Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro Max is finally here, and if you've seen last year's 17 Pro Max, this might feel like déjà vu.
The design has not changed much this year, indeed, but I'd argue that's a good thing: iPhone 17 Pro cases from last year's model will fit the new 18 Pro just fine. I also think that this design has proven surprisingly durable, especially that new Ceramic Shield 2 on the front that does an excellent job protecting the screen from scratches.
In this article, I go over the notable design elements, the new Glacier colorway, but I also have to admit one thing: there is one compromise with the iPhone 18 Pro design that has only gotten worse this year.
Image by PhoneArena
First, the color. This is the new iPhone 18 Pro Max in light blue, or as Apple calls it: "Glacier".
Image by PhoneArena
This is a much lighter color compared to last year's navy blue, and I'd argue it's more cheerful. I really like this new tone. However, I'm not particularly fond of the other new color option, Burgundy, which just looks a bit muted and lacking character.
Image by PhoneArena
The design is practically the same as last year, even old 17 Pro Max cases will fit.
Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 18 Pro Max also has the same aluminum body as its predecessor. Aluminum is great at heat dissipation, but it's a softer metal than titanium or stainless steel, which Apple used in previous years. This in turn means that if you drop your phone, it's very easy to get it scuffed, and you can definitely see those scuffs on our iPhone 17 Pro Max that has been dropped just a couple of times but look very beat up.
Recommended For You
Image by PhoneArena
But the one big flaw of the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the weight. This thing is heavy! Last year's 17 Pro Max was not the lightest phone already at 8.2 ounces (233 grams), but the new 18 Pro Max now weighs an astounding 8.8 ounces (249 grams). I don't think any other flagship phone this year is that heavy.
Image by PhoneArena
That's especially obvious when you hold the iPhone 18 Pro Max next to the thin and light Galaxy S26 Ultra. It's a night and day difference. The Samsung flagship weighs just 7.55 ounces (214 grams), 15% lighter than the iPhone.
Image by PhoneArena
Thankfully, with the heavier build also comes a bigger battery. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the largest generational leap in battery capacity for the iPhone in years.
The US eSIM model jumps from 5088 mAh on the 17 Pro Max to 5567 mAh on the 18 Pro Max, a nearly 10% increase. The global nano SIM model jumps from 4823 mAh to 5391 mAh, an even bigger, 11% increase. Stay tuned for our battery test results coming very soon.
Image by PhoneArena
I was also pleasantly surprised by the faster charging speeds. The 18 Pro Max now can hit 60 watts, up from 40 watts on the previous model. You need a compatible charger for that, though.
Image by PhoneArena
The 18 Pro Max comes with the new A20 Pro chipset inside, which brings a big improvement to GPU performance and with a bigger vapor chamber, that performance can be sustained for much longer too.
Image by PhoneArena
The main camera now gets a variable aperture, the first ever on an iPhone. Apple has implemented this really well: if you just take pictures, you may not even notice it, as the iPhone automatically decides which aperture to pick depending on the conditions. However, for the camera enthusiasts, you now have full manual control over this, so you can open the aperture fully for more bokeh or close it down to have everything in focus.
Image by PhoneArena
You also have Pro camera controls in the camera app. You can just drag and drop different controls to the top row, or if you prefer a cleaner look and just shoot in auto, you can leave those controls hidden. Nice and clean.
Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a $100 more expensive this year, all because of the multiple fold increase in RAM prices. The base 256GB model now costs $1,300. If you opt for the higher storage tiers, though, especially 1TB and 2TB, the price increases are much steeper.
iPhone 13 Pro flash sale! Limited time offer!
Save $30 on iPhone 13 Pro from Back Market. Discount automatically applied at checkout. Offer ends 20 September 2026 at 23:59.
Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: