Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max Goes All In on Battery and Camera

Apple's newest flagship is out, and reviewers agree on one thing: this isn't a redesign, it's a refinement, with real gains where it counts.

What's new

iPhone 18 Pro Max keeps the same 6.9-inch display size as last year but adds a variable aperture main camera, Apple's first. It shifts between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0, giving photographers more control over depth of field and better results in low light. It also enables a 12MP optical-quality 2x telephoto shot from the same lens.

Power comes from the new A20 Pro chip, which reviewers describe as delivering record-breaking performance for a phone this size. Battery life got a real boost too, Apple rates the Pro Max for up to 45 hours of video playback, and reviewers reported averaging around 30 hours of everyday use before needing to recharge.

Design stays familiar

After last year's Pro redesign, Apple kept this year's changes smaller. The phone is about 0.6 ounces heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and colors now include Burgundy and Glacier blue alongside Silver and Black. Storage starts at 256GB and now goes up to 2TB on both Pro models.

Price and availability

The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, a $100 increase over last year's Pro Max. It went on sale September 18, alongside the standard iPhone 18 Pro at $1,199. Some carriers are already reporting shipping delays due to demand.

What reviewers are saying

Tom's Guide called it the most powerful iPhone ever in a familiar body, while Gizmodo described the phone as a collection of smaller upgrades that add up to a meaningfully better experience rather than one flashy new feature. Compared to Apple's other launch this month, the foldable iPhone Duo, several outlets noted the Pro Max lacks a single "wow" feature but wins on substance and battery life.