iPhone 18 Pro battery and charging: all expected changes
Here's everything rumors are saying about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max's battery and charging so far.
iPhone 17 Pro Max for illustrative purposes. | Image by PhoneArena
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are likely coming in September. Rumors are already talking about the two Pro-branded 2026 iPhones, and what we're hearing is quite interesting. We may get some new colors, a refined design, and even DSLR-like variable aperture for the main camera.
However, battery life is still one of the most important aspects of smartphones. You may be curious what the rumors are saying about the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max battery performance.
Keep in mind that nothing is official just yet, but here's everything the leaks are talking about when it comes to battery for the 2026 iPhones.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max rumored battery upgrades
If the latest reports turn out to be true, Apple is planning a big jump in capacity. The star of the show, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, is rumored to cross the 5,000 mAh mark for the first time.
Some leakers even suggest a massive 5,100 mAh to 5,200 mAh cell for the Pro Max. If true, that would be the largest battery Apple has ever put in a phone.
The regular iPhone 18 Pro may not be left out either. It is expected to follow the trend of the iPhone 17 Pro and offer a battery between 4,100 mAh and 4,250 mAh.
Will the iPhone 18 Pro have better battery life?
The short answer is yes, it looks very likely. It's not just about the size of the battery, though. It's also about the chip. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to come with the new A20 Pro processor, built on the advanced 2nm process.
The new processor is rumored to be around 30% more efficient than previous chips. Obviously, the upgrade in the physical battery capacity, combined with the A20 Pro chip, should deliver notable changes.
We're probably looking at a 2-day battery life for the iPhone 18 Pro Max model.
| Model | Expected battery capacity |
|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | ~5,100 - 5,200 mAh |
| iPhone 18 Pro | ~4,100 - 4,250 mAh |
Apple is unlikely to use silicon-carbon batteries yet again. Rumors are more quiet about the iPhone 18 Pro's battery size, so we expect something similar to the iPhone 17 Pro or slightly more.
iPhone 18 Pro rumored charging upgrades
Apple has traditionally been on the conservative side when it comes to charging speeds. However, the Cupertino tech giant may change this with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
Rumor has it that we may see a bump in wired charging speeds, potentially reaching 45 W. Currently, the iPhone 17 Pro's speeds are not officially disclosed, yet they are nearing 40 W. We may get the same or a slight upgrade here.
Yep, that's obviously not as fast as some Android competitors, but it's a step in the right direction if these rumors are true.
How fast will the iPhone 18 Pro charge?
With the right adapter, the expectation is that you may be able to get up to 50% charge in about 20 minutes or less. Currently, that's in the ballpark of what the iPhone 17 Pro manages with a 40 W adapter. A slight increase in the speed is not out of the question, either.
Will the iPhone 18 Pro have wireless charging?
Most likely it's a definite yes. MagSafe wireless charging is a standout feature for the iPhone, and we expect this to remain the same with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
Expect MagSafe and Qi2 charging support. The iPhone 17 Pro currently can reach up to 25 W with Qi2.2, which is not super fast but not slow either. We'll see if Apple improves on that front.
Will the iPhone 18 Pro have reverse wireless charging?
Reverse wireless charging is something that Apple fans have wanted for quite a long time. Current iPhone models don't support the feature, despite it being available on many Android phones for what seems like forever now.
Unfortunately, there aren't many solid leaks claiming the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max may come with reverse wireless charging abilities. Technically, it should be possible, especially with the bigger battery on the Pro Max.
If Apple decides to add it, it would be a welcome upgrade, but for now, don't hold your breath for it.
The models may support wired reverse charging, though, just like their predecessors.
What charger will the iPhone 18 Pro use?
With the iPhone 15, Apple moved to USB-C, and the iPhone 18 Pro is likely to continue this trend. You should be able to charge it with your existing USB-C cable.
However, for faster charging, you'll likely need faster power adapters. Obviously, don't expect a charger in the box, as those days are long gone now.
For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro gets the best results with Apple's official 40 W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60 W Max. If you use this charger to juice up your iPhone 17 Pro, you get about 50% in 20 minutes.
Likely, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will support this charger.
Apart from that, you can also get Apple's Qi2-certified MagSafe Charger (up to 25 W output).
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