The iPhone 18 Pro’s battery will apparently be bigger. But not by much

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro could be getting a battery upgrade – though if the rumours are true, it’s not a particularly big one.

• Read more: iPhone 18 Pro Max leak shows a chunkier camera bump – and it might actually be a good thing

According to prolific leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing different battery capacities for the iPhone 18 Pro, depending on the region. The Chinese version is said to feature a 4056mAh battery, while the US model could squeeze in a slightly larger 4288mAh cell.

That difference reportedly comes down to the fact that iPhones sold in China still include a physical SIM card tray, while US models have been eSIM-only since the iPhone 14. Removing the tray frees up a little extra internal space, allowing Apple to fit a slightly larger battery.

If the leak is accurate, the gains from the previous model are fairly small. The Chinese version would increase from 3988mAh in the iPhone 17 Pro to 4056mAh, while the US model would rise from 4252mAh to 4288mAh.

It’s unclear whether the figures come from supply-chain sources or regulatory filings, so they should be treated as unconfirmed for now.

It might also sound rather underwhelming, but battery capacity only tells part of the story. Previous reports suggest that the rumoured A20 Pro chip could be built on TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing process, which is expected to improve power efficiency. If that’s the case, battery life gains may also come from the chip, as much as the battery itself.

There’s also the possibility of a new modem. Rumours suggest that Apple could introduce its second-generation in-house cellular modem, currently expected to be called the C2, which may further improve power efficiency.

Digital Chat Station has also previously claimed that the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max could cross the 5000mAh mark for the first time. Depending on the market, earlier rumours suggested capacities of roughly 5000mAh to 5200mAh.

As always with early iPhone rumours, it’s worth keeping a healthy dose of scepticism handy. Apple is still months away from unveiling the iPhone 18 range, and if history is any guide, we’ll hear plenty more leaks before September rolls around.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.