Updated

Updated · CNET · Oct 12

iPhone 18 Pro Max Posts Apple’s Best Battery Life as 18 Pro Hits 82% Charge in 30 Minutes

Updated

Updated · CNET · Oct 12

iPhone 18 Pro Max Posts Apple’s Best Battery Life as 18 Pro Hits 82% Charge in 30 Minutes

Q: Could the massive 249g weight of the iPhone 18 Pro Max cause wrist strain that outweighs the benefits of its three-day battery?

Yes—for some users, the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s 249g weight could cause enough hand or wrist fatigue to offset its battery advantage, especially during long one-handed use, reading in bed, gaming or extended scrolling. The phone’s appeal is clear: a 6.9-inch screen and battery life that can stretch to two or even three days. But reviewers also describe it as bulky and uncomfortable to hold for long periods. At 249g, it is notably heavier than many mainstream phones, and ergonomics research broadly shows that heavier, wider devices increase grip effort and repeated strain on the hand, thumb and wrist over time. That does not mean the phone will injure most people. There is no firm evidence that a device at this weight alone causes a specific disorder. But hand specialists and ergonomics experts do say large, slick phones can aggravate existing problems such as arthritis, tendon irritation or carpal tunnel symptoms, particularly with prolonged use and poor wrist posture. Bedtime phone use may be an added risk because awkward angles and unsupported wrists are common. Whether the trade-off is worth it depends on how the phone is used. If the priority is multi-day battery life, video, travel or photography, many buyers may accept the extra mass. If comfort matters more—especially for people with smaller hands, weaker grip strength or existing wrist pain—the lighter iPhone 18 Pro or a grip accessory, ring, stand or two-handed use is likely the safer choice.

3 articles · Updated · CNET · Oct 12

CNET’s lab tests ranked the iPhone 18 Pro Max as the longest-lasting iPhone yet, while the smaller 18 Pro emerged as Apple’s fastest-charging model.
53% in 15 minutes and 82% in 30 minutes put the 18 Pro ahead on wired charging, helped by 60-watt support versus 40 watts on the 17 Pro.
Larger batteries, the A20 Pro chip and iOS 27 efficiency gains drove the improvement, though the 16 Plus still led CNET’s 45-minute multitasking stress test by 1 percentage point.
$1,199 for the 18 Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max raise the stakes, but CNET said the standard $929 iPhone 17 still offers strong battery value for most buyers.
Oct. 23 is the next battery test milestone, when Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo goes on sale and can be measured against the new Pro models.