A fresh supply chain leak has revealed the battery capacity of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max. Moreover, different versions will have different batteries. The eSIM-only model will get a 5425 mAh battery, while the variant with a physical SIM card tray stays with a more modest 5235 mAh. This is once again a case where the choice between a digital and a regular SIM directly affects how long your phone will last without a charger.
iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a record-capacity battery
What We Know About the iPhone 18 Pro Max Battery
The source of the fresh information about the new iPhone’s battery is Chinese insider @fireuniverse8. According to them, the eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro Max will get a 5425 mAh battery, while the model with a physical SIM tray will have 5235 mAh. For comparison, the current iPhone 17 Pro Max eSIM version carries 5088 mAh, and the SIM card variant has 4823 mAh. That means the increase will be quite noticeable.
So, the bump amounts to 412 mAh for the SIM card version and 337 mAh for the eSIM variant compared to the previous generation. If the numbers are confirmed, iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a bigger battery than the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra with its 5000 mAh — and iPhones have historically not been known for large batteries.
An important caveat: this is a leak, not official data. GSMArena directly notes that the accuracy of these numbers is a big question. So they should be treated as a guideline, not as final specifications.
Why the eSIM Version of iPhone 18 Pro Max Gets a Bigger Battery Than the SIM Version
Inside the eSIM version there is simply more free space
The reason is simple and purely physical. The SIM card tray takes up space inside the body. By removing it, Apple frees up a bit of room, which it uses for a slightly larger battery. That’s exactly why the version without a physical SIM consistently outperforms the regular one in capacity — it was the same with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
For Russian users, this is an important nuance. In Russia and most countries, the variant with a physical SIM card tray is the most popular, while fully eSIM models Apple releases only for select regions, primarily the United States. It even gets to the point where such devices are noticeably cheaper here. In other words, most buyers here are willing to pay more for the version with a smaller battery. Yes, the difference isn’t catastrophic, but the fact remains.
Should We Expect a Breakthrough in iPhone 18 Pro Max Battery Life
The capacity increase is noticeable, but by itself it doesn’t guarantee a dramatic jump in battery life. What matters more is the efficiency of the internals. iPhone 18 Pro will get the new A20 Pro chip on a 2nm process, which should consume less energy. On top of that, there’s the proprietary C2 connectivity modem — based on experience with previous Apple chips, their own modems typically provide additional power savings.
Another factor is the display. iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will get a Samsung M16 LTPO+ panel with a more energy-efficient emitting layer. The display can change its refresh rate — up to 120 Hz for smooth scrolling and gaming and down to 1 Hz when showing static content, saving battery on still images.
Simply put, the real increase in usage time will most likely come not just from the battery but from the entire hardware package. How much this translates into extra hours in practice — only tests after the release will show.
Other Changes in iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
Based on accumulated leaks, besides the battery, the lineup is expected to receive several notable updates:
- a smaller Dynamic Island cutout — the central “pill” will house only the front camera and Face ID sensor, while the infrared emitter will move to the side or under the display
- a triple 48 MP camera system with a main module featuring a variable aperture and a periscope telephoto lens in an enlarged camera module
- four body colors: dark gray, Dark Cherry, light blue, and silver
- a new aluminum frame processing method to address the peeling paint issue familiar to iPhone 17 Pro owners
Reportedly, there will be no black color in the flagship iPhone lineup this year
The cherry shade, which is planned to be called Burgundy, will replace the Cosmic Orange of the previous generation. If the story of scratches on the 17 Pro’s frame annoyed you, the updated metal processing is a welcome detail.
How Much Could iPhone 18 Pro Cost: Price in the US and Russia
According to forecasts, iPhone 18 Pro will start at $1,399 — that’s approximately 151,000 rubles in Russia at the current exchange rate including markup. For comparison, the base iPhone 17 Pro launched at $1,099. That means we’re looking at a significant price increase of $300, if the forecast is correct.
This is still an estimate from a research firm, not an official Apple price. Exact amounts and Russian pricing will become known closer to the announcement, which is expected in the fall.
