The iPhone 18 Pro Max’s battery lasts up to 45 hours of video playback. Up to 36 hours for iPhone18 Pro. Apple describes it as the “longest in iPhone history,” an increase of 15% from 39 hours on the iPhone 17 Pro Max to 6 hours. The capacity (mAh) has not been announced as usual, but the growth rate matches the numbers that were visible before the release.
Let’s summarize the official numbers and what can be read from them.
Operating time announced by Apple
| iPhone18 Pro | iPhone18 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal use | up to 24 hours | up to 30 hours |
| video playback | up to 36 hours | up to 45 hours |
| Video playback (streaming) | up to 33 hours | up to 40 hours |
These are the three indicators listed in Apple’s technical specifications. Apple doesn’t publish the breakdown of “normal usage,” but you can compare it with the previous generation measured using the same yardstick.
6 hours increased from 17 Pro Max
The video playback time of the iPhone 17 Pro Max was 39 hours, which was the “longest in history” at the time. The iPhone18 Pro Max has increased by 6 hours to 45 hours.
Apple also states on the product page that it can play videos up to 6 hours longer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The growth rate is 15.4%.
15% in one year is a large change for iPhone generations. Let’s compare what worked and the information that was available before the product was released.
Capacity not disclosed. However, the numbers in the authentication information and the growth rate match.
Apple does not publish battery capacity (mAh). However, before its release, information registered with the Chinese certification agency “3C” and an image of the battery that was said to be the real thing were released, and we also reported this on our website.
| iPhone17 Pro Max | iPhone18 Pro Max (3C authentication information) | increase rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity (eSIM model) | 4,823mAh | 5,567mAh | +15.4% |
| Video playback time (Apple official) | 39 hours | 45 hours | +15.4% |
The increase rate of capacity and drive time are the same, 15.4%. Since the one sold in Japan is an eSIM model, the one that applies is 5,567mAh.
Although the numbers in the authentication information are not confirmed, if they match this much, it is highly likely that the information before the release was correct. We will have to wait for the disassembly report to confirm.
What can be learned from this match
The fact that the increase in drive time is the same as the increase in capacity means that the 6-hour extension this time is almost the result of increasing the size of the battery.
On the other hand, Apple explains that the A20 Pro is “the most power-efficient design in iPhone history.” If the increased efficiency is not added to the drive time, then that extra power has been used for performance.
In fact, the GPU is up to 40% faster than the 17 Pro, with triple the cooling surface area for a “faster, longer” design. The numbers make more sense if you think of the energy savings as “fast” rather than “long lasting.”
Of course, this is an estimate based on the numbers, and Apple does not explain the breakdown.
Charges to 50% in 15 minutes
Since the battery is larger, you may be concerned about charging time, but it can be charged up to 50% in about 15 minutes using a wired connection. However, a 60W compatible cable and a 60W or higher adapter that supports variable voltage supply are required.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro series will begin on September 12th (Saturday) at 9pm, and will be released on September 18th (Friday). The details of the presentation are summarized here.
Source: Apple
Source: iPhone Mania
