Apple Finally Finds a Use for eSIM: Bigger Batteries in the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro
When Apple ditched physical SIM cards for eSIM with the iPhone 14 in the U.S., it felt like a tech flex gone wrong. In countries where eSIM support was shaky, Apple just shoved a chunk of plastic in the old SIM tray slot. No extra features, no cool upgrades, just a $1,000 phone with a piece of plastic taking up prime real estate. Talk about a design facepalm.
Fast forward to 2025, and Apple’s finally wised up. With the iPhone 17 series, particularly the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, that wasted space is being repurposed for something we’ve all been begging for: bigger batteries. No more plastic placeholders, Apple’s engineers are squeezing every millimeter of that SIM tray area to pack in more juice.
iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro: Smarter Space, Bigger Juice
Enter the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro. Apple’s engineers finally cracked the code, repurposing that dead SIM tray space for something we all crave: bigger batteries. By extending the battery design into the freed-up area, they’ve squeezed in higher-capacity cells without bulking up the phone’s sleek frame.
The Catch: Pros and Cons of the eSIM Battery Boost
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extended Battery Life: Up to 18% more capacity in the iPhone 17 Pro compared to its predecessor. | eSIM Hiccups: Not every country or carrier is eSIM-ready. In some regions, users may be stuck with the smaller battery SIM tray version. |
| Smarter Design: Apple uses the SIM tray space for batteries, giving more juice without making phones thicker. | Teardown Nightmares: Larger batteries in tighter spaces could make repairs harder, with extra adhesive adding to the challenge. |
| Global eSIM Push: The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be eSIM-only in more countries, streamlining production and boosting battery size. | Limited Gains for Some: The standard iPhone 17 only sees a modest battery bump, and it may not be tied to eSIM. |
| Security Bonus: eSIMs can’t be pulled out by thieves, making stolen phones harder to repurpose or track. |
Why This Matters: More Than Just Extra Scroll Time
Bigger batteries aren’t just for flexing on your friends during a Netflix marathon, this move is actually a big deal. With more mAh, you’re far less likely to hit that dreaded 20% warning during a late-night TikTok binge or while relying on GPS all day. Apple says the eSIM-only models are squeezing in up to 6.6% more capacity, which could mean finally making it through a full day without frantically hunting for a charger.
Plus, larger cells don’t have to work as hard, so they could slow down battery degradation and help your iPhone hold a solid charge even after a year or two of heavy use. The best part? All of this comes with no size sacrifice, with Apple keeping its sleek design, especially impressive on the ultra-thin iPhone Air, where every millimeter of space matters.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s finally turned the eSIM lemon into lemonade. What was once a pointless plastic placeholder is now powering longer Netflix binges, smoother gaming sessions, and fewer low-battery panic attacks. The iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro are proof that Apple can innovate when it wants to, even if it takes a few years to get there.
Will the battery boost live up to the hype? We’ll know once my teardowns drop.
See you in the next article!
