Apple’s ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air could adopt new silicon-anode technology that packs 15% more energy than conventional rechargeable batteries.
Apple is predicted to release a new iPhone model this year, dubbed by the press “iPhone 17 Air,” that should be just 5.5 mm thin. In comparison, the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.25 mm deep, while regular models measure around 7.8mm thick.
The Information recently alleged that the 6.6-inch device will have “worse” battery life than other models due to its ultra-thin case. However, a new supply chain report claims that Apple will switch battery chemistry for fifteen percent more energy in the same space compared to existing lithium-ion batteries powering current iPhones.
iPhone 17 Air may adopt silicon battery technology
According to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, Japanese supplier TDK will start shipping its new silicon-anode batteries to clients by the end of June instead of the original September quarter timeline. “TDK Corp. is readying a new generation of batteries to power smartphones through AI tasks at a time that major client Apple is also preparing to launch a slimmer handset,” the report reads.
Instead of graphite, commonly used in batteries, silicon-anode technology enables a battery to pack fifteen percent more energy into the same physical space. That’s because silicon holds up to ten times more lithium ions per gram than graphite.
TDK’s chief executive Noboru Saito said in a recent interview, “We’ve made good progress, and we’re shipping them very soon,” adding that “some handset makers might be able to use the new battery in their product one generation early.”
If Apple is ready to use silicon-anode batteries in the iPhone 17 Air, then this would send a strong signal across the industry that the technology is ready for widespread adoption. The company will likely try this technology first on the iPhone 17 Air before it eventually trickles down to other models.
TDK is already working on its fourth-generation silicon batteries, according to the company’s CEO. “We plan to introduce fourth-generation silicon batteries sometime in the next fiscal year to widen our lead even further.”
He said that mass-producing these things “requires special know-how,” explaining that “It’s not like you can do it by just putting the materials together.”
iPhone 17 Air battery life
A combination of new battery chemistry, a more power efficient Apple chip built on a 2nm process, Apple’s power-sipping C1 cellular modem and other hardware and software optimizations could make battery life of the iPhone 17 Pro “on par with current iPhones,” according to Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg.
Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote on Medium recently that the iPhone 17 Air and the upcoming foldable iPhone will both use “high-density battery cells.” ETNews hinted that the 20th anniversary iPhone releasing in 2027 could also adopt next-generation battery technology based on pure silicon anodes.