iPhone 18 Pro Max tipped to be ‘heaviest iPhone ever’ — here’s 3 reasons why that’s a good thing
iPhone 18 Pro Max tipped to be ‘heaviest iPhone ever’ — here’s 3 reasons why that’s a good thing
Publish Date: 2026-07-10 01:26:00
Source Domain: www.tomsguide.com
Usually, I love it when phones get thinner and lighter, but that may not be the case with the iPhone 18 Pro Max if rumors are true about it getting thicker and heavier. Ice Universe reports that the upcoming flagship model will measure around 9mm thick and weigh approximately 7 grams more than the current iPhone 17 Pro Max (that’s a 0.25mm increase in thickness).
Apparently, the added heft can be largely attributed to the larger batteries that the company is planning to use. Regulatory filings show a 5,567 mAh battery bound for the U.S. and a 5,391 mAh battery for China—representing a massive 500 mAh increase in capacity. Given that jump, it makes complete sense why the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s weight is ballooning.
I totally understand this move, as battery life continues to be a top priority for any smartphone user, but it does expose a dilemma that Apple continually faces in its attempt to balance design and endurance. There’s good and bad to this latest iPhone 18 Pro Max rumor, so let me break down the pros and cons.
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iPhone 18 Pro Max: Rumored size comparison
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Thickness | Weight |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max (rumored) | 9mm | 240 grams |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 8.75mm | 233 grams |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 8.25mm | 227 grams |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 8.25mm | 221 grams |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | 7.85mm | 240 grams |
Longer battery life
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
I’ve tested the last few iPhone generations and, for the most part, each subsequent model offers improved battery life. While the rumors hint that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will get a significant capacity boost, that extra juice consequently means a thicker and heavier design.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Battery Size |
| iPhone 18 Pro | 5,425 mAh |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 5,088 mAh |
More capacity will simply allow the upcoming flagship to last much longer on a single charge. Based on the rumors, the battery will be 9.87% larger than the one in the iPhone 17 Pro Max — though it’s difficult to…
