tray: 3, 036 mAh
Without SIM card tray: 3, 149 mAh

iPhone 17 Pro:

With SIM card tray: 3, 988 mAh
Without SIM card tray: 4, 252 mAh

iPhone 17 Pro Max:

With SIM card tray: 4, 823 mAh
Without SIM card tray: 5, 088 mAh

The base model, the iPhone 17, is expected to sport a battery capacity of 3, 692 mAh, though it remains uncertain if this figure applies to the eSIM version or the model with a physical SIM tray. These numbers indicate a notable trend aligning with Apple’s strategy to phase out physical SIM card functionality, leveraging additional internal space to enhance battery capacity. Most significantly, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s battery exceeds the 5, 000 mAh threshold, representing an 8% increase over its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The real battery capacity of the 17 series from Chinese regulatory pic.twitter.com/6gG1FrfTUi

— ShrimpApplePro 🍤 Always Mayonakade Iinoni (@VNchocoTaco) September 8, 2025

The iPhone 17 Air features the smallest battery capacities among the new models, both for variants with and without a physical SIM option. To counterbalance the impact of a reduced battery size, Apple may need to innovate further, possibly incorporating advanced technologies. Previous discussions have revealed that the device will also integrate Apple’s custom C1 modem chip along with the A19 Pro chip, which is equipped with a 5-core GPU.

All iPhone 17 models are expected to be unveiled at tomorrow’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event, which will also showcase the latest Apple Watch and AirPods. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of this much-anticipated event.

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