Apple’s newly launched iPhone Air is drawing attention for its ultra-thin 5.6 mm design and powerful A19 Pro chipset, but questions about its battery life are already casting a shadow over the excitement. While Apple claims the device can last a full day on a single charge, skepticism has surfaced among industry insiders and users alike. The company itself has indirectly acknowledged the issue by unveiling a brand-new MagSafe battery pack, designed specifically for the iPhone Air.
The move brings back memories of the iPhone 12 Mini and the original MagSafe battery pack introduced in 2021, which many believed was created to compensate for the Mini’s weak endurance. This time, Apple is doubling down, offering a slimmer, redesigned MagSafe accessory priced at $99 that promises up to 65% more battery life for the Air. With a 3,149 mAh capacity, it packs more than double the power of the discontinued original MagSafe pack.
Despite the improvement, early reviews suggest the new battery accessory does not fit the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 series, clearly signaling its exclusive purpose for the iPhone Air. When attached, the pack effectively doubles the Air’s thickness, transforming the sleek device into an 11 mm phone and pushing the overall cost to roughly $1,100—on par with the iPhone 17 Pro. This raises the question of whether the trade-off for thinness is worth it.
According to Apple’s official figures, pairing the iPhone Air with the MagSafe battery provides up to 40 hours of video playback, putting it in line with the endurance of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, without the pack, the Air’s modest 3,149 mAh cell leaves it trailing behind larger models in Apple’s lineup. For many, this makes the MagSafe battery more of a necessity than an optional accessory.
The iPhone Air undoubtedly impresses with its engineering and aesthetics, but practicality is another story. By needing an external battery to compete with Pro-level endurance, the device risks becoming a proof of concept rather than a mass-market hit. Apple may have created the thinnest iPhone ever, but whether consumers embrace it—or dismiss it as an impractical luxury—remains to be seen.
