The ‘243g Beast’? iPhone 18 Pro Max Poised to Become the Heaviest iPhone Ever

Apple’s next flagship may come with a surprising twist: more weight and more thickness than any iPhone before it. According to new leaks, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max could reach 243 grams, making it the heaviest model in the product’s 17-year history. The increase is reportedly tied to upgraded camera hardware, a strengthened Face ID module, and a reengineered cooling system.

A 243g Flagship: The Heaviest iPhone to Date

The projection comes from the Chinese tech tipster Instant Digital, who claims that Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max will weigh 10 grams more than the current iPhone 17 Pro Max (233g). If accurate, the device would surpass the previous heavyweight champions—the iPhone 14 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max, both at 240g.

Industry analysts say the added mass reflects Apple’s growing emphasis on embedded Face ID, expanded camera modules, and new sensors, all of which require more internal space and structural reinforcement.

In other words, Apple appears willing to accept added weight in exchange for improved functionality—an increasingly familiar trade-off in its recent hardware strategy.

Thicker, Too — Battery Boost or New Cooling Architecture?

Beyond the added weight, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to grow slightly thicker, reaching around 9mm, up from the 8.75mm profile of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Though the numerical difference seems small, even a fraction of a millimeter can signal meaningful changes inside a modern smartphone.

Industry observers point to two likely explanations:

A larger battery to extend usage time; or

An expanded cooling structure to support the forthcoming 2nm A20 chip, which is expected to deliver substantial performance gains—but also more heat.

Heat management is emerging as one of Apple’s top engineering challenges, and a thicker chassis may be a necessary evolution. Apple has also hinted at refined exterior styling, aligning the tone of its aluminum frame with the finish of its reinforced glass back.

iPhone 18 and Apple’s First Foldable Expected Next Year

September next year may bring one of Apple’s most ambitious product cycles yet, with projections pointing to the launch of:

iPhone 18

iPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro Max

And Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the “iPhone Fold.”

Meanwhile, the mid-tier iPhone Air appears to be on indefinite hold. According to The Information, Apple has informed suppliers and engineers of the delay as sales remain sluggish. Manufacturers including Foxconn and Luxshare have reportedly scaled back assembly lines. Market research from CIRP indicates that the iPhone Air accounted for only 3% of overall iPhone sales—a sign that Apple may be freezing the project altogether.

How Much Weight Is Too Much?

The iPhone lineup has been steadily gaining weight year after year, driven by bigger batteries, more sophisticated cameras, and increasingly powerful chipsets. If the 243g iPhone 18 Pro Max hits the market, it is likely to reignite debates over usability and device comfort.

Still, Apple may be betting that boosted battery life, camera improvements, and the raw performance of the A20 chip will outweigh consumer concerns—literally and figuratively.

Only after launch will users know whether the added grams translate into meaningful value.

By Tech Insider Columnistㅣtlswnqor@naver.com