iPhone 17 Teardowns Confirm SIM and eSIM-Only Battery Capacities

[MacRumors]

YouTube channel REWA Technology today shared an iPhone 17 Pro teardown video, offering a closer look inside the model with a SIM card tray.

We are still waiting for repair website iFixit to share a more comprehensive teardown of the latest iPhone models, but this video provides a good look in the meantime.

The device features various internal design changes, including larger rear camera lenses. There is a new vapor chamber cooling system for improved heat dissipation. There is also an Apple-designed N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Based on a combination of teardown videos published online, and Apple's energy labels in the EU, we have now confirmed most of the SIM and eSIM-only battery capacities across the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air lineup.

Model	SIM Card	eSIM-Only	YoY Increase (eSIM-Only)
iPhone 17	TBD	3,692 mAh	+3.7%
iPhone Air	—	3,149 mAh	—
iPhone 17 Pro	3,988 mAh	4,252 mAh	+18.7%
iPhone 17 Pro Max	4,823 mAh	5,088 mAh	+8.6%

Here are the battery capacities for all iPhone 16 models:

Model	SIM Card and eSIM-Only
iPhone 16	3,561 mAh
iPhone 16 Plus	4,674 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro	3,582 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro Max	4,685 mAh

All of the iPhone 14 through iPhone 16 models lack a SIM card tray in the U.S., but Apple had simply put a piece of plastic where the tray used to be inside those devices. Starting with the iPhone 17 series, eSIM-only models sold worldwide have a larger battery that fills the space formerly occupied by either the SIM card tray or the plastic piece.

All of the iPhone 17 models are eSIM-only in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and select other countries.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Teardowns Confirm SIM and eSIM-Only Battery Capacities

 

[Dark-Signature]

Short question: Does anyone know if it is theoretically possible to purchase an eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro within the EU? For example, through Vodafone?

 

[danskin]

Short question: Does anyone know if it is theoretically possible to purchase an eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro within the EU? For example, through Vodafone?

Very unlikely.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

My battery is actually 3972 (100,7%) so idk what to think of it

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Just FYI - your table headers are broken.

Impressive to see an 18% jump YoY for the less-big Pro.

 

[Neil J. Squillante]

I posted an earlier message in the wrong thread. I have no opinion on eSIM. When will MacRumors let us delete posts? Sorry about the use of space here.

 

[Lwii2boo]

Huge win for the small Pro. No need to get the max for battery life.

 

[iZac]

Seeing the teardown video, this is what I was confused by during the event - the vapour chamber spreads the heat ... to the screen. Nowhere near the 'superior conductive aluminium frame'

 

[MayaUser]

This is really nice from Apple...they could have been lazy and not make a production line for 2 different batteries for each model

 

[lazyrighteye]

Awesome tear down. I’m still amazed at how complex these devices can be.

 

[Belisama]

Seeing the teardown video, this is what I was confused by during the event - the vapour chamber spreads the heat ... to the screen. Nowhere near the 'superior conductive aluminium frame'

+1
I read somewhere that the vapor chamber was fused to the aluminium frame 🧐

 

[Belisama]

I'm always very impressed by the density, the complexity and, somehow, the beauty of these phones.
It's quite amazing that we can compress a lot of technology in such a small volume.

 

[matthew12]

Wow, that improvement of the 16 Pro to the 17 Pro is very nice.

 

[Taq'aix]

Short question: Does anyone know if it is theoretically possible to purchase an eSIM-only iPhone 17 Pro within the EU? For example, through Vodafone?

The only way to get your hands on a eSIM only iPhone is to buy one from a country that sells them, like the USA. You’ll pay an additional tax of approximately 25% including delivery.

 

[ifxf]

For you 80 percenters, you need to knock down your usable battery total.

 

[michael666]

That video was captivating.

 

[Agent007]

IMO the 17 Pro chassis is the biggest upgrade of all. For years I hoped they'd make the phone more like the Unibody Macbook design but after Qi/Magsafe became a thing I didn't think it would happen. Aluminum is the only choice for this unless you want a $3,500 phone. A low volume production titanium unibody phone would be cool. I think it might be possible for a full titanium body, no glass back, if they milled it super thin in the Qi area.

 

[Agent007]

That video was captivating.

/s? I can't believe MR posts this kind of AI slop.

 

[svish]

Nice to see the teardown. Bigger batter is always welcome. Even without the eSIM, good to see an increase in battery capacity for all the models. However outside US, eSIM transfers especially when device is damaged or stolen is not always convenient. I prefer to have physical SIM for this reason.

In fact for my new cellular iPad Pro, I decided to switch carriers so that in the future whenever I change my iPad, I can make use of Apple’s Quick Transfer option. My previous carrier requires me to visit a store, show ID, convert eSIM to physical SIM, insert that physical SIM on a phone and request for an eSIM for my new iPad using SMS. Very big hassle. Thankfully the new carrier allows Quick Transfer. In general, in my country as long as the iPhone is working (not applicable to iPads), eSIM transfer is easy otherwise it is a huge problem.

So while I am happy to have bigger battery, I prefer to have ease of mind over any possible SIM issues. So I am happy to buy the phone with a physical SIM slot. Sadly I think it is only a matter of time before Apple decides to go all in with eSIM.

 

[racerhomie]

Where are the eSIM haters now?

 

[platinumaqua]

Small battery increase not enough to cover the loss in flexibility in losing the SIM slot for me

 

[ZipZilla]

I have to be honest, I bought my iPhone 13 because I was an eSIM hater and wanted the physical slot.

I have done a 180, it is so easy to download and manage esims for multiple carriers without having to fuss with a physical SIM card. A bigger battery is even more of a plus

 

[california_kid]

Person in the video could have been a surgeon instead of a phone repair tech. On the other hand if they are really into taking things apart completely even when nothing is broken, maybe not.

 

[Flight Plan]

Person in the video could have been a surgeon instead of a phone repair tech. On the other hand if they are really into taking things apart completely even when nothing is broken, maybe not.

Dissection is still practiced on cadavers and dead animals.

 

[Shirasaki]

Just FYI - your table headers are broken.

Impressive to see an 18% jump YoY for the less-big Pro.

Yeah but that would just be a one off considering the size of sim tray. I guess eSIM only iPhone can get any increased battery capacity they can.