Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max is the company’s biggest and longest-lasting slab phone for 2026, according to a Guardian review published by consumer technology editor Samuel Gibbs on Monday 12 October 2026.
The review found the handset pairs a 6.9in screen and the new A20 Pro chip with the best battery life of any iPhone, but weighs 249g and is difficult to use one-handed.
Pricing starts at £1,299 (€1,599/$1,299/A$2,299). According to the review, the model is no longer Apple’s most expensive phone because of the £2,000 iPhone Duo, but it carries a similarly large price tag.
Battery and performance
The review reported that the 18 Pro Max has the longest battery of any iPhone, lasting close to three days of light usage between charges and delivering seven hours of active screen time for apps, browsing, messaging and photos.
That is roughly four hours longer than its predecessor and almost a day longer than the smaller iPhone 18 Pro, the review said. Under heavy use the phone still finished the day with around 50% remaining, which the review suggested means most owners will need to charge only every second or third day.
Apple states the battery will exceed 1,000 full-charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of its original capacity, and that it can be replaced for £119, according to the review. Out-of-warranty screen repairs were quoted at £389.
The review noted the 18 Pro Max shares the A20 Pro chip with the 18 Pro, describing it as one of the fastest chips available in a phone, and said a redesigned cooling system helps sustain peak performance during long gaming sessions.
Screen, camera and software
The 6.9in display was described in the review as super bright, crisp and smooth, with an effective anti-glare coating that suits films, TV and games, and video space comparable to most folding phones. It also carries the smaller camera cut-out and larger dynamic island introduced on the regular 18 Pro.
The camera system matches the smaller model: an 18 megapixel centre stage selfie camera in the screen and three 48MP cameras on the back, offering 4x/8x optical zoom and 0.5x ultra wide shooting. The review said the main camera’s new variable aperture can open wider for better low-light performance or narrow to preserve depth of field, and adds creative options such as starbursts.
Other additions listed in the review include AI-powered focus tracking, improved Photographic Styles, Apple’s digital negative feature and automatic cinematic mode for video.
The phone ships with the same iOS 27 as handsets from the iPhone 11 onwards, the review said, speeding up app launches and refining last year’s Liquid Glass redesign. The new Siri AI chatbot was called a significant step in the right direction, able to understand users better, review past conversations in its own app, see the screen or camera, and suggest data from Apple apps in a manner similar to Google’s proactive tools on Pixels — though it relies on Messages and Mail rather than third-party apps such as WhatsApp or Gmail.
Connectivity covers 5G, wifi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6, Thread, USB-C, satellite, UWB and GNSS. A full charge takes 70 minutes and reaches 80% in 32 minutes, the review said, but requires a 60W Power Delivery 3.1 USB-C adaptor with adjustable voltage supply that is not included.
Size, repairs and environment
At 249g the 18 Pro Max is 23g heavier than its nearest rival and 38g heavier than the smaller 18 Pro, and weighs more than some folding phones, according to the review. Gibbs reported that it made his hand hurt after 10 days of use and that it is a two-handed device needing a handle or strap.
The specialists iFixit awarded the phone seven out of 10 for repairability, the review said. It contains more than 40% recycled material, with Apple detailing the environmental impact in its report, and the company offers trade-in and free recycling schemes, including for non-Apple products.
For comparison, the review listed the iPhone 17 at £899, the iPhone Air at £1,099 and the iPhone 18 Pro at £1,199, against £1,279 for the Google Pixel 11 Pro and £1,359 for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
In its verdict, the review described the 18 Pro Max as a fairly iterative upgrade on the 17 Pro Max with the same design and feel, praising the screen, dynamic island, chip, cameras and variable aperture while criticising the price, weight, one-handed usability and AI tools that still lag top competitors.
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