Apple is reportedly preparing to make the iPhone 18 Pro Max the heaviest iPhone ever. A post by Chinese leaker Instant Digital claims the upcoming model will cross the 240-gram mark, making it slightly heavier than the current iPhone 17 Pro Max.
There are rumors that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will retain the same 6.9-inch display size but adopt a slightly thicker frame. According to Instant Digital’s post on Weibo, the difference between the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the new model will be around 10 grams. That would put its total weight near 243 grams, roughly three grams heavier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which currently holds the record.
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The company’s recent models show a clear shift in materials: after using titanium for the iPhone 15 and 16 series to reduce weight, Apple returned to aluminum for the iPhone 17 lineup. Internal tweaks and thicker casings pushed the weight back up to 233 grams for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Why Apple Might Be Adding More Weight
The thicker body could allow for a larger battery or the rumored stainless-steel vapor chamber that improves heat management. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also expected to introduce a Main camera with a variable aperture and a new three-layer stacked image sensor from Samsung. Minor design adjustments to the Dynamic Island and Face ID system may also contribute to the added weight.
Over the years, the Pro Max models have gradually grown heavier:
- iPhone XS Max: 208g
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: 226g
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: 228g
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: 238g
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: 240g
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 221g
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 227g
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 233g
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: ~243g (expected)
The Trend Toward Heavier iPhones
Instant Digital also took a jab at Apple’s thinner models, saying the company learned that customers prefer performance and battery life over lighter devices. Sales of the slimmer iPhone Air reportedly disappointed, while the thicker iPhone 17 Pro models performed strongly.
The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in fall 2026, marking yet another step in Apple’s ongoing balance between size, power, and endurance.
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