Smartphones · Review
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
The most complete phone you can buy right now, provided the size, weight and $1,299 starting price suit you.
93
out of 100
Our verdict
Apple's largest Pro phone pairs the A20 Pro chip with a variable-aperture main camera and the longest battery life of any current iPhone. Tom's Guide measured an 18-hour-27-minute average on its 5G web-browsing test, about two hours more than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and reviewers consistently rank its performance at the top of the market. A larger vapor chamber helps sustain that performance under load, and wired charging is faster than on previous iPhones. The trade-offs are a $100 price increase over the 17 Pro Max and a heavier 249g body.
What's good
- Longest battery life of any phone in this batch
- A20 Pro is the fastest chip in a phone in reviewers' testing
- Variable-aperture main camera adds low-light and depth control
- Faster wired charging than earlier iPhones
What's not
- $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max at launch
- Heavy at 249g
- Design changes over last year are minor
How it scores
How we rate →Specifications
- Price basis
- 256GB base model, unlocked (US)
- Display
- 6.9-inch OLED, ProMotion up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak outdoor
- Chip
- A20 Pro
- Rear cameras
- 48MP main (variable aperture), 48MP ultra wide, 48MP 4x telephoto
- Battery
- Up to 45 hours video playback (Apple)
- Charging
- Up to 50% in about 15 min (60W adapter); MagSafe/Qi2 up to 25W
- Weight
- 249g
- Durability
- IP68 (6m, 30 min), Ceramic Shield 2 front