Leaked Certifications May Suggest Lower iPhone 12 Battery Capacities

Apple tries to keep its upcoming products from public view, but that task is difficult because of certifications. Earlier this week, the folks over at MySmartPrice uncovered several newly certified Apple batteries in 3C and Safety Korea certification platforms.

Before Apple can release a product, its components must pass through certification steps both in the US and other countries. These filings contain only the product specifications, leaving us to figure out how and where the component will be used.

In this latest leak, MySmartPrice discovered three battery modules that passed certification at the same time. Given the timing and the size/shape, these battery modules are likely headed for the iPhone 12. It was originally thought that these batteries would be used in all four models of the iPhone 12, but a new filing changed that prediction.

A few days later, another filing detailing a fourth battery (Model A2479) with an intermediate capacity of 2,815mAh made its way through the testing process. Its middle-of-the-road capacity suggests it could land in the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro. This leaves the lower capacity batteries for the 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and the two higher capacities for the Pro series.

These leaked battery specifications include the following:

1. Model A2471 – 2,227mAh – 5.4-inch iPhone 12
2. Model A2431 – 2,775mAh – 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max
3. Model A2479 – 2,815mAh – 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro
4. Model A2466 – 3,687mAh – 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max

It’s interesting to note that these rumored battery capacities are lower than those in the current iPhone 11 series. Existing iPhone 11 batteries range from a 3,046 mAh battery in the iPhone 11 Pro to a 3,969 mAh battery in the 11 Pro Max. The iPhone 11 falls in the middle with a 3,110 mAh battery.

Why the Lower Capacity Batteries?

When phones are getting more powerful and feature-rich, you would expect to see Apple use larger battery modules in response to increased power demands. These smaller batteries seem like a step backward, but that may not be the case. Apple is rumored to be developing a new A14 Bionic chip for the iPhone 12 series. It’s possible that the A14 chipset may have such efficient power management that Apple can save space and weight by using lower capacity batteries.

For better or worse, it’s equally likely that these rumored capacities are incorrect, and Apple is planning to use higher capacity batteries in its iPhones. We won’t know the truth until the company releases the iPhone 12 series later this fall. Apple typically only publishes battery run times and not capacities. We usually have to wait for a repair company like iFixit to get their hands on an iPhone model. They then tear it down to identify the internal components and specs like battery capacity and RAM.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]