An external hands-on review published October 1, 2026, recorded a 10-hour-31-minute battery-life estimate on an eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro Max. Its benchmark results also beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the same review, but the newer phone weighs 249 g. That makes it a compelling fit for people who want a large screen, long tested endurance, and more hands-on camera controls—and a less obvious choice if you prioritize a lighter phone.
Battery results, test by test
The 10-hour-31-minute estimate came from a test unit with a 5,567 mAh eSIM-only battery. The physical-SIM configuration is listed at 5,391 mAh. Separate tests of the eSIM-only unit recorded 29 hours 38 minutes of web browsing, 12 hours 4 minutes of video playback, and 14 hours 34 minutes of gaming. Each figure reflects a different test category, not one continuous-use session.
Owner accounts also describe very different day-to-day results. One heavy-use account reported 75–80% charge remaining around 6 p.m.; another owner said the phone was at about 50% by the time they got home when they could not charge at work. Those are individual experiences, not standardized battery tests.
Performance versus the previous Pro Max
In Geekbench 7, the iPhone 18 Pro Max recorded 4,047 in the single-core test and 11,648 in the multi-core test. The same review listed 3,097 and 8,874, respectively, for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. These results favor the newer model in that benchmark; they are not a measure of every app or workload.
| Measure | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
| Weight | 233 g | 249 g |
| Battery capacity, eSIM model | 5,088 mAh | 5,567 mAh |
| Battery-life estimate, eSIM test unit | 7 h 46 min | 10 h 31 min |
| Geekbench 7 single-core score | 3,097 | 4,047 |
| Geekbench 7 multi-core score | 8,874 | 11,648 |
What the main-camera controls add
The iPhone 18 Pro Max’s variable aperture applies to its 48 MP main camera and offers four steps. Aperture controls how much light enters the camera; changing it also affects how much of a scene appears in focus. The ultrawide and telephoto cameras do not have this variable-aperture feature.
Apple’s native Camera app includes manual controls for aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and focus. That gives you more say over exposure, motion, color, and which part of a scene stays sharp, while leaving automatic capture available. A separate review noted one practical limit: the Camera Control button cannot be assigned to adjust aperture or shutter speed.
For a closer look at the smaller model, read our iPhone 18 Pro review. The Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display; the iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display and weighs 211 g.
Weight, price, and who should buy it
At 249 g, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is 16 g heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The extra mass is worth considering alongside the bigger screen and the eSIM-model battery and test results: if you value a large display and prioritize endurance, the trade-off may suit you; if carrying comfort matters more, the smaller iPhone 18 Pro is a lighter option.
The US 256 GB iPhone 18 Pro Max is listed at $1,299. For someone already using an iPhone 17 Pro Max, the newer model’s reported battery and Geekbench results offer measurable improvements, while the weight rises from 233 g to 249 g. Its clearest appeal is to buyers who will use the camera controls or want the large-screen Pro Max form factor; the numbers alone make a less compelling case for anyone who wants a lighter phone.
