The upcoming iPhone 17 Air could be the first Apple smartphone to use advanced silicon-anode batteries, with TDK reportedly set to begin shipments by the end of June. TDK CEO Noboru Saito confirmed in a recent interview that the company has accelerated its production timeline, potentially allowing smartphone makers to use the batteries in models launching this year.
TDK’s new batteries use silicon for anodes instead of graphite, allowing 15% more energy storage in the same space. This technology could be critical for the iPhone 17 Air, which is rumored to measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Battery life expectations for the iPhone 17 Air are mixed. Wayne Ma of The Information has suggested the device may have worse battery life than previous models, while Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims it will be on par with current iPhones due to hardware and software optimizations. Kuo also hinted at a “high-density” battery for the device, but did not provide details.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature a 6.6-inch display, a power-efficient C1 modem, and may lack an Ultra Wide camera, potentially freeing up internal space for a larger battery.
ETNews has reported that Apple could adopt even more advanced silicon battery technology for the 2027 iPhone, which may use pure silicon anodes capable of storing up to 10 times more lithium ions per gram than current materials. TDK’s fourth-generation silicon batteries are expected to arrive next fiscal year, according to Saito.