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iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Pro: Leak reveals Apple’s plan to differentiate models

Every year, the iPhone Pro models share nearly every feature in common apart from screen size. But at times, Apple gives the Pro Max model a special advantage, and a new leak indicates that might happen with the iPhone 18 Pro line.

iPhone 18 Pro Max to have much bigger battery than last year, while iPhone 18 Pro’s barely changes

We’ve seen plenty of reports about battery capacity on the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models, and even iPhone Ultra.

But every year, government regulatory databases tend to be the best indicator of actual battery size in forthcoming iPhone models.

Last year, a Chinese regulatory site leaked iPhone 17 Pro battery capacities, and now the same appears to have happened with iPhone 18 Pro.

Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station recently posted a screenshot from a Chinese regulatory database revealing the following battery data.

eSIMPhysical SIM
iPhone 18 Pro4288mAh4056mAh
iPhone 17 Pro4252mAh3988mAh
iPhone 18 Pro Max5567mAh5391mAh
iPhone 17 Pro Max5088mAh4823mAh

These numbers, if they prove true, show minimal battery changes for iPhone 18 Pro, but a significant increase in battery capacity with iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Even the leaker seems surprised, saying in his post that the numbers need “further verification” because the gains are so big.

iPhone Pro Max models have always had better battery life than the smaller Pro option. But if the roughly 10% increase for iPhone 18 Pro Max, then Apple clearly plans to push its larger model’s battery advantage further than ever.

Would having especially big Pro Max battery gains sway your upgrade decision at all? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.

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Avatar for Ryan Christoffel Ryan Christoffel

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.