iPhone 18 Pro Max could be Apple's heaviest iPhone in years at 240g, says leaker

The iPhone 18 Pro Max could weigh 240 grams with a 9mm-thick chassis, according to Weibo leaker Ice Universe via MacRumors on July 9 2026. That would make it Apple's heaviest iPhone since the iPhone 14 Pro Max — heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 233g and matching the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The weight gain is being driven by the larger battery. The 5,500 mAh cell that has been the subject of multiple recent leaks (Macworld reported 5,425 mAh for eSIM and 5,235 mAh for physical-SIM on July 2; a separate regulatory-database leak pointed to 5,567 mAh / 5,391 mAh) requires more physical volume than the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 5,088 mAh / 4,823 mAh cells.

What did Ice Universe actually say?

Ice Universe's Weibo post, surfaced by MacRumors and reported by 9to5Mac, contains one specific data point:

"The iPhone 18 Pro Max's 5,500mAh battery comes at the cost of a 240g body and a 9mm-thick chassis."

Two pieces of data, both explicit:

• Weight: 240g
• Depth: 9mm
• Battery: 5,500 mAh (Ice Universe's own estimate, consistent with the 5,425-5,567 mAh range other leaks have pointed to)

This is the most specific weight-and-depth data point we've had for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and it contradicts the earlier spec-page estimate of ~227g with 8.25mm depth. The new numbers are heavier and thicker.

How does this compare to recent Pro Max models?

For context, the weight of Apple's largest iPhones over the past five generations:

Model	Weight	Depth
iPhone 13 Pro Max	240g	7.65 mm
iPhone 14 Pro Max	240g	7.85 mm
iPhone 15 Pro Max	221g	8.25 mm
iPhone 16 Pro Max	227g	8.25 mm
iPhone 17 Pro Max	233g	8.25 mm
iPhone 18 Pro Max (rumored)	240g	9.00 mm

Two patterns stand out:

1. Apple has kept the Pro Max at or below 240g for the past five generations, with the iPhone 13 and 14 Pro Max tying as the heaviest. The iPhone 18 Pro Max would match that ceiling rather than exceed it — but it would be the heaviest in three years.
2. The depth has been stable at 8.25mm since the iPhone 15 Pro Max, when Apple adopted titanium for the frame. The rumored 9mm depth is a meaningful thickness increase — the largest single-generation jump in the past five cycles.

The 9mm depth is the more surprising number. A 0.75mm thickness increase is enough to be noticeable in a pocket and in case compatibility (existing iPhone 17 Pro Max cases would not fit).

Why is this happening?

The weight and thickness increases are both battery-driven:

• Battery capacity jumps 7-12% depending on which leak you trust. The iPhone 17 Pro Max's 5,088 mAh (eSIM) cell grows to 5,425-5,567 mAh. The iPhone 17 Pro Max's 4,823 mAh (physical-SIM) cell grows to 5,235-5,391 mAh. Either way, more battery requires more volume.
• Apple is not offsetting with lighter materials. Earlier supply-chain whispers had suggested Apple might use a lighter titanium alloy or a thinner stainless steel internal frame to compensate. The Ice Universe leak implies Apple has not done that — the weight gain is going straight to the user's pocket.
• Component density limits are being hit. As chips get more efficient, they typically free up internal volume. The A20 Pro on 2nm is more efficient than the A19 Pro on 3nm, but the efficiency gains are being used to add capability (more RAM, larger camera sensor, the variable-aperture lens), not to reduce the chassis.

The practical effect: the iPhone 18 Pro Max is a heavier, thicker phone than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, in exchange for a meaningfully larger battery.

What this means for users

For users who already find the iPhone 17 Pro Max heavy (233g is at the top of the comfort range for many users), the iPhone 18 Pro Max at 240g may be uncomfortable. The 7-gram difference is small in absolute terms but noticeable in hand, especially for one-handed use.

For users who want the longer battery life, the trade is straightforward: 7-12% more capacity for 7 grams and 0.75mm of thickness. Most reviewers would argue that is a good trade — but it is a real trade, and Apple is making it without compensating through lighter materials.

For case compatibility: existing iPhone 17 Pro Max cases will not fit the iPhone 18 Pro Max because the depth increased by 0.75mm. MagSafe accessories will still work because the magnet ring position is unchanged.

What we still don't know

Three open questions:

1. Whether Apple can trim weight back through final design. The Ice Universe leak is from July, which is roughly two months before the September launch. Apple is still tuning the chassis. The 240g and 9mm numbers could move before launch.
2. Whether the variable-aperture camera contributes to the thickness. Counterpoint Research's separate BOM report notes the variable-aperture lens module is slightly thicker than a fixed-aperture lens because of the moving aperture blades. Some of the 0.75mm depth increase may be camera-related, not just battery.
3. Whether the iPhone 18 Pro (non-Max) is also heavier. The battery increase on the iPhone 18 Pro is reportedly minimal (4,288 mAh eSIM per a separate July 6 leak — barely changed from the 17 Pro's 4,252 mAh). The iPhone 18 Pro is unlikely to gain weight materially, but we don't have a specific weight leak for it yet.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro Max alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold at an event in early September 2026. Pre-orders start within a week; shipping starts late September.