One of the likely challenges of the upcoming iPhone 17 Air is battery life.Indeed, Apple’s own tests reportedly show that a lot of us wouldn’t make it through the day with the ultra-slim model.The company may have a fix for that in the works, in the form of a new power-efficient display upgrade.
But Apple isn’t expected to incorporate the new tech before 2027 at the earliest … The iPhone 17 Air is set to be the slimmest iPhone Apple has ever made, but it’s going to come with some significant compromises, including just a single camera and reduced battery-life.The issue concerns Apple enough that it’s said to be planning the return of the Smart Battery Case for the model.There is a new form of OLED display tech that requires less power to operate, extending battery life.
Apple currently uses this in the Apple Watch Series 10, but the tech is tricky and expensive to scale up to larger screens.reports that Apple is in discussion with its display suppliers to determine whether or not to bring the new tech to the iPhone in 2027.The report speculates that cost considerations mean it may be brought only to one model, and the iPhone Air would be the logical contender.
The language is rather dense, so bears a little explanation.All current iPhones use a form of OLED known as LTPO TFT.Oxide is applied to some of the transistors, but not all, and that’s expected to remain the case this year and next.
If oxide is applied to the transistors, this will significantly reduce power consumption.However, doing that requires more complex manufacturing and hence is more expensive.iPhone displays are made by Samsung and LG, and both companies would have to upgrade their production lines to accommodate the move, so they need Apple to make a decision – which is expected to be made later this year.
Highlighted accessories
Anker 511 Nano Pro ultra-compact iPhone charger
Spigen MagFit case for iPhone 16e – adds MagSafe support
Apple MagSafe Charger with 25w power for iPhone 16 models
Apple 30W charger for above
Anker 240W braided USB-C to USB-C cable
You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel