The whole reason I like the air so much as I can put it in my pocket without it knowing it’s there, if I have an add on a big battery on it all the time. I should’ve just gotten the pro Max or am I missing something?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone Air AIR… doesn’t the MagSafe battery made for the Air, kind of defeat the purpose of the Air.
- Thread starter jsmith1
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think you’re missing that the battery is optional. The Air has the same battery life as the 16 Pro.
Were people carrying extra power banks on them when they had a 15 Pro and 16 Pro?
Were people carrying extra power banks on them when they had a 15 Pro and 16 Pro?
Last edited:
The battery is for those people who...
1) Want the form factor despite heavy use and don't want to be looking for an outlet
2) Not a heavy user but, may be not be able to charge via an outlet due to location or current activity.
3) Emergency backup use for when the power goes out
I bought the battery mainly for emergency use. I keep it in my work bag and should I need it while away from home, I have it. I like to be prepared for life as best I can be.
1) Want the form factor despite heavy use and don't want to be looking for an outlet
2) Not a heavy user but, may be not be able to charge via an outlet due to location or current activity.
3) Emergency backup use for when the power goes out
I bought the battery mainly for emergency use. I keep it in my work bag and should I need it while away from home, I have it. I like to be prepared for life as best I can be.
The battery is perfect for somebody like me. I had the Motorola z force 2 and its external battery. I’d use the phone normally unless I was heading to the city for the weekend and was out of the hotel for the day. Then I’d take the battery pack with me. Now that I’m older and do more at home, it works out if I’m working outside with the phone in my pocket and want to keep it topped off until I go back inside for the remainder of the day. Sometimes I’m out on the mower for 4 hours at a time. I’d just put the air and battery in the pocket for music and let it drain the battery pack. Sometimes I’m hunting all day. Sometimes I’m cutting down trees. Endless work around here.
I love the form factor of the air as it reminds me so much of the z force 2. I liked the phone a lot and actually still have it. It’s not often that I’ve come across a phone that really grabs my attention like the air does and I’ve owned way more phones than most people could imagine.
I love the form factor of the air as it reminds me so much of the z force 2. I liked the phone a lot and actually still have it. It’s not often that I’ve come across a phone that really grabs my attention like the air does and I’ve owned way more phones than most people could imagine.
Why do you think you need the battery on it all the time?
Think once a day say around 4 PM to allow you to go until late in the evening before putting on charge at bed time. This gives you freedom to not be looking for a place to charge while out for an extended day. For every day use it may not even been needed if you don't want it.
Dave
You’re positioning the battery as a requirement, when it’s always been optional. It’s a good option to have when it might be beneficial, like a long road trip, etc.
It’s funny because so many people have power banks they use to charge things on the go but want to look at this optional battery through a different lens.
I’m actually using a MagSafe wallet on the back of my Air, and then I’ll probably toss the battery on around the house to charge up before I leave, if needed.
It’s funny because so many people have power banks they use to charge things on the go but want to look at this optional battery through a different lens.
I’m actually using a MagSafe wallet on the back of my Air, and then I’ll probably toss the battery on around the house to charge up before I leave, if needed.
You’re missing you don’t have to put the big battery on it all the time.
If your usage is such that you do need to have the battery attached “all the time”, then yes, you probably should have gotten the pro max.
I took the phone off the charger at 6:30am and was out most of the day, used the phone normally for me and haven’t touched a charger. It’s now 10pm, I’m going to bed, and I literally just hit 20%.
The one or two days a month I think I’ll need the battery I’ll throw it in my bag, and worst case scenario will attach it to my phone for a couple of hours. The other 350+ days a year I’ll have a very svelte phone.
Takes like this confuse me. The first gen MagSafe battery pack didn’t defeat the purpose of any phone. This one is only for the air because they knew that people may want to extend battery life. It’s not 100% necessary as people who don’t even have the phone make it seem. The phone has more than sufficient battery life with out it but with it it’s still as manageable as the thicker iPhones and has more battery capabilities once incorporated.
If you have to ask, yes take it back.
Nobody that is purchasing the battery pack is leaving it on their Air 24/7.
It’s for those days/nights when you need a few more hours and won’t be near another charger.
I’m personally getting a consistent 7-8 hours of screen of time, which I think is INCREDIBLY impressive for a device that is 5.6mm thin, weighs 5.8oz, and has a battery that is only 3149mAh.🤷🏻♂️
It’s for those days/nights when you need a few more hours and won’t be near another charger.
I’m personally getting a consistent 7-8 hours of screen of time, which I think is INCREDIBLY impressive for a device that is 5.6mm thin, weighs 5.8oz, and has a battery that is only 3149mAh.🤷🏻♂️
Exactly. This is common sense. I’m not sure why the OP or anyone can be confused as to what the purpose of the MagSafe battery is. 🤷♂️
I bought the MagSafe battery for the few times I will need extra juice and don’t plan on being near any outlets. Other than that, 90% of the time I will be enjoying the iPhone Air naked and it’s beautiful thin and light design. 👌
Exactly. They've made magsafe batteries for other phones... Why is it weird they made a slimmer one to better match the aesthetic of the Air?
Based on handling one in store, the Air magsafe battery is pretty sweet.
It would be sweeter if it fit the 17 phones, and by extension, the 16, 15, 14 ......
To make it fit properly ONLY on the Air is understandable, it fills the back of the Air "properly", yet still insulting to make solely based on how it appears on the Air.
My gen 1 apple magsafe battery looks fine on the Air and works on all other iPhones.
-
It would be sweeter if it fit the 17 phones, and by extension, the 16, 15, 14 ......
To make it fit properly ONLY on the Air is understandable, it fills the back of the Air "properly", yet still insulting to make solely based on how it appears on the Air.
My gen 1 apple magsafe battery looks fine on the Air and works on all other iPhones.
-
Yes return it! Stand up for you tech rights.
It's not complicated.
Like a trailer hitch on your pickup truck. Most of the time you zip around town in just the pickup, but when you need extra capacity you hook up the trailer.
It's better than buying an 18-wheeler and having to drive it (and park it, and refuel it) everywhere.
Edit: Clarified truck types.
Like a trailer hitch on your pickup truck. Most of the time you zip around town in just the pickup, but when you need extra capacity you hook up the trailer.
It's better than buying an 18-wheeler and having to drive it (and park it, and refuel it) everywhere.
Edit: Clarified truck types.
Last edited:
Logical Fallacy Identified: Strawman
No one ever said the battery was necessary for full enjoyment of the phone. It is just an option just like any other third party battery bank or MagSafe battery bank that exists already (and there are loads of them).
But going to the question of "why not just get a pro max instead", I would say think of it like having a Pro Max, but being able to take half the weight off (and keep it off) 90% of the time. Then putting it on whenever you have a super big day (ex: going to a vacation spot where you expect to take a lot of video and photos/GPS all day).
If you were to go straight for the Pro Max you are stuck with the heavier weight 100% of the time whether you need it or not.
No one ever said the battery was necessary for full enjoyment of the phone. It is just an option just like any other third party battery bank or MagSafe battery bank that exists already (and there are loads of them).
But going to the question of "why not just get a pro max instead", I would say think of it like having a Pro Max, but being able to take half the weight off (and keep it off) 90% of the time. Then putting it on whenever you have a super big day (ex: going to a vacation spot where you expect to take a lot of video and photos/GPS all day).
If you were to go straight for the Pro Max you are stuck with the heavier weight 100% of the time whether you need it or not.
Yea. Sometimes we need more power. I spend half my life on airplanes. Buy a phone that can do 90% of what you want and plan ahead for the extra 10%
I don’t think it does, no, primarily because it isn’t even necessary. You see, on some more sensible testing, thr Air is not quite there, but still, it’s very close to the base iPhone 16 and 17. In fact, depending on the test you run it is anywhere from 5% to about 20% better than the absolute marvel that is the iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12, which was the best battery life ever on an iPhone at the time. Nobody complained about it at the time. It was widely considered a two-day phone in terms of battery life.
Those who kill the Air in less than a day would destroy battery life of any iPhone if their usage is too heavy.
Battery life is too good to be an issue. I mean, sure, with heavy usage perhaps the Air has a significant difference with the 16/17 Pro, but it’s not like it is poor.
Thr Air should be a two-day phone with battery to spare for moderate users. The fact that most users are really heavy is not the point, as they’d kill anything and everything with their usage patterns.
Battery life, as much as people were worried about it before launch, is not an issue with the Air. I’d decide about it due to the other factors, but not battery life.
Those who kill the Air in less than a day would destroy battery life of any iPhone if their usage is too heavy.
Battery life is too good to be an issue. I mean, sure, with heavy usage perhaps the Air has a significant difference with the 16/17 Pro, but it’s not like it is poor.
Thr Air should be a two-day phone with battery to spare for moderate users. The fact that most users are really heavy is not the point, as they’d kill anything and everything with their usage patterns.
Battery life, as much as people were worried about it before launch, is not an issue with the Air. I’d decide about it due to the other factors, but not battery life.
The Air is a hybrid phone. Without the battery pack it’s a beautiful thin Air, when you need a little extra, slap it on and you’ve got yourself a Pro Max. Best of both worlds.
The battery pack is only for those days where I’m out travelling all day and using 5G, taking pictures, etc. Most days where I’m in the office etc, the battery pack won’t be needed.
The battery pack is only for those days where I’m out travelling all day and using 5G, taking pictures, etc. Most days where I’m in the office etc, the battery pack won’t be needed.
Maybe I’ll get one just to “have in case”…found a great case that makes it not quite so slippery and gives it great feel…so far this phone has been exactly what I wanted except for my only con would be needed about 15% more volume but not a deal breaker by any means.
You might be surprised to learn that the MagSafe battery can actually be applied without superglue and only attached temporarily for the time it takes to top up the battery. 30 or so minutes later, you just remove the accessory from the back and drop it in your backpack and the phone goes back to its' original thin profile.
Dumb question but in this day and age, has there ever been a situation where you needed to charge but weren't around any? I can think of only one example in 5 years when I was at a theme park. I topped off at 100% in the car on the way to the theme park and then no real way to charge when I'm walking around for hours.
If you're a student, this is probably a non-issue. For a working professional, you can charge at the office and in the car on the way to work (or on the way to the train station). Even with a long commute (2 hours), you're still at the office later where you can charge.
If you're on an airplane, there are literally chargers in every seat. I kinda don't see the point of the MagSafe battery which only gives you like 65% extra power. If on the rare occasion you need to lug around a charger, wouldn't you just buy a bona fide power bank and connect it with USB-C and charge it to 100% while it sits in your backpack for an hour?
If you're a student, this is probably a non-issue. For a working professional, you can charge at the office and in the car on the way to work (or on the way to the train station). Even with a long commute (2 hours), you're still at the office later where you can charge.
If you're on an airplane, there are literally chargers in every seat. I kinda don't see the point of the MagSafe battery which only gives you like 65% extra power. If on the rare occasion you need to lug around a charger, wouldn't you just buy a bona fide power bank and connect it with USB-C and charge it to 100% while it sits in your backpack for an hour?