iPhone 17 Air’s rumored accessory could be exactly what new model needs

iPhone 17 Air is a brand new model expected to debut this fall, with Apple prioritizing form over function. The ultra-thin, futuristic design will come with some compromises, but one rumored new accessory could solve my biggest concern: battery life.

Apple planning special battery case for iPhone 17 Air, per report

Numerous hands-on videos and photos have emerged in the last few months of iPhone 17 Air dummy models. And reactions seem extremely positive. For example, Unbox Therapy said, “That feels futuristic” upon picking it up. They also believed shoppers wouldn’t want any other model after holding the 17 Air.

Apple seems to believe otherwise, as supply chain leaks indicate the company still expects its iPhone 17 Pro models to sell better.

One key reason for this is undoubtedly battery life.

iPhone 17 Air’s ultra-thin 5.6mm design is expected to result in battery life that’s noticeably worse than Apple’s other models.

But the company has a solution that involves reviving an old accessory concept.

Per Wayne Ma at The Information:

Apple is developing an optional accessory—a phone case meant for the thin model that also contains a battery pack

My initial reaction to this report was fairly negative. Why buy an ultra-thin iPhone only to put it in an extra bulky case?

And if anyone does keep the 17 Air inside Apple’s new battery case accessory 24/7, I’d highly recommend buying an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max instead.

But as I’ve thought about it more, this accessory could be a true asset for users—when used for special occasions.

Battery case should be perfect for special occasions, not daily use

I plan to buy an iPhone 17 Air this year instead of my usual Pro model. For the most part, I don’t expect battery to be an issue for me because I normally end the day with about 40% battery on my iPhone 16 Pro.

However, there are certain heavy-use days when this battery case will be essential.

On travel days, my battery needs are a lot more significant. Only with the iPhone 16 Pro did I find the battery finally sufficient for those demanding days.

Similarly, any time I’m on vacation:

• I take a lot of photos and videos
• my display brightness has to be higher because I’m outdoors more
• and most of the time I’m not connected to Wi-Fi

All of these factors mean the iPhone 17 Air’s battery almost certainly won’t be good enough for me when on vacation.

But Apple has the solution: I can throw the 17 Air into its battery case on those special occasions.

Adding the extra bulk of the case to my 17 Air every day would make no sense. But doing so for those rare times when I know my iPhone use will be high?

The new battery case should be perfect for that.

What do you think of Apple developing a battery case for the iPhone 17 Air? Let us know in the comments.

Best iPhone accessories

• AirPods Pro 2 (now only $169, down from $249)
• MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
• HomeKit smart plug 4-pack
• 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack
• 100W USB-C fast charging power adapter