The battery capacities of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro have reportedly surfaced, and the numbers suggest only a modest increase over the iPhone 17 Pro.
According to the prolific Weibo-based Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing the iPhone 18 Pro with different battery capacities for the Chinese and US versions of the device, similar to last year’s iPhone 17 Pro models. The Chinese model is said to have a battery of around 4,056 mAh, while the US model is said to have a battery of around 4,288 mAh.
Apple removed the tray from US iPhones starting with the iPhone 14 line, while iPhones sold in China continued to include one (the iPhone Air is an exception: it’s eSIM only worldwide, including China). Without the tray, Apple can fit a slightly larger battery into the available internal space, hence the difference in capacity.
| Model | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro leaked | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| China / physical SIM | 3,988mAh | 4,056mAh | +68mAh, +1.7% |
| United States / eSIM only | 4,252mAh | 4,288mAh | +36mAh, +0.8% |
If the numbers are accurate, the increase in iPhone 18 Pro battery capacity would be quite small year over year. The Chinese model would gain around 68 mAh over the iPhone 17 Pro with a SIM card tray, while the eSIM-only US model would gain around 36 mAh over the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro.
Digital Chat Station claimed in February that the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s battery capacity would increase to the “5,000 mAh” range. The leaker suggested around 5,000 mAh for the Chinese version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and around 5,100 mAh to 5,200 mAh for the international versions.
It is unclear whether these iPhone 18 Pro figures come from a regulatory database or are based on supply chain information regarding device samples, so these figures should be considered unconfirmed at this time.
It’s also worth noting that modest gains aren’t necessarily indicative of a modest improvement in battery life: iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to benefit from the new A20 Pro chip, which will use TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm process and should subsequently be more power efficient. The devices will also likely receive Apple’s C2 modem, which could also increase the battery.
The ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro and ‌‌iPhone 18‌‌ Pro Max are expected to launch in September, with a smaller dynamic island, simplified camera control, and an improved main camera with variable aperture.
