iPhone 17 Teardown: Batteries, Cameras and Modems Revealed

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With the iPhone 17 series, Apple is once again introducing some technical changes that aren't immediately apparent. Only the first teardown videos reveal what's really going on inside. In addition to new battery capacities and camera modules, there's a revised cooling system, the use of new chips, and the continued reliance on Qualcomm modems.

A recent teardown video from REWA Technology of the iPhone 17 Pro provides the first closer look inside. Although iFixit's detailed teardown is still pending, the images we've seen so far already reveal some interesting details. Particularly striking are larger camera lenses, a vapor chamber cooling system for improved heat dissipation, and a newly developed N1 chip for modern wireless standards. At the same time, other videos confirm that the iPhone 17 Pro Max features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem.

Battery capacities of the iPhone 17 series

Apple's energy labels in the EU and previous teardowns clearly show that the batteries in the iPhone 17 series have become larger. The known capacities at a glance:

iPhone 17 (eSIM-only): 3,692 mAh, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to its predecessor
iPhone Air: 3,149 mAh
iPhone 17 Pro: 3,988 mAh with SIM, 4,252 mAh with eSIM only, an increase of 18.7 percent
iPhone 17 Pro Max: 4,823 mAh with SIM, 5,088 mAh with eSIM only, an increase of 8.6 percent

For comparison, the batteries of the iPhone 16 series:

iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh
iPhone 16 Plus: 4,674 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,685 mAh

While iPhone models from 14 to 16 were already shipped without a SIM tray in the US, the resulting space was filled with a single piece of plastic. With the iPhone 17 series, Apple is consistently using this space for larger batteries for the first time. All models are available exclusively with eSIM in the US, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other markets.

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Changes in the interior

In addition to the batteries, the first teardowns reveal further adjustments. The rear lenses have become larger, indicating improved image sensors. The new vapor chamber system optimizes heat dissipation, improving stability under high performance demands. Also inside is a new Apple N1 chip that supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Snapdragon X80 modem in iPhone 17 Pro Max

A video on the Bilibili platform, shared via Reddit , shows that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem. It's likely that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro will also use this modem. The Snapdragon X80 brings several improvements:

AI acceleration for faster data rates, lower latency, and better network coverage
Support for mmWave 5G, but only in the US models of iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max
higher energy efficiency through intelligent control of connections

The iPhone Air, on the other hand, already uses Apple's own C1X modem, which, however, only supports sub-6GHz 5G. The previous Apple C1 modem was installed in the iPhone 16e.

Outlook on future modems

Even though the Snapdragon X80 offers new features, it is no longer Qualcomm's most up-to-date modem. The manufacturer has since introduced the Snapdragon X85. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon emphasizes that Android smartphones with this modem should achieve significantly higher performance than iPhones with the X80. For the iPhone 18 series, Apple is expected to introduce its own C2 modems with mmWave support, thus further reducing its dependence on Qualcomm.

iPhone 17 as an intermediate step in Apple's hardware strategy

The iPhone 17 series demonstrates that Apple is consistently leveraging the switch to eSIM-only technology to increase battery capacity. At the same time, there are noticeable improvements in cooling, wireless standards, and camera technology. Apple still relies on Qualcomm for the modem in its Pro models, but is preparing to switch to its own solutions. This makes the iPhone 17 an intermediate step: a larger battery, greater efficiency, and modernized hardware, while the full switch to Apple's own 5G modems is not expected until the iPhone 18. (Image: Shutterstock / ArthurStock)