Now that the first media embargo has lifted on the iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air, we have what are some of the first results of battery life tests comparing iPhone 17 versus iPhone 16 and more, including the new super-thing iPhone Air.
The tests were performed by The Tech Chap and included in his initial iPhone Air review video (he has the full battery life test video coming, but already shared the results).
After a 10-hour YouTube streaming test, Apple’s latest iPhones showed some interesting results:
To push things further, all phones were recharged to 100% and then played the demanding game War Thunder (using MagStyle settings) for an hour. The standings shifted slightly:
In a full drain test that mixed Wi-Fi, eSIM, gaming, and regular apps, the iPhone Air did come last, but not by much compared to the iPhone 17. The big surprise was the 17 Pro lasting longer than last year’s 16 Pro Max, finishing with around 10% more battery when the 16 Pro Max finally died.
Here are the final overall battery life results (using a brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max):
Apple’s new C1X modem, used only in the Air, is meant to help with efficiency, though it’s still early days. iOS 26 also introduces Adaptive Power Mode, which learns your habits to squeeze more life out of the battery, but that’s tougher to measure in short tests.
Now, The Tech Chap points out this is just one iPhone 17 series battery test and his results may differ from others that are forthcoming. But he says brightness, apps, SIM cards, and other settings all change the eventual outcome.
So what’s the takeaway? The iPhone 17 line shows clear efficiency gains over the 16, and even the lowest performer—the Air—still kept fairly close to the rest.
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. Want to keep this site truly independent? Support us by buying us a beer, treating us to a coffee, or shopping through Amazon here. Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent Canadian media!
