iPhone 18 Pro Max: Leak reveals a significantly larger battery

New data from a Chinese certification authority reveals the battery capacities of upcoming Apple smartphones. While the iPhone 18 Pro Max makes a significant leap, the smaller Pro model comes away almost empty when it comes to increased capacity.

Battery data for the new Apple smartphones

A few months before the presentation in September 2026, the battery capacities of the upcoming Apple smartphones became public. Entries in the Chinese 3C certification authority database list the exact milliamp hours for the iPhone 18 Pro series. This shows that Apple has different priorities when it comes to energy supply for the new devices.

While Apple has often given both Pro models similar upgrades in the past, the development of the battery this year is twofold. Buyers of the large model get a longer runtime, whereas there are hardly any changes to the more compact version. This gradation makes the larger models stand out more from the basic versions.

Growth in the iPhone 18 Pro Max

Like Weibo leakers Digital Chat Station (via Apple Insiders) writes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max recorded an increase of around ten percent. The international model with a physical SIM card slot will offer an energy storage capacity of 5391 mAh. The predecessor had 4823 mAh. This ensures longer use without intermediate charging. The battery on the US versions of the devices is even larger. Since Apple has been foregoing a slot for physical SIM cards for some time now and is relying solely on the digital eSIM, there is more space in the housing.

The leaked capacities show 5391 mAh for the international iPhone 18 Pro Max and 5567 mAh for the US model. The international iPhone 18 Pro comes in at 4056 mAh, while the US model offers 4288 mAh. With the regular iPhone 18 Pro, the upgrade is much smaller. The international model only increases from 3988 mAh to 4056 mAh. This corresponds to an increase of almost two percent. This results in a slight change for end users.

Differentiation of the model series

However, the values ​​of the Pro Max require further verification. A ten percent increase in battery capacity is rare for Apple. If the data is confirmed, the company will further increase the gap between the two Pro devices. Buyers of the large model receive an extended service life, while users of more compact smartphones do not benefit to the same extent in terms of battery performance.