Apple's new iPhone Air could make battery capacity figures irrelevant.

The battery's capacity has long been considered the primary indicator of a phone's battery life. However, with the release of the iPhone Air, it may be time to reconsider how we evaluate smartphone batteries.

Looking at the figures, the iPhone Air's battery is smaller than expected. Here's a comparison of battery capacities:

Model Battery capacity

iPhone Air 3,149 mAh

iPhone 16 Pro 3,582 mAh

iPhone 16 3,561 mAh

iPhone 17 3,692 mAh

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 3,900 mAh

The iPhone Air's battery capacity lags behind other recent Apple phones and Android flagships like the Galaxy S25 Edge. It's closest to the iPhone 13, which had a 3,227 mAh battery. Yet, this is only part of the story.

Despite its seemingly small size, Apple estimates the iPhone Air can achieve up to 27 hours of video playback. The following is how it compares to other iPhone models based on Apple's estimates:

Model Video Playback

iPhone Air 27 hours

iPhone 16 Pro 27 hours

iPhone 16 22 hours

iPhone 17 30 hours

While less than other new models, the iPhone Air matches the iPhone 16 Pro in video playback time. This could be attributed to the A19 Pro chip's video decoding efficiency.

However, Apple provides limited battery life information beyond video playback. The company highlighted iOS 26’s Adaptive Power Mode during the iPhone Air announcement, suggesting it relies heavily on this feature.

Furthermore, the new MagSafe Battery Pack is exclusively designed for the Air, raising questions. Note that these are speculations based on Apple's estimates and marketing.

It seems battery capacity is becoming less relevant.

The Galaxy S25 Edge has a 3,900 mAh battery that performs better than expected. Samsung is expected to continue using a 5,000 mAh battery for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, marking the seventh consecutive model with that capacity.

Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers are emphasizing large battery capacities. The OnePlus 13 has a 6,000 mAh battery, and the OnePlus 15 may have 7,000 mAh. The vivo X300 Ultra could feature a 6,000 mAh battery, while the Xiaomi 16 is rumored to have a 6,800 mAh battery.

Model Battery capacity

iPhone Air 3,149 mAh

iPhone 16 Pro 3,582 mAh

iPhone 16 3,561 mAh

iPhone 17 3,692 mAh

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 3,900 mAh

Model Video Playback

iPhone Air 27 hours

iPhone 16 Pro 27 hours

iPhone 16 22 hours

iPhone 17 30 hours

The question is whether these devices will offer significantly longer battery life than leading Galaxy, iPhone, or Pixel phones. To date, most high-end smartphones provide similar battery performance regardless of capacity.

It's too soon to draw conclusions about the iPhone Air's actual battery life. Upon release, real-world battery tests will provide more accurate data.

Ultimately, we may be entering a new phase for smartphone batteries. Efficiency and optimization could become more crucial than sheer capacity.