iphone battery test image

iPhone 17 Series Battery Test: Which Model Lasts the Longest?

Apple’s new iPhone 17 series is here, and one of the most important questions for buyers is: how’s the battery life?  You start your day navigating through heavy traffic using maps on your phone, stream a podcast during your train ride, and by the end of a packed day, your screen still has about 15% of battery left. Sounds promising, right? With four new models, the iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, Apple promises better efficiency across the board. To see which one lasts the longest, we put them through a detailed battery test and compared them to last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, known for its excellent endurance.

Test Setup

To keep things fair, all phones were:

  • Brand new with 100% battery health
  • Running iOS 26 (stable release)
  • Restarted with no background apps
  • Set to the same brightness levels.
  • Connected with an eSIM-enabled
  • Tested under both Wi-Fi and mobile data

Each test cycle included YouTube streaming, gaming like PUBG mobile, social apps like Instagram and TikTok, and 4K video recording. The display refresh rate stayed at 120Hz ProMotion for realistic usage.

Heat Management

During heavy gaming, the iPhone Air heated up fastest, especially around the processor. The iPhone 17 also became hotter after prolonged play. The Pro and Pro Max handled heat better with their vapor chamber cooling system, keeping performance stable.

eSIM vs SIM Models

Not all iPhones are built the same when it comes to SIM slots. In regions like the US, Canada, Japan, and parts of the Middle East, the iPhone 17 series is eSIM-only, while in Europe and most other regions, you still get a physical SIM slot plus eSIM support.

Here’s the catch: Apple confirmed that eSIM-only models offer up to 2 extra hours of battery life (based on video playback tests). So if you’re buying in an eSIM-only market, expect slightly better endurance. The iPhone Air, however, is eSIM-only worldwide.

Battery Test Results

Now, let’s get to the numbers:

  1. iPhone Air lasted 6 hours and 58 minutes before shutting down. It comes equipped with a 3149mAh battery, offering decent performance for its size and features.
  2. iPhone 17 – Lasted about 98 minutes longer than the Air, showing a slight improvement.
  3. iPhone 16 Pro Max (2024) – Surprisingly, it died before the new 17 Pro, which is a huge leap for Apple’s smaller Pro model.
  4. iPhone 17 Pro – Outlasted last year’s Pro Max despite being smaller, proving Apple has made real efficiency gains.
  5. iPhone 17 Pro Max is the clear winner, finishing the test with around 9–10% battery left, providing approximately 1–2 extra hours of daily use for a total of 12 hours and 34 minutes. This impressive result showcases the “better efficiency across the board” promise that Apple made with this new series, offering the most substantial endurance improvement compared to its predecessors. The iPhone 17 Pro Max truly stands out as the champion if lasting battery life is your priority.

Final Thoughts

  • The iPhone Air is the weakest performer, but it can still get you through a normal day.
  • The iPhone 17 stands out as the best value model, with solid performance, a bigger battery than last year, and decent endurance.
  • The iPhone 17 Pro is a major upgrade over previous Pro models in terms of battery.
  • The iPhone 17 Pro Max remains unbeatable, easily the battery life champion of the lineup.

Overall, Apple has delivered big improvements with the iPhone 17 series, especially for the Pro models. If you want the best endurance, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the clear choice. If you want a balance of value, features, and solid all-day battery life, the iPhone 17 might be the sweet spot.

Related Posts