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iPhone 17 Teardowns Confirm SIM and eSIM-Only Battery Capacities

YouTube channel REWA Technology today shared an iPhone 17 Pro teardown video, offering a closer look inside the model with a SIM card tray.

iphone 17 pro inside
We are still waiting for repair website iFixit to share a more comprehensive teardown of the latest iPhone models, but this video provides a good look in the meantime.

The device features various internal design changes, including larger rear camera lenses. There is a new vapor chamber cooling system for improved heat dissipation. There is also an Apple-designed N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Watch on YouTube

Based on a combination of teardown videos published online, and Apple's energy labels in the EU, we have now confirmed most of the SIM and eSIM-only battery capacities across the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air lineup.

Model SIM Card eSIM-Only YoY Increase (eSIM-Only)
iPhone 17 TBD 3,692 mAh +3.7%
iPhone Air — 3,149 mAh —
iPhone 17 Pro 3,988 mAh 4,252 mAh +18.7%
iPhone 17 Pro Max 4,823 mAh 5,088 mAh +8.6%

Here are the battery capacities for all iPhone 16 models:

Model SIM Card and eSIM-Only
iPhone 16 3,561 mAh
iPhone 16 Plus 4,674 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro 3,582 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro Max 4,685 mAh

All of the iPhone 14 through iPhone 16 models lack a SIM card tray in the U.S., but Apple had simply put a piece of plastic where the tray used to be inside those devices. Starting with the iPhone 17 series, eSIM-only models sold worldwide have a larger battery that fills the space formerly occupied by either the SIM card tray or the plastic piece.

All of the iPhone 17 models are eSIM-only in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and select other countries.

Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone Air
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Top Rated Comments

nateo200 Avatar
14 months ago

Right here dude!

I'm an American who occasionally goes off to places with no eSIM support. Less than 2 years ago I went to the Cook Islands in the South Pacific and my iPhone 14 Pro Max absolutely would not work with their Vodafone eSIM.

If I hadn't brought my iPhone SE 2020 for backup (with a physical SIM tray) I would've been without Internet for 2 ½ weeks. The problem is that the iPhone SE is tiny and it has absolutely dreadful battery life - drains in less than a day. I can put it into Airplane Mode and lower the brightness all the way and it still drains out. I should have the right to buy a regular-size iPhone with a physical SIM tray.
People think this never happens but it does. I would 100% give up a tiny bit of battery life for a physical SIM slot and an eSIM. The eSIM only model is just missing a feature in my view.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
makeitrainnaren Avatar
14 months ago

Where are the eSIM haters now?
they had a reason to be mad though, there was literally a plastic block where the sim slot should have been. I still regret trading in my 13P cause I should have held on to it.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
14 months ago
Being a UK citizen I've only used an eSIM since it was first available on the iPhone, so around 7 years, not to mention every carrier here now supports eSIM so it really pisses me off that I'm forced to by a SIM tray version with 5% less battery life when I haven't used that slot in years. I want the extra battery life, not a waste of space SIM slot, really frustrating.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
14 months ago
Small battery increase not enough to cover the loss in flexibility in losing the SIM slot for me
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
14 months ago
I have to be honest, I bought my iPhone 13 because I was an eSIM hater and wanted the physical slot.

I have done a 180, it is so easy to download and manage esims for multiple carriers without having to fuss with a physical SIM card. A bigger battery is even more of a plus
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
racerhomie Avatar
14 months ago
Where are the eSIM haters now?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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