The eSIM The Bigger Reality Behind the Longer Battery Hundreds
While the New A19 Pro Chip in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max paved the way for a more efficiently working chip and, hence, power-saving functionality, attributed to the longer life of their batteries are far-off eSIM-only models. With the new design changes, larger internal batteries can be accommodated, but only in the jurisdictions where eSIM functionality is supported.
The eSIM More Power Translated
Essentially, this is a matter of space. With eliminating the physical SIM card tray, Apple has liberated that volume internally. Some of that liberated space goes towards bigger batteries-a change demanded by the users for quite a while. Most importantly, this makes it possible for the iPhone 17 Pro Max model to feature a whopping 5,000mAh of battery capacity.
Comparing Battery Lives eSIM vs. SIM
According to Apple, eSIM-only models have two hours extra video playback time compared to their international counterparts with a physical SIM tray. Here are the numbers:
- iPhone 17 Pro (eSIM model) 30 hours video playback.
- iPhone 17 Pro (Physical SIM model) 28 hours video playback.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max (eSIM model) 35 hours video playback.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max (Physical SIM model) 33 hours video playback.
Apple put the eSIM-only models up to 39 hours of playback, possibly creating a new iPhone benchmark.
Downside This Battery Life Advantage is Region-Specific
Extended battery life is not a feature provided for all uses. This advantage belongs solely to users in the U.S. and other select regions where eSIM-only versions of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are sold. Customers in other countries will receive the models with a physical SIM tray and, hence, the standard battery life.
This technical shift is evidence for Apple's strategy of gradually improving its devices through internal changes rather than mere chipset upgrades.
