A new leak suggests the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max could feature the largest battery ever in an iPhone, with a capacity close to 5,000mAh. If true, this would be a significant jump from the 4,676mAh battery in the current iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The report comes from Weibo user Instant Digital, who has a mixed but occasionally accurate track record in leaking Apple-related information. The user claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be slightly thicker than its predecessor—8.725mm compared to 8.25mm—allowing room for a larger battery.
Battery life has remained a top priority for iPhone users, and even a small increase in battery size can make a difference. Analysts at 9to5Mac estimate this could mean nearly a 10% increase in battery capacity, although they caution that capacity doesn’t directly translate into longer battery life due to varying power demands from new features.
MacRumors points out that Apple has steadily improved battery life in its Pro Max models. The iPhone 16 Pro Max offers up to 33 hours of usage, compared to 29 hours on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. With an extra 300mAh, the iPhone 17 Pro Max might reach or exceed 35 hours of battery life.
However, Apple Insider notes that new features—such as rumored vapor chamber cooling and other hardware changes—could offset some of the gains from the larger battery.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 lineup in September 2025.
