Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Specs, US price, release date, and Android Hire verdict
The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 in the US and goes on sale 18 September 2026. Same A20 Pro and variable-aperture 48MP cameras as the 18 Pro, in a 6.9-inch body Apple rates at up to 45 hours of video.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max at a glance
- US price starts at $1,299 for 256GB — $100 above last year's Pro Max.
- On sale 18 September 2026 with the 18 Pro; same cameras and A20 Pro.
- 6.9-inch 2868 × 1320 OLED, 249 g, 163.4 × 78.0 × 8.75 mm.
- Apple rates up to 45 hours of video playback on eSIM-only US units.
- Buy this over the 18 Pro if you want the larger screen and battery, not a different camera.
- Apple's largest battery-life jump on iPhone: up to 45 hours of video playback on eSIM-only models
- Same variable-aperture 48MP Fusion Main camera and A20 Pro as the 18 Pro, in a 6.9-inch canvas
- Five minutes of wired charging is rated for around seven hours of video playback
- 256GB–2TB storage, 12GB RAM, USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort, MagSafe/Qi2
- C2 modem with US mmWave; N1 Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 6 / Thread
- $1,299 starting price, $100 above last year's Pro Max, still with no 128GB option
- Independent endurance numbers are not out until after 18 September
- The 6.9-inch, ~230g class body remains a two-handed phone
- US models are eSIM-only
- Same aluminum unibody finish language as the 17 Pro Max, including the camera-plateau edge that chipped on that generation
Android Hire Verdict — Biggest iPhone, biggest battery jump
If you already stretch for the Pro Max every year, the 18 Pro Max is the one to wait in line for: variable aperture, A20 Pro, and a battery Apple is willing to call the largest increase in iPhone history. The $100 price rise is real, and we do not yet have GSMArena-style endurance hours to compare with the 17 Pro Max's 17:58h active-use record. Pre-order it if battery life is why you buy the large iPhone; otherwise the 18 Pro at $1,199 is the same camera and chip in a lighter body.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max video
Apple's official Introducing film covers both Pro models, including the Pro Max's larger battery and longer video playback.
Official video: Apple. Embedded from the brand channel — watch on YouTube for the original.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max in depth
Battery is why the Pro Max still exists
Apple says eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro Max units deliver up to 45 hours of video playback, versus 36 hours on the 18 Pro. Five minutes of wired charging is rated for about seven hours of video. A new real-world usage model Apple published with the launch claims up to 30 hours of mixed use on a full charge.
That is the gap the $100 step from the 18 Pro actually buys, along with the 6.9-inch panel. Cameras, A20 Pro, RAM, storage tiers and iOS 27 are shared.
Same cameras, bigger viewfinder
The rear trio is identical to the 18 Pro: 48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture, 48MP 4x telephoto, 48MP ultrawide, 18MP Center Stage front. Pro controls, Apple Reference Image and 4K Dolby Vision time-lapse all carry over.
The practical difference is holding a 6.9-inch 3000-nit panel when you review 48MP files and 4K120 video. If you edit on the phone, that is worth the size.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max benchmarks
Same A20 Pro as the 18 Pro; estimates only until independent labs publish device results after the 18 September on-sale date. The larger chassis should sustain peak GPU longer than the 18 Pro.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs the competition
How the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max compares against the Apple iPhone 18 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL — its closest rivals in our directory.
