What mistake did Apple make with the iPhone Air?

This isn’t much of a surprise, especially since the iPhone Air has the lowest battery capacity of the newly launched iPhone 17 series. However, analysts say Apple could have avoided criticism of the iPhone Air’s poor battery if it had opted for a silicon-carbon battery from the start.

Apple could have created the perfect iPhone if it had chosen silicon-carbon battery technology

PHOTO: CNN

Despite their structure consisting of a lithium oxide cathode and a graphite anode, traditional lithium-ion batteries have become obsolete. Meanwhile, silicon-carbon (Si-C) batteries can store 10 times more lithium ions, significantly increasing battery capacity.

However, Si-C batteries also suffer from swelling due to the expansion of the anode. The solution to this problem is to add anti-fracture carbon nanostructures to the silicon. Many Chinese smartphone brands such as Xiaomi, HONOR and Tecno have adopted this technology, producing thin and light products with impressive battery capacity.

The iPhone Air is paying the price for Apple's trade-offs

For example, the HONOR Magic V3 is only 9.2 mm thick when folded and 4.35 mm when opened, while the Tecno Pova Slim 5G is only 5.95 mm thick. Compared to the iPhone Air, which is 5.6 mm thick and has a 3,149 mAh battery capacity, the Tecno Pova Slim 5G has a distinct advantage with its 5,160 mAh Si-C battery.

iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air: First complaints

If Apple chooses to pair the iPhone Air with a Si-C battery with a capacity of around 5,000 mAh, it could be a huge success, especially since the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a battery capacity of 5,088 mAh. However, Apple has reason to hesitate: despite its anti-fracture nanostructure, Si-C batteries can still expand by up to 20% when fully charged, which affects the battery life of the device.

Ultimately, Apple had to choose between making a super-thin iPhone with lots of features but limited battery capacity, or a product with limited functions but more durability. The iPhone Air's declining sales may be a testament to the company's poor decision in this case.