iPhone 18 Pro Battery Capacities Allegedly Leaked

[MacRumors]

Battery capacities for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro have allegedly surfaced, and the numbers suggest only a modest increase over the iPhone 17 Pro.

According to prolific Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing the iPhone 18 Pro with different battery capacities for the China and U.S. versions of the device, similar to last year's iPhone 17 Pro models. The Chinese model is said to have a roughly 4,056 mAh battery, while the U.S. model is said to have a roughly 4,288 mAh battery.

Apple removed the tray from U.S. iPhones starting with the iPhone 14 lineup, whereas iPhones sold in China have continued to include one (the iPhone Air is an exception – it is eSIM-only worldwide, including in China). Without the tray, Apple can pack a slightly larger battery into the available internal space, hence the difference in capacity.

China / Physical SIM	3,988 mAh	4,056 mAh	+68 mAh, +1.7%
US / eSIM-only	4,252 mAh	4,288 mAh	+36 mAh, +0.8%

Model
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro Leak
Difference

If the figures are accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro's battery capacity increase would be fairly small year-over-year. The China model would gain around 68 mAh compared to the iPhone 17 Pro with a SIM card tray, while the U.S. eSIM-only model would gain around 36 mAh compared to the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro.

Digital Chat Station claimed in February that the iPhone 18 Pro Max battery capacity will move into the "5,000 mAh" range. The leaker suggested around 5,000 mAh for the China version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and around 5,100 mAh to 5,200 mAh for international versions.

It's not clear whether these iPhone 18 Pro figures come from a regulatory database or are based on supply chain information regarding device samples, so the numbers should be considered unconfirmed for now.

It's also worth noting that modest gains aren't necessarily indicative of a modest battery life improvement – the 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 are also likely to get Apple's C2 modem, which could also bring a battery boost.

• 11 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro

The ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro and ‌‌iPhone 18‌‌ Pro Max are expected to launch in September, featuring a smaller Dynamic Island, a simplified Camera Control, and an upgraded main camera with a variable aperture.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Pro Battery Capacities Allegedly Leaked

 

[johannnn]

Thanks EU for forcing me into buying iPhones with inferior batteries.

Every night when I have 1% battery I thank you for forcing me buying iPhones with a sim tray that I have never ever used.

What would we ever do without you EU

/Swede

 

[Korito]

Thanks EU for forcing me into buying iPhones with inferior batteries.

Every night when I have 1% battery I thank you for forcing me buying iPhones with a sim tray that I have never ever used.

What would we ever do without you EU

/Swede

I want a sim tray, so who are you to deny me that?

Maybe you should ask Apple why it’s cheaping out on capacity. Chinese phones are now rocking 6-7-8000 mAh batteries without any issues. So take you complaints to Apple not the institution that ensures we still have some options and freedom.

 

[capamac]

Could boost battery performance by removing Liquid Glass.

 

[contacos]

Shame they aren't using silicon carbon batteries yet. Imagine an iPhone with a 7,000 battery 😍

 

[Pudlo]

amajzing worth upgrading 150%!

 

[JulianL]

Thanks EU for forcing me into buying iPhones with inferior batteries.

Every night when I have 1% battery I thank you for forcing me buying iPhones with a sim tray that I have never ever used.

What would we ever do without you EU

/Swede

I didn't know there was EU regulation involved. If yes then I'm a bit confused. Surely that would mean that the iPhone Air was banned in the EU? Admittedly I'm a Pro Max user so I don't really follow iPhone Air news that closely (and I feel the same as you about wanting the eSIM-only version in the Pro Max available in my country so that I could get the bigger battery) but I wasn't aware that the iPhone Air is unavailable in the EU so surely, assuming it is available, that means that EU legislation is not the blocker here?

I think China was and maybe still is an issue when it comes to eSIMs. Like I say, I don't follow iPhone Air news but weren't there some issues in the early days of the Air rollout getting it approved in China? Did that ever get resolved? Is the iPhone Air now available in China?

If the Air has successfully negotiated all of various regulatory and political hurdles across the world and is on the market in all of the key Apple sales countries then I'll be a bit surprised if Apple continues with the physical SIM model because I would have thought there would be significant cost savings and logistical efficiencies if the next generation Pro models didn't need to be built in 2 versions with different PCBs, different batteries, different chassis cutouts, different supporting paperwork, additional SKU management etc.

 

[jdavid_rp]

Thanks EU for forcing me into buying iPhones with inferior batteries.

Every night when I have 1% battery I thank you for forcing me buying iPhones with a sim tray that I have never ever used.

What would we ever do without you EU

/Swede

Just take a trip to USA or buy an USA version from a reseller

 

[Nyx1]

Apple always playing safe still not using new battery silicon

 

[Happy_John]

I didn't know there was EU regulation involved. If yes then I'm a bit confused. Surely that would mean that the iPhone Air was banned in the EU? Admittedly I'm a Pro Max user so I don't really follow iPhone Air news that closely (and I feel the same as you about wanting the eSIM-only version in the Pro Max available in my country so that I could get the bigger battery) but I wasn't aware that the iPhone Air is unavailable in the EU so surely, assuming it is available, that means that EU legislation is not the blocker here?

