Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 could feature a significantly larger 4,430 mAh battery, potentially surpassing both the physical SIM and eSIM-only versions of the iPhone 18 Pro. The latest leak suggests Apple is preparing a major battery upgrade for its standard iPhone, which is expected to launch in early 2027.
According to alleged X-ray images reported by Notebookcheck, the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could share a similar internal design and battery capacity. The images surfaced on Chinese social media before leaker Littertree66 shared them on Baidu Tieba on November 5.
iPhone 18 Battery Could Surpass the Pro Model
The rumored 4,430 mAh battery represents approximately a 20% increase over the iPhone 17’s 3,692 mAh capacity, making it one of the most substantial battery upgrades for Apple’s standard iPhone lineup in recent years.
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More interestingly, the leaked capacity exceeds the iPhone 18 Pro’s battery specifications, despite the Pro model sitting higher in Apple’s lineup.
Here’s how the capacities compare:
| Model | Battery capacity |
|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | 3,692 mAh |
| iPhone 18 Pro (physical SIM) | 4,056 mAh |
| iPhone 18 Pro (eSIM-only) | 4,288 mAh |
| iPhone 18 (rumored) | 4,430 mAh |
The iPhone 18 would have approximately 9.2% more battery capacity than the physical SIM version of the iPhone 18 Pro and 3.3% more than its eSIM-only counterpart.
However, a larger battery does not automatically guarantee longer battery life, as actual endurance also depends on processor efficiency, display power consumption, and software optimization.
Apple May Redesign the iPhone 18’s Internals
The leaked automated X-ray inspection images suggest Apple could remove the physical SIM tray to accommodate a larger battery. Both the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e reportedly feature matching battery compartments, MagSafe coils, and similar logic board arrangements.
Previous iPhone 18 battery reports also suggest the standard model will feature Apple’s A20 chip, manufactured using a 2nm process, alongside a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The more efficient chipset could further improve battery endurance, although Apple has yet to confirm the device’s specifications.
The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected to arrive in the first half of 2027, following Apple’s decision to separate its standard and Pro iPhone release schedules. For now, the 4,430 mAh figure remains unverified, and the final battery capacity could differ between regional variants.
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