Battery life is the new bragging right, and the latest iPhone 17 lineup delivers results that might surprise you. Tom's Guide just published comprehensive battery testing across all four new models, showing how Apple's ultra thin iPhone Air stacks up against the powerhouse Pro Max. The testing used continuous web browsing over 5G with each model set to 150 nits of display brightness (MacRumors), a simple loop that still mirrors everyday scrolling. The picture that emerges, Apple is balancing design ambition with power demands across very different priorities.
The raw numbers: how each model performed
So, how did they fare? The iPhone Air lasted 12 hours and 2 minutes on a full charge (MacRumors), and the standard iPhone 17 managed 12 hours and 47 minutes. Here is the twist, the Air is 29% thinner than the iPhone 17 (CNN) yet only trailed by 45 minutes in this demanding test.
The Pro models step it up. The iPhone 17 Pro hit 15 hours and 32 minutes (MacRumors), and the Pro Max dominated with 17 hours and 54 minutes. In this scenario, the iPhone 17 Pro Max lasted 48.5% longer than the ultra thin iPhone Air (MacRumors).
Look at the scaling across the lineup. Going from iPhone 17 to Pro nets a 22% gain, then Pro to Pro Max adds another 15%. That suggests Apple tuned each model for different usage intensities rather than just stuffing bigger batteries into bigger phones.
What about different usage scenarios?
Battery stories get messy in the real world, and that is where it gets interesting. Apple's video playback figures show the Pro Max offering up to 44.5% longer battery life than the Air (MacRumors). On paper, the Air hits up to 27 hours of video playback, the iPhone 17 reaches 30 hours, the Pro gets 33 hours, and the Pro Max tops out at 39 hours (MacRumors).
Change the task and the gap shrinks. In a separate YouTube streaming test over Wi Fi and cellular (9to5Mac), the iPhone 17 Air lasted 6 hours and 43 minutes, while the Pro Max hit 7 hours 58 minutes (9to5Mac). Only about a 19% difference.
Why the swing? Different activities stress the phones in different ways. Video streaming, especially YouTube, plays to the Air's A19 Pro chip strengths (9to5Mac), while nonstop 5G web browsing rewards the larger batteries and beefier thermal management of the Pro models.
The Air's engineering reality check
Bottom line on the iPhone Air, it is a masterclass in optimization, even if results shift by task. The Air carries the smallest battery because of its razor thin 0.22 inch enclosure (9to5Mac), yet it still delivers competitive endurance in plenty of everyday situations.
In daily testing, some reviewers saw the Air tapping out by dinner time (9to5Mac). Context matters. The Air reached about 11 hours during mixed use (CNN), and a looping 4K video test ran 13 hours and 29 minutes. If your routine leans on streaming, social feeds, and lighter tasks, that envelope fits.
Crucially, Apple did not just shrink a battery and cross fingers. The Air's A19 Pro chip is tuned for day to day efficiency (9to5Mac), especially video and common app workloads. In those lanes, the Air punches above its weight.
Pro Max: the battery performance champion
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has earned serious industry recognition, with CNET calling it "the best battery life of any phone that CNET has ever tested." That is not just a slogan. The numbers back it up across multiple tests.
The Pro Max goes long. Full day heavy usage often leaves 22% or more in the tank (CNET). In CNET's 45 minute endurance run, it dropped only 1%, the best they have recorded (CNET). It also ties the Motorola Razr (2024) in CNET's 3 hour video streaming battery test (CNET), proof that the lead holds up outside Apple centric tasks.
What makes that possible is smart thermal design. The Pro Max uses a vapor cooling chamber to avoid overheating (CNET), which lets it sustain performance without throttling. Cooler chips stay efficient longer, and the battery does not have to feed a struggling system.
The strategic implications: different phones for different users
These tests point to a clear segmentation strategy. Pro Max is for power users who need reliable all day stamina under any workload. The Air is for people who value design elegance and portability, and who are fine with some tradeoffs under heavier use.
Charging tells the same story. The iPhone 17 Pro Max reaches 35% in 15 minutes and 64% in 30 minutes with Apple's new 40W charger (Tom's Guide). If you can plug in briefly between meetings or while making coffee, rapid charging takes the sting out of big batteries.
One more wrinkle. These Pro Max results came without the new Adaptive Power feature enabled, which needs about a week to learn your patterns (CNET). In other words, the baseline may get even better as the software settles in.
PRO TIP: If you are considering the Air, think about your charging habits. If you routinely top up during the day, the Air will feel perfectly fine. If you need true sunup to bedtime endurance, lean toward the Pro models.
It really comes down to lifestyle. The Air's 0.22 inch profile makes a bold design statement and suits moderate, well optimized use. The Pro Max offers industry leading stamina that swallows any workload. Both work because Apple built distinct experiences instead of stretching one phone to three sizes.
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