| Spec | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 18 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Google Pixel 11 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,299 | $1,199 | $1,299 | $1,299 |
| Display | 6.9" LTPO OLED 120Hz | 6.3" LTPO OLED 120Hz | 6.9" QHD+ LTPO 120Hz | 6.8" LTPO OLED 120Hz |
| Chipset | Apple A20 Pro (2nm) | Apple A20 Pro (2nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Google Tensor G6 |
| Camera | 48MP variable aperture | 48MP variable aperture | 200MP + 5x + 3x + UW | 50MP + 48MP 5x + 48MP UW |
| Battery | Up to 45h video (eSIM) | Up to 36h video (eSIM) | 5000mAh · 60W wired | 5115mAh · 45W / 25W Qi2.2 |
| AnTuTu 10 | ~3,100,000 (est.) | ~3,100,000 (est.) | ~2,628,000 | ~1,611,000 |
| Our score | 93/100 | 92/100 | 90/100 | 89/100 |
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max full specifications
Launch
- Announced
- September 9, 2026
- Released
- September 18, 2026
- Status
- Pre-order · Available September 18, 2026
Network
- Technology
- GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
- 5G bands
- Sub-6 + mmWave (US); C2 modem
- Speed
- HSPA, LTE, 5G
Body
- Dimensions
- 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm
- Weight
- 249 g
- Build
- Ceramic Shield 2 front, aluminum unibody, color-matched back glass
- SIM
- eSIM only (USA); Nano-SIM + eSIM internationally
- Durability
- IP68 (up to 6m for 30 min)
Display
- Type
- LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion, Always-On, Dolby Vision, 3000 nits peak
- Size
- 6.9 inches
- Resolution
- 2868 x 1320 pixels, ~460 ppi
- Protection
- Ceramic Shield 2, anti-reflective coating
- Other
- Smaller Dynamic Island; up to 3 Live Activities
Platform
- OS
- iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI (beta)
- Chipset
- Apple A20 Pro (2 nm)
- CPU
- 6-core with integrated Neural Accelerators
- GPU
- 7-core Apple GPU
- NPU
- Dual 16-core Neural Engine
Memory
- Card slot
- No
- Internal
- 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB, 12GB RAM
- Technology
- NVMe
Main Camera
- Setup
- Triple 48MP Fusion (shared with iPhone 18 Pro)
- Wide
- 48 MP Fusion Main, variable aperture f/1.48–f/4, sensor-shift OIS
- Telephoto
- 48 MP Fusion, 4x optical zoom
- Ultrawide
- 48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide, macro
- Video
- 4K up to 120fps Dolby Vision, ProRes / ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, 4K HDR time-lapse
Selfie Camera
- Single
- 18 MP Center Stage ultrawide
- Video
- 4K Dolby Vision
Sound
- Loudspeaker
- Yes, stereo speakers
- 3.5mm jack
- No
Comms
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7 (N1)
- Bluetooth
- 6.0 (N1)
- Other
- Thread, NFC, UWB, dual-frequency GPS, Satellite SOS
- USB
- USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort
Features
- Fingerprint
- No (Face ID)
- Sensors
- Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, LiDAR
- Other
- Camera Control, Action button, Crash Detection
Battery
- Rated video
- Up to 45 hours video playback (eSIM-only US models)
- Charging
- 50% in ~15 min wired; 5 min ≈ 7h video; MagSafe/Qi2 50% in 30 min
Misc
- Colors
- Black, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
- Price
- $1,299 US (256GB)
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max FAQ
How much does the iPhone 18 Pro Max cost in the US?
It starts at $1,299 for 256GB, $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. 512GB, 1TB and 2TB configurations sit above that. Pre-orders opened 12 September 2026; stores get it on 18 September.
iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max?
Same cameras, same A20 Pro, same iOS 27. The Pro Max adds a 6.9-inch display and a substantially larger battery — Apple rates eSIM-only Pro Max units at up to 45 hours of video playback versus 36 hours on the Pro. Pick the Pro if you want one-handed use; pick the Max if battery life is the reason you already buy the large iPhone.
When is the iPhone 18 Pro Max release date?
It was announced 9 September 2026. US pre-orders opened 12 September. It goes on sale Friday, 18 September 2026 — the same day as the 18 Pro. Some 256GB and Burgundy Max orders have already slipped into early October at Apple's store.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max worth upgrading from the 17 Pro Max?
The cameras and A20 Pro are the reasons to move. Display size stays 6.9 inches. Apple says video playback jumps from 39 hours on last year's Max to 45 hours on eSIM-only 18 Pro Max units. If you mainly want battery, wait for lab tests; if you want the variable-aperture main camera, this is the large iPhone that has it.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max have a SIM tray?
Not in the US. US models are eSIM-only, which Apple says recovers about two extra hours of video playback versus a physical tray. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all support eSIM on this generation.
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