How The Galaxy S26 Edge Would possibly Keep away from The iPhone 17 Air’s Greatest Downside

The iPhone 17 sequence ought to characteristic Apple’s first-ever ultra-thin iPhone mannequin, a tool we have been calling the iPhone 17 Air. Leaks say the cellphone will measure simply 5.5 mm thick, which is even thinner than Samsung’s lately launched Galaxy S25 Edge (5.8 mm).

Apple will make a number of compromises to ship an ultra-thin iPhone 17 this yr. The listing contains reducing down to at least one digital camera lens on the again, eradicating the bodily SIM tray in favor of eSIM connectivity, and utilizing a a lot smaller battery pack contained in the iPhone 17 Air than in its siblings. None of those downsides are confirmed, however the latter appears sure. Most iPhone consumers enthusiastic about buying an ultra-thin handset are already nervous about battery life.

Current reviews from China point out the iPhone 17 Air will feature a 2,800 mAh battery, which is considerably smaller than the Galaxy S25 Edge’s 3,900 mAh battery. Apple ought to take steps to make sure the cellphone nonetheless gives respectable battery life. The Air will characteristic extra environment friendly parts than the iPhone 16 sequence, and Apple will use AI options in iOS 26 to restrict battery drain. We’ll have to attend for real-life checks to see how lengthy the iPhone 17 Air’s battery lasts, however battery worries are warranted for this manner issue.

Nevertheless, important battery upgrades is perhaps simply across the nook if a well known Samsung insider is to be believed. In keeping with @UniverseIce on X, the Galaxy S26 Edge may have a fair thinner profile and a brand new battery expertise.

“Confirmed: The Galaxy S26 Edge will probably be thinner than the S25 Edge and have a bigger battery due to new battery materials expertise,” @UniverseIce said on X. The leaker is usually correct about unreleased Samsung merchandise and usually gives particulars about Apple units earlier than the Cupertino-based large declares them. However even when he is proper, how will Samsung’s subsequent Edge-branded cellphone high the iPhone 17 Air? 

Confirmed:
The Galaxy S26 Edge will probably be thinner than the S25 Edge and have a bigger battery due to new battery materials expertise.

— PhoneArt (@UniverseIce) July 23, 2025

The iPhone 17 Air will hit shops in September, whereas the Galaxy S26 Edge will doubtless be introduced in January or February. No matter battery tech Samsung employs for the upcoming Edge mannequin, Apple will not be capable of make use of comparable parts for the iPhone 17 Air. However Apple will wish to enhance the battery lifetime of future iPhone Air fashions. Apple is predicted to proceed making them for a number of years. To not point out that reviews say Apple is aiming to fabricate slimmer merchandise, together with the foldable iPhone. Any battery tech improvements developed for the iPhone Air fashions would profit different Apple merchandise as properly.

There’s additionally the fierce rivalry between Apple and Samsung with regards to flagship telephones. Apple will certainly wish to match or exceed the talents of next-gen Galaxy S fashions, particularly with regards to battery life.

The Samsung leaker didn’t present extra particulars in regards to the Galaxy S26 Edge’s “new battery materials expertise.” However we do not have to look very far to determine what he may imply. A number of Chinese language smartphone distributors have been utilizing silicon-carbon batteries inside their flagship telephones for a number of years.

Honor is one instance, with the corporate having simply introduced the business’s first 6,100 mAh silicon-carbon battery that powers the 1TB ultra-thin Honor Magic V5. Comparatively, the Magic V5’s largest rival, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, contains a 4,400 mAh battery, an identical to the Fold 6’s battery. Each foldables are extremely skinny, measuring round 8.9 mm when folded.

The silicon-carbon batteries have greater power densities than conventional smartphone batteries, permitting distributors to shrink the battery packs with out compromising on battery life. There is not any affirmation that Samsung will make use of silicon-carbon batteries — it’d use a special innovation — however reviews claimed previously that each Samsung and Apple would give you new battery tech in response to improvements from China.

If Samsung can manufacture new batteries for the Galaxy S26 Edge on the scale it wants, Apple will most likely pursue comparable expertise. It is not nearly guaranteeing subsequent yr’s iPhone 18 Air will get higher battery life than this yr’s mannequin. Apple can also be anticipated to launch a foldable iPhone subsequent yr, which must be as skinny as Samsung’s Z Fold 7.

Apparently, @UniverseIce made one other battery-related declare on X. “It’s 100% confirmed that Samsung S26 Extremely will exceed the charging energy of 45W,” he stated. The leaker usually criticized Samsung for not matching Chinese language distributors on this regard. Growing the battery charging velocity is one other solution to take care of battery nervousness. Sooner-charging speeds might additionally profit ultra-thin telephones. Nevertheless, Apple has been much more reluctant than Samsung to embrace quicker charging speeds for the iPhone.