iPhone 18 Pro Max's Thicker Design Could Make It Heaviest iPhone Ever

[MacRumors]

Hardware changes Apple has planned for the iPhone 18 Pro Max will make it the heaviest iPhone yet, claims a Chinese leaker.

Apple isn't expected to change the screen size of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and it will feature the same 6.9-inch display as the current model. However, according to Weibo-based account Instant Digital, the body of the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, tipping its weight over 240 grams.

In a follow-up post on Weibo, Instant Digital says the difference between the two generations will be about 10 grams, so it sounds like we're looking at around 243 grams. That would make next year's iPhone 18 Pro Max approximately 3 grams more than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is currently the heaviest model Apple has produced.

Apple's use of titanium instead of stainless steel made the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models lighter. Apple then switched away from titanium to less-dense aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro models, but internal changes and slightly thicker designs bumped up their weight again. The iPhone 17 Pro Max weighs 233 grams, up from 227 grams.

Pro Max model weights:

• iPhone XS Max: 208 grams
• iPhone 11 Pro Max: 226 grams
• iPhone 12 Pro Max: 228 grams
• iPhone 13 Pro Max: 238 grams
• iPhone 14 Pro Max: 240 grams
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: 221 grams
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 227 grams
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 233 grams
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: ~243 grams?

In a swipe at the iPhone Air's reported poor sales, the leaker claims Apple has "figured out" that making iPhones thinner and lighter doesn't necessarily make them more attractive to consumers if that means compromising on features and battery life.

The leaker doesn't give a specific reason for the alleged thicker design of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but a larger battery is the most likely cause. Apple is also said to be adopting a new type of vapor chamber that uses stainless steel.

In addition, there are camera upgrades rumored – a Main camera with a variable aperture and a new three-layer stacked image sensor developed by Samsung – and potentially changes coming to the Dynamic Island and Face ID. Whether the weight increase is due to the cumulative effect of multiple changes or a single hardware upgrade remains unclear.

Instant Digital has a mixed but occasionally reliable track record. The account previously revealed accurate details such as the Yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus finishes and the Titanium Milanese Loop for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, though not all of its past claims have proven correct.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall of 2026.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Pro Max's Thicker Design Could Make It Heaviest iPhone Ever

 

[MacUserFella]

If it means better battery life and cameras, I don’t care, it’s worth it

 

[ForkHandles]

For those that don’t use the metric system

Take a 4” cube (10cm) and fill it with water. The water has a weight of exactly 1kg, and a volume of 1 litre. A 1000 grams and a 1000 millilitres if you will.

Take a 0.4” cube, 1cm to be precise and fill it with water, you have 1gram and 1 millilitre.

So the weight of this iPhone is going up by 10 little cm cubes of water.

 

[Naraxus]

You have something with more features/components you add weight to a product.

Imagine that....

 

[ThisIsMike]

Apple isn't expected to change the size of the iPhone 18 Pro Max…. the body of the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Max.”

So then they ARE changing the size. I think what you meant to say is that they aren’t changing the screen dimensions.

 

[The Game 161]

Even bigger battery? Wonder if they are aiming for 5500 battery

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

We really need an iPhone Ultra.

 

[UltimaKilo]

They may be finally getting it. It’s still too early to believe.

 

[JCCL]

We really need an iPhone Ultra.

Why? I'd rather have Apple give us the top end model in the Pro Max than to create another higher priced tier, with features that would be previously included in the Pro Max line now under this new paywall.

 

[Kylo83]

Give me a bigger screen

 

[neuropsychguy]

They may be finally getting it. It’s still too early to believe.

Who is getting what? Apple's been doing larger/heavier phones since the iPhone 7. The iPhone Air is the exception.

 

[ghostface147]

To those that state phones are getting too heavy and not affected by physical issues like arthritis, better hit the gym to be able to hold one.

 

[Jeremy3292]

Apple has "figured out" that making iPhones thinner and lighter doesn't necessarily make them more attractive to consumers if that means compromising on features and battery life.

Wow who would've thought that?!? Almost everyone except the four people on here who bought the Air and will quote this and say "BUT THIN!". Everyone else is like yeah duh.

We are a LONG way away from a thin phone that isn't compromised.

 

[darthbane2k]

If it means better battery life and cameras, I don’t care, it’s worth it

You realise its still supposed to be a PHONE right?

 

[goodcow]

I just want a phone I can fit comfortably in my hand, and use one-handed. Bring back the mini.

 

[darthbane2k]

To those that state phones are getting too heavy and not affected by physical issues like arthritis, better hit the gym to be able to hold one.

Good ergonomics has nothing to do with how often someone goes to the gym. I hit the gym daily and the Pro Max still gave me RSI.

 

[thenewperson]

Who is getting what? Apple's been doing larger/heavier phones since the iPhone 7. The iPhone Air is the exception.

These people’s memories are shot

 

[sunapple]

Wonder if the Apple Sling Sock will support that weight or if you have to get A.S.S. 2.

 

[carswell]

My 16 Pro is already a brick heavy enough to make my gym shorts sag on the side of the pocket it's in, and the 17 Pro is 7 g heavier...

No wonder they've started offering iPhone socks.

 

[applyr]

Bundle it with Apple Socks and I'm ok with it.

 

[DTphonehome]

I've said before that I think the Air was a good move because it freed Apple to go wild on the Pro - add cameras, bigger battery, whatever - without the grumbling from the crowd who felt it was getting too bulky. It's a shame the Air looks like it's not going to survive. But perhaps Apple will take certain design cues and engineering learned from the Air and apply it to the standard iPhone, so they can still continue to bulk up the Pro when they want to.

 

[contacos]

Kind of wild when you consider that a Galaxy Fold 7 is 215g with its 3 displays

 

[djinn]

Bundle it with Apple Socks and I'm ok with it.

Makes sense why they're releasing the straps and socks.

 

[Donkey Man]

Now show the Air's weight, please - the best iPhone since the X. For the benighted and tasteless ones, keep on rocking your bricks!

 

[blairh]

I hate heavy iPhones. This is why future generations of the iPhone Air truly matters.