Tom’s Guide put the various models through their paces with a continuous 5G web browsing test, and the results are a bit grim for the ultra-thin iPhone Air.
Clocking in at just 12 hours and 2 minutes, the iPhone Air was easily outclassed by the rest of the lineup. The base model iPhone 17 lasted 12 hours and 47 minutes, the Pro held on for 15 hours and 32 minutes, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max went full tank commander with 17 hours and 54 minutes. That gives it about 48 per cent more stamina than the wafer-thin Air.
To put that in some context, the Air matches several Android mid‑range phones in real world cases. However, all Apple's phones have their clocks cleaned by the Pixel 10 Pro which goes for “24‑30 hours.”
But the Air really was rubbish. Tom’s Guide ran the test at 150 nits brightness across all models to level the playing field. It would appear the iPhone Air’s thin chassis didn't leave room for a decent battery, while the chonkier Pro Max has space for one that lasts all day.
Video playback tests weren’t much kinder either. Cupertino reckons the iPhone Air will manage 27 hours offline, compared to 30 for the standard model, 33 for the Pro and a beefy 39 for the Pro Max. These estimates more or less match up with Tom’s Guide’s figures, but just tell us that if you don't want to keep recharging your phone, you should not switch it on.
Tom’s Guide said, “The iPhone 17 Pro Max lasting for one and a half times longer than the iPhone Air” in the controlled test." Tom's was keen to point out that the Air sacrificed practicality for design and was “built to be ultra-portable and slim, which naturally limits the size of its battery.”
For the casual user, the iPhone Air might just about last a day, assuming you’re not binge-watching Netflix or hammering Candy Crush. But anyone who relies on their phone for more than cat memes and messages might want to look at the Pro Max, or even splash out and buy a proper, cheaper phone instead.
Failing that, Job’s Mob will happily flog you a MagSafe battery pack with the same miserable 12.26Wh cell. Just don’t expect it to charge the phone past 65 per cent.