Regulatory filings in China have confirmed the battery capacities of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, providing the most concrete specification details yet for the devices expected to launch this September.
The 3C (China Compulsory Certification) listings, reported by Gizmochina, show the iPhone 18 Pro carrying a battery rated at 4,056 mAh for the China version and 4,288 mAh for the US version. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is certified at 5,391 mAh (China) and 5,567 mAh (US). The discrepancy between regional versions is standard and relates to dual-SIM configuration differences.
The Pro Max sees the more significant upgrade. Compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 5,088 mAh (US version), the 18 Pro Max gains roughly 479 mAh, an increase of approximately 10 percent. The iPhone 18 Pro, meanwhile, shows only modest gains: the US version at 4,288 mAh is up just 36 mAh from the iPhone 17 Pro’s 4,252 mAh.
The 2nm chip factor
The battery upgrades come alongside expectations that the iPhone 18 Pro series will be powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process, a significant architectural jump from the 3nm A19 in the current generation. The combination of a larger battery in the Pro Max and a more power-efficient chip could deliver the most meaningful battery life improvement in several years, particularly for the larger model.
The Pro Max is also rumoured to feature a variable-aperture main lens for the first time, along with three 48-megapixel sensors and a periscope telephoto lens. The Dynamic Island cutout is expected to be slightly smaller, with some Face ID components potentially hidden under the display.
September launch
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September alongside Apple’s first foldable device, the iPhone Ultra. The standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Plus have been pushed to spring 2027, making the Pro models and the foldable the headline devices for Apple’s fall lineup.