iPhone 18 Pro battery and price leaked: Some regions could get a bigger battery than others

Apple's next-generation iPhone 18 Pro is still months away from launch, but fresh leaks are already revealing some interesting details. The latest report suggests that not all buyers may get the same battery capacity, with Apple reportedly preparing different versions for different markets.

In Short

• The iPhone 18 Pro may ship with different battery sizes in different countries
• The US version is tipped to get a larger 4,288mAh battery
• Apple may keep iPhone 18 Pro prices largely unchanged despite expensive upgrades

As Apple moves closer to the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro series, leaks surrounding the upcoming Pro models are becoming more frequent. While reports in recent months have shed light on the design, camera upgrades and the new chipset, battery details have remained relatively unclear. Now, a fresh leak suggests that Apple could once again take a different approach depending on the region where the phone is sold. According to a report by PhoneArena, citing information shared by well-known Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station, Apple is currently testing two battery variants of the iPhone 18 Pro. If the leak turns out to be accurate, users in some countries could end up getting a slightly larger battery than others. In fact, details around the exact price are not revealed yet, but known Apple analyst have suggested what could be the possible cost of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Here are all the details you should know about.

The leak claims that the US version of the iPhone 18 Pro will pack a 4,288mAh battery. Meanwhile, the version sold in China is said to feature a smaller 4,056mAh battery. The reason behind this difference reportedly comes down to Apple's SIM card strategy. In the United States, iPhones no longer include a physical SIM tray and rely entirely on eSIM technology. Removing the SIM slot frees up a small amount of internal space, which Apple can use for a slightly larger battery.

This isn't entirely new. Apple reportedly followed a similar strategy with the iPhone 17 Pro series as well, where eSIM-only models carried marginally larger batteries than versions sold in regions that still required a physical SIM card.

At the moment, there is no information on which battery version could make its way to India. But, since Indians get iPhones with a SIM card slot, you are likely to get the Chinese battery unit. But, nothing is officially confirmed yet, so one shouldn't lose hope on getting a slightly smaller battery compared to the US version.

Battery upgrade may be average, but efficiency could improve

Even if the leaked battery figures are accurate, the jump in capacity appears relatively small. For comparison, the eSIM version of the iPhone 17 Pro featured a 4,252mAh battery. The rumoured 4,288mAh unit on the iPhone 18 Pro would therefore represent only a minor increase.

The same trend is expected for markets that receive the physical SIM version. The rumoured 4,056mAh battery would be slightly larger than the 3,988mAh unit found on last year's model.

However, battery size is only one part of the equation. Reports suggest Apple could equip the iPhone 18 Pro lineup with its new A20 Pro chip built on an advanced 2nm manufacturing process. A more efficient chipset can reduce power consumption and potentially deliver longer battery life even without a major increase in battery capacity.

The larger iPhone 18 Pro Max is also expected to receive a battery boost. Current leaks point to a 5,100mAh battery, slightly higher than the 5,088mAh unit used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

That said, Apple still appears reluctant to follow Chinese smartphone brands that have significantly increased battery capacities in recent years. Phones such as the OnePlus 15 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra are already rumoured to offer batteries well above the 6,000mAh mark, showing the different approaches companies are taking toward battery technology.

iPhone 18 Pro price in India: What to expect (leaked)

While hardware upgrades often raise concerns about pricing, recent reports suggest Apple may not introduce a major price hike this year.

Respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reportedly indicated that the company is unlikely to significantly increase prices for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. This could be particularly important for markets such as India, where buyers are already paying premium prices for Pro models.

For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro launched in India at Rs 1,34,900, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max debuted at Rs 1,49,900. If Apple doesn't increase the price of its upcoming models, the iPhone 18 Pro series could then arrive at roughly the same price points, with only a small increase if necessary.

Keeping prices under control may not be easy, though. The new 2nm chip is said to be considerably more expensive to manufacture, and rising memory costs are putting additional pressure on smartphone makers. Despite that, analysts believe Apple could absorb part of these higher costs to maintain strong sales momentum in premium markets.

With around three months still left before Apple's expected September launch event, more details about the iPhone 18 Pro lineup are likely to emerge. The event for the new iPhones is likely to take place anytime in the first two weeks of September. For more such updates, you can stay tuned to India Today Tech for all the details.

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