Overview
- Multiple outlets report a Weibo tipster posted prototype figures in early June showing about 4,288 mAh for eSIM‑only iPhone 18 Pro units and about 4,056 mAh for physical‑SIM variants.
- The leaks attribute the difference to the absence of a physical SIM tray in some markets, which frees internal space that can be used for a slightly larger battery cell.
- The same supply‑chain sources also repeat earlier claims that the iPhone 18 Pro Max is testing a much larger pack in the roughly 5,100–5,200 mAh range and that its thickness may remain near 8.75mm.
- Outlets emphasize these numbers are unconfirmed prototypes and may change before Apple’s expected September reveal, and they note that efficiency gains from a reported A20/A20 Pro 2nm chip and software tweaks could matter more than raw mAh increases.
- If true, regional battery splits could mean buyers in markets that keep physical SIM slots get marginally smaller cells, while markets adopting eSIM (and any expansion of that policy) would gain the larger battery variant.