iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro dummy | Image by Vadim Yuryev
Even though the iPhone 18 Pro Max is reported to pack a bigger battery than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, some might wonder why Apple hasn't adopted the silicon-carbon tech favored by Chinese companies, which allows for capacities of up to 10,000 mAh. While Apple will likely want to resolve reliability and longevity concerns before making the leap, the iPhone 18 Pro Max might still match or exceed the endurance of phones that have already made the plunge.
Numbers aren't everything
The nano-SIM iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 4,823 mAh battery, while the eSIM model features a 5,088 mAh cell. For the iPhone 18 Pro Max, those numbers are tipped to increase to 5,391 mAh and 5,567 mAh, respectively.
While those are substantial bumps, they are no match for a silicon-carbon-equipped Chinese phone. If you look beyond the raw numbers, though, the iPhone 18 Pro Max will last as long as a device with a 7,000 mAh cell, claims leaker Ice Universe.
Better efficiency
iPhone 18 Pro Max battery life improvements. | Image by Ice Universe
Ice claims that the A20 Pro's efficiency gains, a new thermal design, and iOS's system scheduling and background management will allow the iPhone 18 Pro Max's battery to punch above its weight class.
How will the iPhone 18 Pro Max stack up to Chinese rivals in the battery department?
Background improvements
While it's easy to get hung up on raw specs, other factors also contribute heavily to how long a phone can last on a single charge.
The rumored A20 Pro chip will reportedly be manufactured on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's 2 nm process, making it 30 percent more power-efficient.
The chipset is expected to use a new Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging architecture, which will relocate the DRAM from the top of the application processor to the side. This will allow for better heat dissipation.
Lastly, iOS 26 came with a host of battery improvement features, and iOS 27 is expected to build on that by introducing bug fixes and performance optimizations.
Already pushing the physical limits
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is already a hefty phone at 8.8 mm thick, but its successor is expected to push into 9.9-10.9 mm territory. Camera components and the burly battery likely contributed to the increased thickness. Weight is also expected to climb from 233 grams to 240 grams.
Needless to say, the iPhone 18 Pro already seems to be pushing the envelope in the pocket-space department. An even larger lithium-ion battery might win over some power users, but it will render the device unusable for the average buyer.
Since Apple isn't jumping on the silicon-carbon train just yet, the architectural efficiency improvements are crucial to keeping up with Android rivals without turning the iPhone 18 Pro Max into a brick.
Battery capacity matters
As the tepid reception of the slim iPhone Air proved, decent battery life is non-negotiable for the user experience. And even though a 5,567 mAh battery is massive by Apple standards, the rumored brighter display and new Apple Intelligence features mean the iPhone 18 Pro Max is going to need every single milliampere-hour (mAh) it can get.
Six-month unlimited plan is now 57% off
$90
$210
$120 off (57%)
Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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: