Apple is reportedly planning a meaningful battery upgrade for the second-generation iPhone Air, according to new supply chain information. The ultra-thin device, which launched earlier this year, could see its battery capacity increase by around 11% with the iPhone Air 2.
According to MacRumors‘ Tim Hardwick, the iPhone Air 2 is expected to pack a 3,500mAh battery. This represents a step up from the 3,149mAh cell found in the current iPhone Air model. While raw capacity gains don’t always translate directly to proportionally better real-world battery life, the increase should help extend usage times, especially when combined with other efficiency improvements.
A larger battery in the iPhone Air 2 could come from enhanced internal packaging, higher energy density cells, or a slightly thinner display stack that frees up space. Apple is said to be adopting Samsung’s CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) OLED technology for the next model, which could enable a thinner panel while maintaining the device’s signature slim profile.
The iPhone Air 2 is also expected to address one of the biggest criticisms of the original model by adding a second rear camera—likely an Ultra Wide lens—alongside the existing Wide sensor. This upgrade will require internal redesigns, particularly around the camera plateau area that currently prioritizes maximum battery space. How these changes interact with the larger battery remains to be seen, but Apple appears focused on balancing the device’s thin-and-light design with better versatility and endurance.
Powering the iPhone Air 2 will be Apple’s A20 chip, fabricated on a new 2nm process. This should deliver meaningful efficiency gains over the current A19, further supporting improved battery performance independent of the capacity bump.
MacDailyNews Note: The iPhone Air 2 is currently slated for a launch in the first half of 2027, expected to arrive alongside the standard iPhone 18 series and a more affordable iPhone 18e model. As with all early rumors, details could still change as development progresses.
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