Breaking Through the 5,000mAh Barrier?—A Thorough Analysis of the Leaked "Largest Battery Ever" in the iPhone 17 Pro Max

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Why "Battery Capacity" is Back in the Spotlight

2. Leak Overview: Sources and Evidence for Exceeding 5,000mAh

3. Historical Pro Max Battery Trends and Performance Improvements

4. Technical Background ①: What is a Stacked Battery?

5. Technical Background ②: Chassis Design, Component Reconfiguration, and Cooling

6. Power Demand in the AI Era: Load Analysis of Apple Intelligence

7. Competitive Comparison: Current State of Android Flagships and Charging Speed

8. Impact on the Japanese Market: Carrier and User Perspectives

9. Expert Comments and Evaluation of Leak Reliability

10. Conclusion and Future Outlook

1. Introduction: Why "Battery Capacity" is Back in the Spotlight

While "battery life" is one of the most important criteria when choosing a smartphone, Apple has long focused on optimization, keeping capacity low. However, with the surge in power consumption due to AI processing, high refresh rates, and spherical video recording, a "quantity strategy" is becoming essential to prevent user attrition.ndtvprofit.com

2. Leak Overview: Sources and Evidence for Exceeding 5,000mAh

NDTV Profit cites a Weibo post from "Instant Digital," reporting that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be the first to exceed 5,000mAh.ndtvprofit.com
MacRumors presents a list of capacities of previous models and evaluates the leaker's track record as "medium to high" in reliability.macrumors.com
9to5Mac and Android Headlines followed suit on the same date, corroborating the information from multiple sources.9to5mac.comandroidheadlines.com

3. Historical Pro Max Battery Trends and Performance Improvements

4. Technical Background ①: What is a Stacked Battery?

Unlike the traditional "winding (laminate) type," this method stacks positive and negative electrodes to increase capacity density per area. It improves voltage stability and reduces heat generation during fast charging. It is suggested that this might be the first time it is adopted in an iPhone, with reports that a Korean supplier is preparing for mass production.

5. Technical Background ②: Chassis Design, Component Reconfiguration, and Cooling

With the enlargement of the battery pack, securing internal space is essential. In the 17 Pro Max,

• 48MP telephoto lens with larger camera bump

• Thinner MagSafe coil

• Higher density circuit board and L-shaped connector adoption

• Hybrid cooling with graphite sheet and VC chamber
  are rumored.ndtvprofit.com

6. Power Demand in the AI Era: Load Analysis of Apple Intelligence

The generative AI "Apple Intelligence," which will be fully introduced in the iOS 19 generation, emphasizes on-device processing. Developer testimony suggests that large language model (LLM) inference occupies more than 50% of the A19 Pro GPU at peak, making battery consumption significant. Larger capacity is inevitable.

7. Competitive Comparison: Current State of Android Flagships and Charging Speed

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5,500mAh / 45W wired / 15W wireless

• Xperia 1 VI: 5,000mAh / 30W / 15W

• Pixel 10 Pro: 5,300mAh / 35W / 20W
  
  The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature 5,000mAh plus enhanced 35W MagSafe, but it may still lag behind in ultra-fast charging.

8. Impact on the Japanese Market: Carrier and User Perspectives

• Increased power consumption with the expansion of 5G SA + millimeter wave coverage → Larger capacity is welcome

• Heat generation and battery degradation are issues with mobile Suica and continuous camera use

• A "game changer" for regional users with long commutes and e-sports enthusiasts

• Provides more leeway even with constant Band 18 connection on Rakuten Mobile and MVNOs

9. Expert Comments and Evaluation of Leak Reliability

Mobile industry analyst Sato notes, "Instant Digital has a track record of accurately predicting the iPhone 15's back glass specifications, with a reliability of about 70%." Meanwhile, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who is familiar with Apple's internal affairs, has refrained from commenting at this time. As a leak, it should be considered "highly probable but not confirmed."

10. Conclusion and Future Outlook

If the iPhone 17 Pro Max is equipped with a 5,000mAh-class battery, it will not only be the largest in Apple's history but also a "long-lasting iPhone" suitable for the AI era. We should continue to watch how the balance of capacity, charging speed, and weight is optimized at the official announcement in September.

List of Reference Articles

• NDTV Profit "iPhone 17 Pro Max To House Biggest Battery Ever — Why Apple Might Cross 5,000mAh Mark" (2025/07/04)

• MacRumors "iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked" (2025/07/03)

• 9to5Mac "iPhone 17 Pro Max battery capacity might have just leaked" (2025/07/03)

• Android Headlines "iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Leaked: Get Ready for a Huge Power Boost" (2025/07/03)