Overview
- Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station and other tipsters shared prototype figures saying China iPhone 18 Pro samples use about 4,056 mAh cells while U.S. eSIM models use about 4,288 mAh.
- Reports say Apple is testing a market split where physical‑SIM models keep smaller cells and eSIM‑only models use larger cells because the SIM tray takes up internal space.
- The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also said in earlier leaks to have a similar split with physical‑SIM versions near 5,000 mAh and eSIM variants around 5,100–5,200 mAh, though those numbers are less certain.
- Apple’s next A20/A20 Pro chip, expected to be made on TSMC’s 2nm node, is cited as likely to improve power efficiency and could offset modest changes in raw battery capacity.
- All figures come from prototype leaks and early reports, so final capacities, regional rollouts, use of silicon‑carbon battery chemistry, and production choices could still change before mass production.