I think China was and maybe still is an issue when it comes to eSIMs. Like I say, I don't follow iPhone Air news but weren't there some issues in the early days of the Air rollout getting it approved in China? Did that ever get resolved? Is the iPhone Air now available in China?

If the Air has successfully negotiated all of various regulatory and political hurdles across the world and is on the market in all of the key Apple sales countries then I'll be a bit surprised if Apple continues with the physical SIM model because I would have thought there would be significant cost savings and logistical efficiencies if the next generation Pro models didn't need to be built in 2 versions with different PCBs, different batteries, different chassis cutouts, different supporting paperwork, additional SKU management etc.

No. Both eSIM and physical SIM phones are available in the EU.

Of course the iPhone Air is available in Europe, and Apple Watches too ( which are eSIM / multiSIM only). It's simply that Apple decided to offer eSIM only phones in certain regions.

It's generally worth taking anything MR commenters say when criticizing the EU with a very large pinch of sal - there's a strong Anti-EU bias amongst certain commenters on here, and a lot of what is said has no basis in reality whatsoever, it's just more "EU bad" grandstanding and dogwhistling.

It's a bad look for MR. to be honest. but I guess the management's logic is "clickbait generates clicks".

 

[snipr125]

The battery life on the 17 Pro is exceptional now, just slightly behind the Pro Max where it should be. Previous Pro models had pretty average battery life if being honest. Its now time to completely move on from antiquated SIM trays, and mobile phone companies should be forced by law to make it simple for customers to switch between e-sims as they see fit and not locked in any way.

 

[ThomasJL]

Without the tray, Apple can pack a slightly larger battery into the available internal space, hence the difference in capacity.

That doesn’t justify the removal of the SIM card tray. SIM cards are still one of the most widely used things with smartphones, and fundamental, especially for people who travel outside the US.

Tim Cook likes to cut corners in order to maximize profits. The removal of the SIM card tray is just one of many examples of that. To see some of those examples, watch the video in the first post of the thread on the link below:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/video-exposing-tim-cooks-anti-consumer-decisions.2457033/

 

[Happy_John]

Thanks EU for forcing me into buying iPhones with inferior batteries.

Every night when I have 1% battery I thank you for forcing me buying iPhones with a sim tray that I have never ever used.

What would we ever do without you EU

/Swede

???? The EU has in now ay forced you to buy an iPhone with a physical sim tray.

If you wanted an iPhone that was eSim one, why didn't you just buy one that didn't have a SIM tray? Don't tell me that the EU stopped you from buying one. It didn't.

For reference. I am sitting at my desk in my apartment in the EU, and my iPhone, which is eSim only, and which was bought in the EU, is charging on my desk in front of me.

 

[QuarterSwede]

That doesn’t justify the removal of the SIM card tray. SIM cards are still one of the most widely used things with smartphones, and fundamental, especially for people who travel outside the US.

Tim Cook likes to cut corners in order to maximize profits. The removal of the SIM card tray is just one of many examples of that.

They aren’t fundamental for travel. eSIM apps that let you pick whatever carrier you want are available. Saily is one if you want to check it out. You can have the sim before you land. Doesn’t get easier.

 

[maszaikasza]

Thanks EU for forcing me into buying iPhones with inferior batteries.

Every night when I have 1% battery I thank you for forcing me buying iPhones with a sim tray that I have never ever used.

What would we ever do without you EU

/Swede

There are no EU regulations in this matter. Obviously, you can buy iPhone Air from official EU distribution which has no SIM tray.

 

[Taq'aix]

???? The EU has in now ay forced you to buy an iPhone with a physical sim tray.

If you wanted an iPhone that was eSim one, why didn't you just buy one that didn't have a SIM tray? Don't tell me that the EU stopped you from buying one. It didn't.

For reference. I am sitting at my desk in my apartment in the EU, and my iPhone, which is eSim only, and which was bought in the EU, is charging on my desk in front of me.

Show us the pics, or I didn’t happen

 

[Dr McKay]

Thanks EU for forcing me into buying iPhones with inferior batteries.

Every night when I have 1% battery I thank you for forcing me buying iPhones with a sim tray that I have never ever used.

What would we ever do without you EU

/Swede

Please cite your source that the EU forced Apple to keep the slim slot on European model iPhones.

I’ll save you the bother, you can’t because this was a choice Apple made themselves. European carriers were massively behind American carriers at supporting eSIM when Apple began removing the sim slot. The EU had nothing to do with it.

 

[JulianL]

No. Both eSIM and physical SIM phones are available in the EU.

Of course the iPhone Air is available in Europe, and Apple Watches too ( which are eSIM / multiSIM only). It's simply that Apple decided to offer eSIM only phones in certain regions.

It's generally worth taking anything MR commenters say when criticizing the EU with a very large pinch of sal - there's a strong Anti-EU bias amongst certain commenters on here, and a lot of what is said has no basis in reality whatsoever, it's just more "EU bad" grandstanding and dogwhistling.

It's a bad look for MR. to be honest. but I guess the management's logic is "clickbait generates clicks".

Thanks for the clarification. I was 99.999% sure that was the case (it was pretty much inconceivable to me that the Air wasn't available in the EU and as such its availability is an existence proof that demolishes the poster's anti-EU claim) but I thought I'd go in soft rather than start some sort of flame war because since I'm not in an EU country and don't follow Air news there was always that 0.001% chance that my understanding (Air is available in the EU) was wrong.