iPhone 18 Pro Max battery leak points to biggest capacity jump in years
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is shaping up to carry Apple's largest battery ever, according to regulatory filings from China's 3C certification authority. The eSIM variant is listed at 5,567 mAh—up from 5,088 mAh in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, an 11% increase. That gap matters because iPhones have historically trailed Android flagships on raw capacity, and a jump this size signals Apple is finally prioritizing endurance at the top of its lineup.
The numbers
Leaker Digital Chat Station, citing Apple battery suppliers, published the figures in June. They have since been verified by 3C regulatory filings dated July 6, 2026, and independently confirmed by MacRumors and GSMArena. Apple never discloses battery capacity officially, so certification databases are the most reliable pre-launch source available.
The SIM model is listed at 5,391 mAh—still a meaningful 568 mAh gain over the iPhone 17 Pro Max SIM variant (4,823 mAh). The standard Pro, by contrast, moves from 3,988 mAh to just 4,056 mAh (SIM), a negligible 68 mAh increase. Apple appears to be deliberately widening the gap between Pro and Pro Max.
| Model | Battery capacity | |---|---| | iPhone 17 Pro (SIM) | 3,988 mAh | | iPhone 17 Pro (eSIM) | 4,252 mAh | | iPhone 18 Pro (SIM) | 4,056 mAh | | iPhone 18 Pro (eSIM) | 4,288 mAh | | iPhone 17 Pro Max (SIM) | 4,823 mAh | | iPhone 17 Pro Max (eSIM) | 5,088 mAh | | iPhone 18 Pro Max (SIM) | 5,391 mAh | | iPhone 18 Pro Max (eSIM) | 5,567 mAh |
What it means in practice
Raw capacity is only part of the story. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to run on Apple's A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process that reportedly delivers around 30% better energy efficiency than its predecessor. A bigger battery combined with a more efficient chip means real-world battery life gains should compound well beyond what the mAh figure alone suggests.
For context, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra sits around 5,000 mAh. If Apple ships 5,567 mAh, the Pro Max would leapfrog its closest Android rival on paper—a first for the iPhone line.
What to keep in mind
One note of caution: some reports cite slightly different figures (5,235 and 5,425 mAh from Macworld), so the final shipping capacity could vary. The 3C filings are binding regulatory documents, which makes them a stronger source than supply-chain rumors, but Apple has been known to adjust specs right up to production.
The iPhone 18 lineup is expected to be announced in September 2026. No pricing or regional availability has been confirmed by Apple.