The iPhone 18 Pro Max has the longest battery life of any iPhone, lasting almost three days between charges during light use, first reported by Theguardian. The 249g handset is difficult to use one-handed and hard to fit in a pocket, and Gibbs said it made his hand hurt after 10 days.
That light-use run included seven hours of active screen time across apps, browsing, messaging and photos. Battery life was about four hours longer than its predecessor and almost a day longer than the 18 Pro.
Under heavy use, the phone still ended the day with about 50% battery remaining; most people would need to charge it only every second or third day.
The 6.9in 120Hz OLED display has an effective anti-glare coating; Samuel Gibbs described it as bright, crisp and smooth. Its video viewing area is similar to that of most folding phones.
The 18 Pro Max shares the 18 Pro’s A20 Pro chip and camera system, including three 48MP cameras on the back. Its main camera’s variable aperture can open wider for low-light performance or narrow to preserve depth of field.
Other camera additions include AI-powered focus tracking, improved Photographic Styles, Apple’s digital negative feature and automatic cinematic mode for video. Gibbs said the aperture’s impact on image quality was fairly minor, though it allows creative options such as shooting starbursts.
The new Siri AI chatbot can better understand users and perform tasks, and it can see what is on screen or through the camera. It can suggest data from Apple apps, but relies on Messages and Mail rather than third-party apps such as WhatsApp or Gmail.
Gibbs describes the phone as a fairly iterative upgrade on the 17 Pro Max, with the same design and feel. The device pairs near-three-day light-use battery life with a body the reviewer found difficult to use one-handed.
The 18 Pro Max starts at £1,299 (€1,599/$1,299/A$2,299). A full charge takes 70 minutes; the fastest charging speeds require a 60W Power Delivery 3.1 USB-C adaptor with adjustable voltage supply, which is not included.