The iPhone 18 Pro Max Battery Actually Got Bigger
Apple says battery life is better on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. So I opened mine up to see how much of that comes down to the battery itself.
There’s actually more battery in here
The battery I removed is labelled 5,567 mAh. The one in my 17 Pro Max said 5,088 mAh. That’s roughly 9.4% more capacity in the two phones I compared. We don’t just have chip efficiency to thank.
That doesn’t automatically mean 9.4% longer battery life, but it’s a decent jump.
And yes, it’s metal-encased
I noticed the shiny casing as soon as I opened the back. Once the battery was out, I could confirm it. Apple also uses electrically activated adhesive to release it. Getting there is the annoying part.
I had to remove 14 screws to lift the larger vapor chamber and battery assembly. Way too much unscrewing before you even get to the interesting bit.
The battery flex looks different too, and the connectors didn’t look compatible with the 17 Pro Max. I wouldn’t count on swapping these batteries. A bigger battery is good. I just wish getting to it involved fewer screws.
Final Thoughts
The interesting part isn't just that Apple managed to fit a bigger battery inside. It's how the design around it has changed, from the metal casing to the way it's secured and removed.
There's clearly more going on here than a simple capacity increase. Whether those changes make a meaningful difference over time is something we'll only find out with continued use and future repairs.
See you in the next article!
