Apple’s anticipated iPhone 17 Pro Max continues to create excitement with leaks. As per the rumors, it is set to feature the largest battery in an iPhone yet. As anticipation builds ahead of the expected September launch, new information from a known leaker suggests that Apple is attempting to incorporate longer battery life and minor design changes to better cater to user expectations.
A Huge Leap in Battery Capacity
One of the recent leaks from “Instant Digital” on Weibo suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will house a battery size of roughly 5,000mAh. That represents a significant leap from the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 4,676mAh battery, nearly a 7% increase. This is the biggest yearly increment in Pro Max battery size from one generation to the next in a while.
Growth in Pro Max Battery Capacities
| Model | Battery Capacity (mAh) |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 3,687 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 4,352 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 4,323 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 4,676 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max* | ~5,000 |
*Leaked, not official
What Does It Mean For Battery Life?
Apple claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a maximum of up to 33 hours of battery life, an improvement over 29 hours on the iPhone 14 Pro Max and 28 hours on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. By comparison, the iPhone 12 Pro Max had only 20 hours.
Looking at the reported 5000 mAh battery in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, early estimates suggest that users could potentially see up to 35 hours of battery life if the usage and the efficiency of the new software can support it.
It is worth mentioning that just because there is a bigger battery does not always mean there is a longer battery life. Realistically, what matters is how efficient the new A19 Pro chip and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem are, plus the performance level of iOS. The new rumored vapor chamber cooling, as well as the other hardware upgrades, will also play a part in understanding the charge life of the iPhone.
Slight but Significant Design Changes
Apple is making the iPhone 17 Pro Max just a bit thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (8.725mm vs 8.25mm) to make room for the bigger battery. That is a less than half a millimeter change, which is probably too small to be noticeable on a day-to-day basis for most people. This small change is just enough to give Apple the space for the larger battery and potentially new internal parts.
At the same time, it shows that Apple is starting to make some small design changes to provide users with what they really want, which is battery life. Apple may accept a slightly thicker phone, but only when it offers significantly better battery life.
How Honest is the Leak?
While “Instant Digital” has not always been correct, they have provided a correct prediction of certain details of Apple products in the past. These include the yellow iPhone 14, frosted back glass on the iPhone 15, and battery sizes on the iPhone 16 Pro series. Thus, the predictability of the past gives some credibility to their currently proposed changes, yet it is important to remember that final details may change before an official announcement.
In sum, if the rumors are true, with the 5,000mAh battery in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple would be taking a huge step to fill the most frequent requests of its users. This next Pro Max could well mean the longest battery life in an iPhone while balancing added features and useful advancements. As Apple prepares for the launch of the next flagship iPhone, its focus on battery life and considered design advances may well set a new standard for premium smartphones.
