Heavyweight: Is Apple adding more to the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Even the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a behemoth. But for its successor, Apple apparently wants to add more due to the camera, cooling, and new chips.
Even the iPhone 17 Pro doesn't make it easy for its owners.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch / heise medien)
Apple is planning another weight increase for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The top model, expected in fall 2026, is said to be “thicker and heavier” than Apple's current heavyweight iPhone 17 Pro Max, writes the well-known leaker Instant Digital from Asia, who has often been correct in the past. The device will reportedly weigh 240 grams, and the casing will be “a little bit thicker” than before. “Next year, Apple will launch a more practical fitness device,” jokes Instant Digital on the Chinese microblogging service Weibo.
iPhones are getting fatter; Air isn't catching on
Even the iPhone 17 Pro Max was no lightweight at 231 grams (EU version, US variant 2 grams more), and if the leak is correct, Apple would add another 9 grams. The increase itself might not be very noticeable, but the 6.9-inch smartphone will bulge out of your pants or jacket pocket even more than it already does. Currently, Apple's top iPhone is 8.75 mm thick (not including the camera platform), which interestingly corresponds to the thickness of its smaller sibling, the iPhone 17 Pro with 6.3 inches. However, the latter weighs significantly less at 204 grams (US model: also 2 grams more).
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Apple recently tried to bring the thinnest iPhone ever to customers with the iPhone Air. However, the model, which only has a rear camera and is quite expensive (1199 Euros upwards), doesn't seem to be catching on. Apple has reportedly already partially stopped production and is now planning to postpone a second variant of the Air. The company had worked on the model for a long time—despite its thinness, it is surprisingly stable. However, users don't seem to want to accept the disadvantages, such as the aforementioned single camera.
What Apple intends to do with the additional weight
It is unclear what is causing the iPhone 18 Pro Max to become even heavier. It's conceivable that Apple will enlarge the battery again. Currently, Apple uses a capacity of 4832 mAh in the 17 Pro Max. Models without a physical SIM card (not available in Europe) have 5088 mAh. For comparison: Some Android smartphones have already reached over 7000 mAh.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be delivered with a newer processor and better camera technology, among other things. An iPhone 18 Pro is also planned, according to rumors, as well as the first Apple foldable. An iPhone 18 could be postponed to early 2027.
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