The practical application of lithium?air batteries has been the common goal of researchers in this field. To achieve this goal, all aspects of the problem should be considered, which means that any small factors should be taken into account. For lithium anodes, comprehensive protection from side reactions is required. Specifically, substances such as moisture, carbon dioxide and reaction intermediates in the electrolyte should be isolated from anodes, and the generation of dendrites needs to be suppressed. For cathodes, there is essential requirement for stable cyclic performance of batteries, i.e., highly efficient electrocatalysts with large specific surface area, ensuring that the cathodes can accommodate the discharge products. At the same time, appropriate additives are also necessary for the electrolyte. When it comes to the battery as a whole system, it is necessary to consider various external factors, such as battery construction and the effect of size amplification on battery performance. So far, there has been significant development of lithium?air batteries, but it still lacks decisive breakthrough. With the ultimate aim of commercialization, this review started with the components of lithium-oxygen batteries, summarized the progress in recent years, focused on the reports of the entire battery system, and proposed prospect for the future development of commercialized lithium-air batteries.