The iPhone 18 Pro Max could ship with its largest battery ever, a 5,425 mAh cell in the eSIM-only variant, according to a fresh leak that surfaced this week. The catch for US buyers: the same phone may run a less power-efficient modem so Verizon and AT&T can keep their millimeter-wave 5G bragging rights. Apple has penciled in a September 8 launch.
The 5,425 mAh figure for the iPhone 18 Pro Max was reported by Macworld and circulated widely on July 3, with the Nano SIM version pegged at 5,235 mAh. India Today flagged the leak’s source as unverified. The week’s other smartphone news was louder in volume: Xiaomi announced a Redmi with a built-in cooling fan and an 8,550 mAh battery, Nothing teed up a budget phone for July 7, and OnePlus shipped an 8,000 mAh device in India for Rs 22,999.
The Battery Bump Apple Is Reportedly Planning
The 18 Pro Max is the bigger of the two Pro models, and the leak gives it a battery in line with the largest Android flagships. The Nano SIM variant is tipped at 5,235 mAh, the eSIM-only version at 5,425 mAh, both up from 4,823 mAh and 5,088 mAh on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple has not confirmed any of the figures, and the leak originated from a now-deleted post on X, per the fresh 5,425 mAh battery capacity numbers. “The source does not have a well-established track record for Apple leaks, and the information has not been independently verified,” the report noted.
The numbers still matter, even with that asterisk. A jump to 5,425 mAh would put the 18 Pro Max ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s reported 5,000 mAh cell, and Apple’s A20 Pro chip, widely expected to be built on TSMC’s 2nm process, is tipped to be more power-efficient than the A19 Pro. A more efficient LTPO+ display is also rumored alongside it.
- 5,425 mAh: iPhone 18 Pro Max (eSIM, rumored)
- 5,235 mAh: iPhone 18 Pro Max (Nano SIM, rumored)
- 4,823 mAh: iPhone 17 Pro Max (Nano SIM)
- 5,088 mAh: iPhone 17 Pro Max (eSIM)
- 5,000 mAh: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (reported)
Why US Buyers May Get the Less Efficient Modem
The bigger battery is paired with a separate report: the iPhone 18 Pro will use a Qualcomm modem in the US and Apple’s own C2 modem everywhere else. The modem report is traced to a ransomware attack on Apple supplier Tata Electronics. AppleInsider, which verified several documents in the stolen cache, says the Qualcomm hardware includes parts associated with mmWave 5G support: the SDX80M, SDR875, QDM8771, QDM8720, PMK75, PMX75, and QET7100A. The C2 lacks that capability.
C1 and C1X, the C2’s predecessors, are “widely regarded as more power efficient than their Qualcomm counterparts,” per the C2 vs Qualcomm modem split analysis. Apple is, in other words, asking US buyers to accept a less efficient modem to maintain mmWave compatibility with Verizon and AT&T, the carriers that spent heavily building the networks.
Faster-than-you-practically-need download speeds are a carrier bragging point. Longer battery life and plenty-fast-enough download speeds are an Apple bragging point.
John Gruber, writing on Daring Fireball, made the case that the practical effect on users is small. “I never feel like I’m waiting for anything to load because I’m on LTE,” he wrote. “LTE is fast enough, and regular 5G is more than fast enough. 5G mmWave is simply a waste of battery life as far as I’m concerned.” The C2’s arrival would still be the most consequential modem shift for an iPhone in years, and a partial answer to Apple’s years-long effort to design out Qualcomm.
The Leak Pipeline Behind Apple’s Worst Week
The modem story, the battery story, and the design leaks all trace to a single event: a ransomware group calling itself “World Leaks” stole 630 GB of confidential data from Tata Electronics, the Indian manufacturer that assembles iPhones alongside Foxconn. MacRumors described the breach as “arguably the biggest leak in the Apple universe in years.” AppleInsider confirmed the authenticity of several documents in the cache; Apple has not commented publicly.
The fallout has been wide. Two drop test videos of the iPhone 18 Pro surfaced in late June, showing a gray unit with a camera module “similar to that of the iPhone 17 Pro” and a “less conspicuous” dual-tone back. X-ray teardowns, shared on June 30, point to a smaller Dynamic Island, a larger vapor chamber, and a relocated infrared emitter for Face ID. Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Ultra, also made the rounds as a physical case model with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover screen.
For context on what has already surfaced about the design, the A20 chip and smaller Dynamic Island rumors run separately from the Tata breach, and predate it by months.
- The iPhone 18 Pro’s Qualcomm vs C2 modem split
- Two drop test videos of the iPhone 18 Pro in gray
- X-ray teardowns showing a smaller Dynamic Island
- The bill of materials for the US iPhone 18 Pro
- Internal Apple documents on the C2 modem, codenamed Ganymede
Xiaomi’s Counterpunch: A Phone With a Fan
While the iPhone story gathered headlines, Xiaomi was busy shipping. The Redmi K90 Ultra launched in China this week at 2,999 Chinese yuan for the 12 GB + 256 GB base model, with a top-of-the-line 16 GB + 512 GB option at 3,699 Chinese yuan. The hook is an active cooling fan, embedded in the camera module and marketed as Vortex Airflow Design. Redmi claims it can lower the phone’s temperature “by up to 10°C in under 100 seconds” while keeping fan noise at 32 dB at full speed.
