Two iPhone Duo stories from the weekend, one spec and one strategy.
The battery
Apple’s EU energy label lists 4,883 mAh total, which matches the leak of two cells (2,962 and 1,921 mAh). It’s eSIM-only everywhere, so that figure should apply worldwide. For context, iFixit measured 4,288 mAh in the iPhone 18 Pro and 5,567 mAh in the 18 Pro Max.
The pre-order call
In Power On, Gurman says Apple knew about “severe supply constraints” and opened pre-orders anyway: “Let me cut to the chase: Apple made a major mistake here.” Apple originally planned a U.S. and China launch first but went to 70+ countries at once. Within 30 minutes, shipping estimates slipped to around January 25 in most countries, as I covered in iPhone Duo Sells Out for 2026.
My take
Battery life between the 18 Pro and Pro Max is about right for a dual-cell foldable-style design. The rollout is the real story: early adopters waiting three months is a rough look.
