As the iPhone 17 is slated for release soon， recent leaks suggest a notable difference in battery capacity between the Chinese and US versions. This discrepancy could impact user experience and raise questions about Apple’s market-specific strategies.
According to details shared by netizens， the Chinese version of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is reported to have a battery capacity of 4823mAh， a significant reduction compared to its US counterpart， which boasts a capacity of 5088mAh. This difference in battery size is anticipated to translate into a longer battery life for the US model， potentially extending usage time from 33 hours to upwards of 35 hours.
Beyond the iPhone 17 Pro Max， the battery capacities for other iPhone 17 models are also reported to be smaller in the Chinese market. Specifically:
The iPhone 17 Pro Chinese version is expected to have a battery capacity of 3988mAh， whereas the US version is listed at 4252mAh.
The iPhone 17 Air is reported to feature a battery capacity of 3149mAh. However， it is rumored that its release in the Chinese market might be delayed， possibly due to considerations surrounding the elimination of physical SIM card slots.
The substantial difference in battery capacity between the two versions might be attributed to Apple’s design choices accommodating different technological standards. The US version， which has transitioned to eSIM technology and does not require a physical SIM card slot， can presumably allocate more internal space to a larger battery. In contrast， the Chinese version， which may still need to retain a physical SIM card slot to cater to local market preferences or regulations， faces constraints on battery space.
More importantly， despite potential improvements in battery capacity for the iPhone 17 series， it is anticipated that support for 20W fast charging might continue across all models. This could represent a comparative stagnation in charging technology， especially when juxtaposed with charging speeds offered by competitors in the market.