The Redmi K90 Ultra’s spec sheet pairs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with a 6.83-inch 1.5K LTPS OLED running at 165 Hz, a 50 MP main camera paired with an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, and an 8,550 mAh battery that charges at 100 W over USB-C with 22.5 W reverse wired charging support. The phone runs HyperOS 3 on top of Android 16, and carries an IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K rating against dust and water.
The K90 Ultra is widely expected to be sold globally under the Poco brand, a pattern Xiaomi has used for the K-series across several generations. Pricing outside China has not been announced. For the launch breakdown, see the Redmi K90 Ultra launch specs and China pricing.
For comparison, the week’s other big-battery Android launches sit in a different price band than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but they share a theme: more capacity, faster charging, and higher wattage on the cable.
| Phone | Battery | Chip | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi K90 Ultra | 8,550 mAh | Snapdragon 8 Elite | CNY 2,999 |
| OnePlus N6 | 8,000 mAh | Dimensity 6360 Apex | INR 22,999 |
| Nothing Phone 4b (rumored) | 5,400 mAh | Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 | TBA |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max (rumored, eSIM) | 5,425 mAh | A20 Pro | TBA |
Nothing and OnePlus Stoke the Mid-Range
Nothing has been teasing its Phone (4b), which arrives on July 7. Tipster Yogesh Brar shared the early specifications: a 6.7-inch AMOLED with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, and storage options of 8 GB plus 128 GB or 256 GB. The 50 MP primary camera is confirmed; Nothing has officially shown the back panel in a teaser, with the company’s signature transparent design and a vertical Glyph Bar LED interface. A 5,400 mAh battery ships inside. The Nothing Phone 4b launch and spec leak sits in Moneycontrol’s coverage.
OnePlus launched the N6 in India this week at Rs 22,999 for 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, with a Rs 24,999 6 GB option. The 8,000 mAh cell charges at 45 W over a wired connection, supports bypass charging, and OnePlus claims it can run for up to three days between charges. The MediaTek Dimensity 6360 Apex is a modest chipset, paired with a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD at 120 Hz. The N6 goes on sale July 4 through Amazon.in, with an effective price of Rs 19,999 after launch discounts. The OnePlus N6 launch, India price, and sale date are in 91mobiles’ report.
The September 8 Countdown
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has pegged September 8, 2026 as “the most likely date” for Apple to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Ultra, Apple’s first foldable. The event would land a day after Labor Day, on the first Tuesday of September. Gurman hedged that the date could slip to September 9. Apple’s pre-orders would follow a few days later, with the phones going on sale in mid-September.
The Pro line is expected to ship with the A20 Pro chip, a smaller Dynamic Island, a variable-aperture main camera, a simplified Camera Control, and the modem split. The iPhone Ultra, expected to be priced at around $2,000 or more, will use the A20 chip and the C2 modem globally, with a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID. The standard iPhone 18, per supplier reports, has slipped to spring 2027.
Apple is preparing for a much larger foldable launch than initially planned; production targets for the iPhone Ultra have climbed to 10 million units. And for buyers waiting on the cheapest 2026 iPhone, the base iPhone 18 has slipped to spring 2027 per supplier Largan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the iPhone 18 Pro Max battery capacity?
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored at 5,235 mAh for the Nano SIM model and 5,425 mAh for the eSIM-only model, both up from the 17 Pro Max. The numbers first appeared in a now-deleted X post and were carried into wider coverage by Macworld on July 3. Apple has not commented on the figures.
When will Apple launch the iPhone 18 Pro?
Mark Gurman has pegged September 8, 2026 as the most likely date for Apple’s fall iPhone event, with a possible slip to September 9, the day after Labor Day. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Ultra are all expected on stage.
Why is the iPhone 18 Pro using different modems in different regions?
The iPhone 18 Pro will use a Qualcomm modem in the US because Apple’s in-house C2 modem lacks millimeter-wave 5G support. Verizon and AT&T rely on the technology, and AppleInsider’s analysis of the stolen Tata data suggests the C2 is not yet ready to replace Qualcomm in the US market. International models are expected to use the C2.
How much does the Redmi K90 Ultra cost?
The Redmi K90 Ultra starts at 2,999 Chinese yuan for 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, with a 16 GB + 512 GB top variant at 3,699 Chinese yuan. Xiaomi has not announced pricing for markets outside China, though the phone is widely expected to arrive as a Poco-branded device.
When is the Nothing Phone 4b launching?
Nothing has scheduled the Phone (4b) for July 7, with the event expected to confirm a 6.7-inch AMOLED at 120 Hz, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, and a 5,400 mAh battery. Pricing has not been announced, and the leak comes via tipster Yogesh Brar.
