Apple just confirmed battery numbers for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the Pro Max now holds the record for longest battery life ever in an iPhone. Both models beat their iPhone 17 Pro predecessors, with the Pro Max pulling ahead by a wide margin.
iPhone 18 Pro Battery Life
- Typical use: up to 24 hours
- Video playback: up to 36 hours
- Streaming video: up to 33 hours
iPhone 18 Pro Max Battery Life
- Typical use: up to 30 hours
- Video playback: up to 45 hours
- Streaming video: up to 40 hours
How It Compares to the iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro topped out at 33 hours of video playback and 30 hours of streaming. The iPhone 17 Pro Max managed 39 hours of playback and 35 hours of streaming. Line that up against this year’s numbers and the jump is clear:
| Model | Video Playback | Streaming Video |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro | 33 hours | 30 hours |
| iPhone 18 Pro | 36 hours | 33 hours |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 39 hours | 35 hours |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | 45 hours | 40 hours |
That’s a three-hour gain for the standard Pro and a six-hour jump for the Pro Max, the biggest year-over-year battery improvement Apple has made in this lineup in a while. Apple bases its “typical use” figure on median usage across messaging, photos, music, social apps, streaming, gaming, browsing, and navigation, so it’s meant to reflect a real day of use rather than a lab-only benchmark like video playback.
Faster Charging Comes Along Too
Battery capacity isn’t the only upgrade. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max can now hit 50 percent charge in just 15 minutes, but only if you’re using a 60W or higher Adjustable Voltage Supply adapter. Stick with a standard 35W adapter and you’re looking at 50 percent in 30 minutes instead. MagSafe and Qi2.2 wireless charging both top out at 25W.
If you’ve been charging your iPhone overnight out of habit, this is the generation where a fast charger on your desk actually starts to matter.
When You Can Order One
Preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max open Saturday, September 12, at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time. If last year’s launch is anything to go by, popular colors and the Pro Max in particular will move fast, so it’s worth setting an alarm if you want first-batch delivery.
For anyone who lives on their phone all day and has been waiting for battery life to stop being the excuse to upgrade, the Pro Max finally gives you a real reason.
