The iPhone 18 Pro Max is the newest iPhone in our library, so there is little sales data on it yet and a lot of interest in what changed. This page collects Apple’s documented specifications, explains what they mean for the cable, charger and case you buy, and compares it with the iPhone 17 Pro Max it replaces. Every figure is traced to a source listed at the bottom of the page.
Key specs
| Release date | 2026-09-18 |
|---|---|
| Status | Current lineup |
| Charging port | USB-C |
| USB spec | USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) |
| Wireless charging | Qi2, MagSafe |
| Charger in box | No |
| Display type | OLED |
| Display size (in) | 6.9 |
| Refresh rate (Hz) | 120 |
| Chip | A20 Pro |
| Storage options | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Launch price (USD, MSRP) | $1299 |
The wired charging row is blank on purpose: Apple publishes a fast-charge claim tied to a type of adapter, not a maximum wattage, and we do not invent a figure. The iFixit score row is blank because iFixit’s page for this phone showed none when we checked.
Where does the iPhone 18 Pro Max fit?
Apple’s newsroom says pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max began Saturday, September 12, 2026, with availability beginning Friday, September 18, and a later post confirms the phones arrived in Apple Stores that day. The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 in the US, against $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro, and Apple lists 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities. The four finishes are black, silver, glacier and a new burgundy.
It is too new for the sales rankings we cite, so it sits fifteenth in our library on the strength of being Apple’s current flagship, not on sales. Apple’s main lineup page lists the iPhone 18 Pro family alongside the iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e and iPhone 16. See the Apple hub for the whole lineup, including the smaller iPhone 18 Pro.
What cable does the iPhone 18 Pro Max use?
The phone has a single USB-C connector. Apple’s specifications list charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 data transfer at up to 10Gb/s, the middle tier of USB 3.2 as defined by the USB-IF (5, 10 and 20 Gb/s); see our USB speed guide. Apple’s pages show the same 10Gb/s figure for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, so the data path did not change.
The USB-IF says USB products run at the lowest common speed, so the cable matters: Apple says the box cable supports fast charging and works with USB-C power adapters and computer ports, and does not call it a 10Gb/s data cable. Buy a cable made for fast transfers if you need one, and read cable buying safety. Our USB-C explainer covers the connector.
What charger does the iPhone 18 Pro Max need?
Wired. This is where the 18 Pro Max moves. Apple says it can charge up to 50% in around 15 minutes when using a 60W-capable adapter or higher with Adjustable Voltage Supply, paired with a USB-C charging cable, both sold separately. The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s equivalent claim was up to 50% in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter. Adjustable Voltage Supply is a USB Power Delivery feature in which a device can request intermediate voltages; the USB-IF describes an adjustable voltage mode on its USB Power Delivery page. Apple does not publish a maximum wired wattage, so our table leaves the field empty. See the wattage guide for other published figures.
MagSafe. Apple lists MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W, and says up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 35W adapter or higher and a MagSafe Charger. Apple’s MagSafe page names the iPhone 18 Pro Max among the models that reach 25W with a 30W or greater adapter rated 15V/2.0A or higher, and notes that charging is limited to 16W while USB-C or Lightning accessories are connected. Plug the charger in first so MagSafe can verify it is safe to deliver maximum power.
Qi2. Apple also lists Qi2 wireless charging up to 25W; see Qi2 explained and the wireless charger guide. For a short checklist, read which charger is safe for my phone.
The screen, explained
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch all-screen OLED display, branded Super Retina XDR, at 2868-by-1320 pixels and 460 ppi, with Dynamic Island, an Always-On display and ProMotion with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. Apple lists 1000 nits typical maximum brightness, 1600 nits peak for HDR and 3000 nits peak outdoors, the same figures as the 17 Pro Max.
OLED means each pixel makes its own light; see OLED explained. The adaptive range lets the screen slow down when little is moving; the refresh rate guide covers it. Apple does not use the term LTPO on the pages we checked, so our table says plain OLED; see LTPO OLED.
Performance, cameras and battery
The A20 Pro chip has a 6-core CPU with 2 super cores and 4 efficiency cores, a 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, according to Apple. Apple’s announcement says it is built on a 2-nanometer process, with 50 percent more memory bandwidth than A19 Pro, and that a next-generation vapor chamber dissipates even more heat.
The camera system is a 48MP Pro Fusion setup. The 48MP Fusion Main has a variable aperture (f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0) at 24 mm, and also enables a 12MP optical-quality 2x telephoto. Alongside it are a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2) and a 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, 4x, f/2.8) that also enables an 8x optical-quality option. Apple lists 8x optical-quality zoom in, a 16x optical-quality range and digital zoom up to 40x, with pro controls for aperture, shutter speed and white balance.
Apple lists up to 30 hours of typical use, up to 45 hours of video playback and up to 40 hours of streamed video. These are manufacturer figures.
Build and durability
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has an aluminum unibody with a Ceramic Shield 2 front and a Ceramic Shield back. It is rated IP68, with a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes under IEC standard 60529. It measures 6.43 inches tall, 3.07 inches wide and 0.34 inches deep and weighs 249 grams, against 233 grams for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G on sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands and dual eSIM.
How it compares with the iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple’s specification pages let you compare directly. Both have a 6.9-inch OLED display with ProMotion up to 120Hz, a USB-C port at USB 3 up to 10Gb/s, MagSafe and Qi2 up to 25W, 2TB as a top capacity and an aluminum unibody. The 18 Pro Max moves from the A19 Pro to the A20 Pro, adds a variable aperture on the main camera, lists up to 45 hours of video playback against 39 hours and a 15-minute fast-charge claim with a 60W-capable adapter against 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, and weighs 249 grams against 233 grams. It launched at $1,299, against $1,199 for the 17 Pro Max.
What is in the box
Apple’s specifications list the iPhone, a 1 m USB-C charge cable and documentation. Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max do not include a power adapter or EarPods, and encourages you to use any compatible USB-C power adapter. To reach the 15-minute claim you need an adapter that meets Apple’s description, so check the wattage and the Adjustable Voltage Supply wording before buying.
Repair overview
iFixit has a device page for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which describes it as released in September 2026. When we checked it showed no repairability score and no guides we could confirm, so we link only to the device page. We never copy iFixit’s text.
Read our repair overview for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, battery replacement basics, screen replacement basics and how to read repairability scores. Apple says a professional provider using genuine parts is the safest route for most battery repairs.
Video reviews
We have not verified individual review videos for this phone, so we do not list any. You can browse more video reviews of the iPhone 18 Pro Max on YouTube.
Compatible accessories
Categories to look at: MagSafe cases, 60W chargers and screen protectors. We do not have affiliate links yet; when we do they will be marked as paid links.
See the accessories hub, chargers and power banks, which have airline rules.
Who should buy it, and who might skip it
Facts that help you decide:
- You want the newest iPhone. It reached stores on September 18, 2026.
- You want the fastest listed wired charging. Apple lists up to 50% in around 15 minutes with a 60W-capable adapter.
- You want the biggest iPhone screen. It is 6.9 inches, against 6.3 inches on the iPhone 18 Pro.
- You want a lower price. It launched at $1,299; the iPhone 18 Pro launched at $1,199 and the iPhone 17 at $799.
- You want a charger included. None is in the box; budget for a 60W adapter.