Key Highlights
- iPhone 18 Pro Max may get its biggest battery upgrade yet
- Battery capacity tipped at 5,100–5,200mAh
- A20 Pro chip with 2nm process could boost efficiency
- Over 40 hours of battery life now looks likely
The iPhone 18 Pro Max may deliver Apple’s longest battery life so far. According to a new supply-chain leak, Apple plans to combine a larger battery with a more efficient A20 Pro chip. As a result, the upcoming flagship could comfortably push battery life beyond 40 hours, reinforcing Apple’s lead in smartphone endurance.
Bigger Battery Could Redefine iPhone Endurance
A well-known Weibo leaker, Digital Chat Station, claims the iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity between 5,100mAh and 5,200mAh. If accurate, this would become the largest battery Apple has ever used in an iPhone.
By comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max carries a 5,088mAh battery. Apple rates it for up to 39 hours of battery life. Therefore, even a modest increase in capacity could translate into meaningful gains in real-world usage.
However, to accommodate the larger battery, Apple may slightly increase the phone’s thickness.
How the A20 Pro Chip Changes the Equation
Battery size alone does not determine endurance. Instead, efficiency plays an equally important role.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to run on Apple’s A20 Pro chip, which reportedly uses TSMC’s advanced 2nm process. Because smaller process nodes typically reduce power consumption, the new chip could deliver better performance while drawing less energy.
As a result, the combination of a larger battery and a more efficient processor could allow the iPhone 18 Pro Max to exceed the 40-hour battery life threshold in standard usage tests.
Notably, recent industry tests already rank Apple devices among the longest-lasting smartphones. The iPhone 17 Pro Max reportedly outperformed many rivals. With these upgrades, Apple may extend that lead even further.
What Else Is Coming?
Battery upgrades are only part of the story.
Leaks suggest the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will launch with:
- A smaller Dynamic Island
- Apple’s new C2 modem
- Simplified Camera Control design
- A 24-megapixel front camera
- A main camera with a variable aperture
Apple is also expected to debut its first foldable iPhone alongside the Pro models. That device may feature a battery exceeding 5,500mAh, potentially the largest ever in an iPhone or rival foldable phone.
What This Means for Users
If the leaks hold true, the phone could set a new benchmark for smartphone battery life. The combination of hardware efficiency and capacity may reduce charging anxiety for power users, travelers, and creators alike.
Apple is expected to unveil the lineup later this year.
