# eSIM-Only iPhone 17 Models and Battery Capacity
Starting in 2025, Apple released the iPhone 17 series which includes eSIM-only models that do not have a physical SIM card slot. This design change has a significant effect on the battery capacity of these devices.
Physical SIM Slot Removal and Space Savings
Removing the physical SIM card tray has freed up internal space inside the iPhone 17's chassis. Previously, the SIM card slot housing took space that could not be used for other components. By eliminating this slot in eSIM-only models, Apple gains more room to fit larger battery cells inside the phone.Battery Capacity Increases in eSIM-Only Models
According to Chinese battery certification disclosures and teardown analyses:- The iPhone 17 Pro eSIM-only model has about 6.6% to 18.6% larger battery capacity than the SIM tray version, with capacities of approximately 4,252 mAh for eSIM-only vs. 3,988 mAh with a SIM slot.
- The iPhone 17 Pro Max eSIM-only model features about 5.5% to 8.6% larger capacity, with around 5,088 mAh vs. 4,823 mAh.
- The iPhone 17 Air eSIM-only model increases battery size by about 3.7% (3,149 mAh vs. 3,036 mAh in SIM tray versions).
- The standard iPhone 17 base model appears to have minimal or no battery capacity difference between eSIM-only and SIM variants, with a capacity near 3,692 mAh.
Regional Availability of eSIM-Only Models
In the United States, for example, all iPhone 17 models are sold as eSIM-only by default, enabling these larger batteries. In contrast, many international markets such as Europe, China, and Australia currently only offer iPhone 17 variants with a physical SIM card slot, resulting in slightly smaller batteries and reduced battery life relative to the US eSIM-only models.Impact on Battery Life
The increased battery capacity from removing the physical SIM slot translates into longer battery runtimes. Apple estimates eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro models provide approximately two more hours of streaming video playback compared to their SIM-tray counterparts.For example:
- The iPhone 17 Pro with a physical SIM slot offers around 28 hours of streaming video playback, while the eSIM-only model achieves up to 30 hours.
- The iPhone 17 Pro Max shows a similar performance gap: about 33 hours with SIM tray vs. 35 hours streaming video with eSIM-only.
Even though the capacity increase is around 5% to 7%, the efficiency gains translate into a meaningful extension of daily usage, particularly for power users.
Other Internal Design Changes
Along with the bigger battery capacities in eSIM-only models, the iPhone 17 series incorporates other advancements:- A new vapor chamber cooling system improves heat dissipation.
- The addition of the Apple-designed N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity.
- Larger rear camera lenses are included, which may influence internal space and power requirements.
Summary
The shift to eSIM-only iPhone 17 models allows Apple to optimize internal space previously reserved for the SIM card tray and associated components. This redesign enables larger battery cells in the iPhone 17 Air, Pro, and Pro Max models, providing up to about 5-7% (and for some models even close to 18% in specific cases) more battery capacity compared to SIM-tray models. Consequently, users enjoy longer battery life by an estimated margin of up to two extra hours for video playback. However, availability of eSIM-only models varies by region, affecting which users can access these battery gains.The small increase in battery physical size represents a direct benefit from modernizing the SIM technology and removing the need for physical trays, which also streamlines device aesthetics and potentially durability. This design change marks a notable evolution in iPhone hardware starting with the 2025 iPhone 17 series.