Apple iPhone 17 Air Leak: Thinner Than Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, But With A Smaller Battery

A fresh leak from Apple’s supply chain has sparked debate over the tech giant’s priorities for its upcoming iPhone 17 Air — thinner design, lighter weight, but noticeably less battery. With Samsung recently unveiling its Galaxy S25 Edge, the comparisons are inevitable. And if the leaked numbers are accurate, Apple might be going all in on slimness, even at the cost of power.

Slimmer Than Samsung?

Samsung just announced the Galaxy S25 Edge with a sleek 5.8mm thickness, already impressively thin by modern smartphone standards. But Apple might one-up its rival by going even slimmer — the iPhone 17 Air is reportedly coming in at just 5.5mm.

That would make it one of the thinnest smartphones on the market, possibly the thinnest ever from Apple. In terms of weight, the difference is also striking. The iPhone 17 Air is said to weigh only 145 grams, undercutting the Galaxy S25 Edge despite similar screen dimensions.

Battery Battle: iPhone Trails in Capacity

Where Apple may fall behind is battery capacity. According to the same leak, the iPhone 17 Air will house a 2,800 mAh battery, significantly less than the 3,900 mAh unit inside Samsung’s S25 Edge. That’s a considerable 1,100 mAh difference, which could translate to shorter usage times unless Apple has a trick up its sleeve.

However, there’s speculation that Apple is planning to use high-density battery tech to bridge the gap. If implemented successfully, it could increase effective capacity by 15-20%, possibly making up for the smaller battery without compromising on form factor.

Theories and Fixes: What’s Apple Thinking?

The internet isn’t short on theories. One circulating claim suggests Apple may be deliberately limiting battery size to boost battery case sales, a tactic some users suspect isn’t entirely new.

At the same time, a separate report paints a more hopeful picture. It claims Apple is working on an AI-driven battery optimisation system that could extend battery life through smarter resource management.

As one source put it, “Apple might be betting on software and hardware synergy to offset the physical limitations.”

While Samsung appears to offer a more balanced package of slimness and battery life, Apple seems to be doubling down on design minimalism and technological innovation. Whether users will embrace a sleeker iPhone with less juice or demand more battery muscle remains the big question as launch season approaches.

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