A massive battery upgrade is the least exciting part of upgrading to a new iPhone, as Apple typically makes negligible increments, with only the “Pro Max” variant receiving preferential treatment in this regard.
The iPhone 18 Pro isn’t going to be an exception when it launches later this year, as it’ll sport an embarrassingly low increase in battery capacity, but don’t believe the naysayers who think this is the Cupertino firm being stingy or that the runtimes will be poor.
Instead, we’d like to believe that this is just Apple’s way of mocking its competitors as it holds tremendous superiority in offering an efficient platform to buyers while only bringing in single-digit battery capacity improvements.
Android smartphone makers needed to adopt an entirely different battery technology and bump the capacity to have even a sliver of an edge over Apple
It’s easy to criticize the California-based giant for being hesitant to transition to silicon-carbon battery technology, but then, we shouldn’t hold a biased view because Samsung and Google have refrained from jumping on the same bandwagon. The difference here is that Apple will hardly require it, at least not right now, as it relies on a multitude of optimizations, including iOS, not to mention its expertise in chip design and power efficiency.
What’s insanely impressive is how the company brought such superior architectural changes to the A19 Pro, to the point that it can tweak its efficiency cores to deliver significantly better performance at zero power draw compared to the A18 Pro, showing that it’s miles ahead of its rivals.
Additionally, it reduced its chipset’s manufacturing costs by designing up to 10 percent smaller die compared to its immediate predecessors. With the A20 Pro launching later this year, which is Apple’s first 2nm SoC, the company will showcase record battery life gains again, putting the competition on notice that a lot can be achieved without bringing in major battery capacity upgrades.
| Battery capacity | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Capacity difference (iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max) | Capacity difference (iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM version | 4,288mAh | 5,100mAh-5,200mAh+ | 4,252mAh | 5,088mAh | Up to 2.20 percent | 0.85 percent |
| non-eSIM version | 4,056mAh | 5,000mAh+ | 3,988mAh | 4,823mAh | 3.67 percent | 1.71 percent |
We’ve already discussed at length how the A20 Pro and C2 5G modem pairing will introduce record battery life for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and if you wish to test those claims, have a look at the results below, where the iPhone 17 Pro Max is fighting off an onslaught of silicon-carbon-battery-equipped flagships that appear to be superior on paper.
Android smartphone makers need to use batteries that are nearly 50 percent the capacity of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s cell to beat it
Taking a look at an extensive battery drain test from the YouTube channel PhoneBuff, even though every Android flagship featuring a silicon-carbon battery beats the iPhone 17 Pro Max, these devices need to go above and beyond to overtake its rival. For instance, Apple’s latest and greatest lasts for a total of 29 hours and 5 minutes.
The OnePlus 15 and its 7,300mAh cell last for 33 hours and 10 minutes, outpacing the iPhone 17 Pro Max by 4 hours and 5 minutes. While this is an impressive statistic, the OnePlus 15 requires a 43.48 percent larger battery to obtain a 14.04 percent higher endurance than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
| PhoneBuff's battery drain test | Battery capacity | Total runtime | Difference in runtime compared to iPhone 17 Pro Max | Difference in percentage compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max | Battery capacity difference compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro Max (eSIM version) | 5,088mAh | 29 hours and 5 minutes | |||
| OnePlus 15 | 7,300mAh | 33 hours and 10 minutes | +4 hours and 5 minutes | +14.04 percent | 43.48 percent larger |
| OPPO Find X9 Pro | 7,500mAh | 31 hours and 12 minutes | +2 hours and 7 minutes | +7.28 percent | 47,41 percent larger |
| Honor Magic 8 Pro | 7,100mAh | 29 hours and 59 minutes | +0 hours and 54 minutes | +3.10 percent | 39.54 percent larger |
| Vivo X300 Pro | 6,510mAh | 29 hours and 50 minutes | +0 hours and 45 minutes | +2.58 percent | 27.95 percent larger |
Now just imagine the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with the 2nm chipsets, a C2 5G modem, power-efficient displays, a new N2 wireless chip, and an improved version of Liquid Glass in iOS 27? The possibilities to get those record-high battery timings will be endless. In short, Apple can achieve nearly the same battery life as its competition by ensuring that its entire platform is incredibly efficient.
Monstrous specifications may be compelling on paper, but with Android smartphone manufacturers using ‘off the shelf’ parts to offer the entire package, it’s clear that Apple is dominating in this particular area. With WWDC 2026 kicking off tomorrow, we’re excited to see what changes Apple brings to iOS 27, and, as always, we’ll keep readers updated on the latest.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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