The iPhone 18 Pro Max Has One Downside Almost Nobody Is Talking About

The iPhone 18 Pro models are out, and the first round of reviews has praised Apple's new handsets. Highlights include the A20 Pro chip performance, longer battery life, the variable-aperture camera, the under-display Face ID camera, and the larger vapor chamber. On the downside, some early users have pointed out the higher price tags, the colors, and the NAND storage quality of the 1 TB versions. However, another iPhone 18 Pro downside rarely mentioned in these firsthand experiences is the phone's weight. Despite featuring the same measurements as its predecessor, the iPhone 18 Pro Max weighs 249 grams, or 16 grams more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. By comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro are almost identical (206 grams vs. 211 grams). Also, the unreleased iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams, which means the weight difference between the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable handset is just 5 grams.

The weight increase may be noticeable to buyers who have used iPhone Pro Max models in the past, particularly titanium models. Users upgrading from smaller devices may feel the difference as well, which could make using the iPhone 18 Pro Max tiring for prolonged sessions.

Similarly sized handsets from the competition are significantly lighter. The Galaxy S26 Ultra (214 grams) and the Pixel 11 Pro XL (226 grams) feature 6.9-inch and 6.8-inch displays, but they're nearly as heavy as the iPhone 18 Pro. The two Android handsets are also lighter than their predecessors: the Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams) and the Pixel 10 Pro XL (232 grams).

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is set to be the heaviest Pro Max model in Apple's history to date. The iPhone 13 Pro Max (240 grams) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (240 grams) are the closest. Both handsets featured stainless steel chassis. Apple replaced steel with titanium in 2023. The iPhone 15 Pro models were significantly lighter: 187 grams (15 Pro) and 221 grams (15 Pro Max). Their successors were slightly heavier, at 199 grams and 227 grams, respectively. Apple abandoned titanium after the iPhone 16 series, replacing it with aluminum for the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Despite turning the iPhone 15 Pro's weight reduction into a selling point, the company did not explain the material switch last year. But Apple focused on the iPhone 17 Pro's design, which featured an aluminum chassis that included the new camera island and parts of the lower rear panel, and the first-ever vapor chamber on an iPhone. The new design implied that titanium wasn't a good fit, particularly considering the higher manufacturing costs associated with this material.

Some reviewers have noticed the iPhone 18 Pro Max's weight. For example, CNET said the handset is heavy, "which will cause wrist fatigue more quickly for some people." The "heavier designs" were also mentioned in Tom's Guide review, while 9to5Mac said the iPhone 18 Pro Max's extra weight "over its predecessor is obvious the moment you pick up" the larger phone. "There's a limit to how heavy a 'Max' phone can be while still being comfortable to hold, and with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, I think we've reached it," 9to5Mac added.

The weight increase may be particularly puzzling considering that the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the same dimensions as its predecessor, including an identical thickness of 8.75 mm. The phone did not get thicker to accommodate the larger battery and vapor chamber, two components Apple highlighted during the iPhone launch event. In previous years, a thickness increase generally meant a heavier phone. In 2020, the iPhone 12 Pro Max (228 grams) was 7.4 mm thick and a first notable exception. The 2019 iPhone 11 Pro Max had an 8.1 mm profile and weighed 226 grams. The iPhone 13 Pro Max (240 grams) was 7.65 mm thick. In 2022, the iPhone 14 Pro Max profile reached 7.85 mm, but the weight didn't change. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max became thicker (8.25 mm), but they were also exceptions. The use of titanium allowed Apple to drop the weight despite the depth increase.

That said, the larger cooling system, which now covers almost the entire handset, may be one key factor. The battery size (5,567 mAh vs. 5,088 mAh for the iPhone 17 Pro Max) may be another. Also, the rear camera module has additional components for the variable aperture mechanism. However, these parts are probably negligible in mass. This is speculation as of this writing. X user @L0vetodream, who routinely discusses Apple products on social media, blamed the weight increase on the cooling system and the battery.

18Pro主要的重量增加 来自于VC和电池 其他部分增加不明显 ProMax增加的十几克的重量 也是来自于这2个部件 尤其是电池 pic.twitter.com/TgKS7LVpha

— 有没有搞措 (@L0vetodream) September 20, 2026

@L0vetodream showed images of iPhone 18 Pro components being weighed. The vapor chamber weighed 13.8 grams, while the battery weighed 58.2 grams. However, it's unclear whether these are iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max parts.