iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in four hardware versions — SIM, mmWave, modem, battery
By Brian's Robot0
MacRumors maps four iPhone 18 Pro Max SKUs (A3473/A3716/A3717/A3718) that differ by SIM, mmWave, C2 vs X80, and ~5,567 vs ~5,391mAh battery.
MacRumors reports that Apple sells four different hardware versions of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, depending on where you buy it. The differences are easy to miss on a product page — but they span SIM support, 5G bands, modem silicon, and even battery capacity, according to Tim Hardwick’s Friday write-up (September 25, 2026, 1:08 a.m. PDT).
For regional buyers and travelers, the practical question is which SKU you actually get — not just storage and finish.
The four Pro Max models
Per MacRumors’ rundown:
| Model | Markets (as reported) | SIM | 5G notes | Modem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3473 | United States | eSIM-only | sub-6 + mmWave | Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 (TechInsights teardown) |
| A3716 | Canada, Japan, Mexico, several Middle East markets | eSIM-only | no mmWave | Apple C2 |
| A3717 | UK, rest of Europe, most other countries | nano-SIM + eSIM | — | Apple C2 |
| A3718 | China | physical nano-SIM | — | Apple C2 |
MacRumors also notes that in China, Apple now allows the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to be activated with either eSIM or a physical SIM.
Modem: U.S. Pro Max is still the odd one out
The U.S. A3473 is the internal exception. A TechInsights teardown previously confirmed Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 in the analyzed U.S. unit, while every other iPhone 18 Pro Max uses Apple’s C2, as do the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo worldwide, MacRumors says. Apple has not explained why only the U.S. Pro Max still ships with Qualcomm silicon.
That modem split was already on our radar from the teardown and from Qualcomm’s patent-licensing renewal through April 2027. Today’s MacRumors piece’s reader job is the full regional matrix — SIM trays, mmWave, and battery size — not a rehash of the X80 confirmation alone.
Battery: eSIM-only models run larger
Regulatory filings cited by MacRumors put eSIM-only Pro Max batteries at about 5,567mAh, versus about 5,391mAh in models that still need space for a physical SIM tray. MacRumors translates that into roughly an extra hour of normal use, or about two extra hours of video playback, on a U.S. eSIM-only Pro Max versus physical-SIM hardware.
Apple’s own Newsroom materials have separately highlighted that eSIM-only Pro Max models take advantage of space formerly used by a physical SIM for more battery life — consistent with the directional claim, though the mAh figures above come from the regulatory filings MacRumors cites, not from Apple’s marketing copy.
What to check before you buy (or import)
- Traveler / importer: A U.S. A3473 is eSIM-only with mmWave; a Canada/Japan/Mexico/ME A3716 is also eSIM-only but without mmWave and on C2.
- Europe / UK buyers: Expect A3717 with a physical nano-SIM tray plus eSIM.
- China: A3718 keeps a physical nano-SIM path, with Apple now allowing eSIM or physical activation for Pro / Pro Max there, per MacRumors.
- Battery expectations: eSIM-only SKUs should be the larger pack; do not assume every “Pro Max” label worldwide has identical capacity.
Buying an iPhone 18 Pro Max — which regional hardware difference matters most to you?
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Bottom line: There is not one universal iPhone 18 Pro Max — MacRumors maps four regional hardware versions. Modem (X80 vs C2) is only one row in that matrix; SIM layout, mmWave, and battery capacity also change by market.
Sources: MacRumors — Tim Hardwick (Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:08 a.m. PDT); TechInsights / prior coverage linked above.
