Apple iPhone Pro Max: camera leak and Sept. 12 launch
Fresh leaks and filings point to a September 12 launch for Apple's next Pro phones, with the Apple iPhone Pro Max lineup expected to add a variable-aperture main camera and a larger lithium-ion battery. Diagnostics logs and regulatory notes reinforce the camera upgrade while EU battery rules ease pressure on AirPods and Watch designs.
Key Takeaways
- The iPhone 18 Pro family is expected to arrive on September 12, according to Forbes' Apple Loop roundup.
- A leaked diagnostics log points to a Sony IMX905 main sensor with variable aperture on the Pro and Pro Max.
- Regulatory filings cite a larger ~5,500 mAh lithium-ion battery, with a modest weight trade-off.
- EU battery rules may exempt sealed devices such as AirPods and Apple Watch from removable-battery mandates.
- A community Lego Ideas iMac G3 model has cleared the first qualifying stage toward a possible set.
When will the iPhone 18 Pro Max launch?
According to Forbes' Apple Loop, the expected release date for the iPhone 18 Pro family is September 12. That later window can still cut short rivals' exclusive retail stretch as carrier renewal campaigns heat up through September and October.
Notebookcheck and GSMArena both place the unveiling in September 2026 alongside the wider iPhone 18 lineup. For more Future Tech coverage, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders section.
What camera changes are confirmed for the Apple iPhone Pro Max?
A diagnostics log from internal Tata Electronics files leaked by the World Leaks ransomware group adds confirmation of a camera sensor swap on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Notebookcheck reports the log names a new main sensor, Sony's IMX905, replacing the unit used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Pixel size stays at 1.22μm, so the headline upgrade is variable aperture rather than a larger sensor. GSMArena says the same log backs variable aperture on both the iPhone 18 Pro and the Apple iPhone Pro Max. Telephoto, ultrawide, LiDAR, and selfie cameras are described as carryovers from the prior Pro generation.
Forbes also notes regulatory filings flagging higher battery capacity—around 5,500 mAh—while Apple sticks with lithium-ion instead of silicon-carbon cells. That bump may add roughly seven grams versus the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 233 grams. Separate reporting cited by Notebookcheck and GSMArena says Pro Max pricing could rise by about $200 on higher camera and memory costs; Apple has not commented on the leak.
What does the new EU AirPods rule change?
Forbes reports the European Commission has exempted six device categories from Battery Regulations that require removable or repairable batteries. The carve-out covers smartwatches, fitness trackers, and headphones—effectively including Apple Watch and AirPods—and still needs Council and Parliament ratification.
Elsewhere in the same week, Apple is preparing an October iPad mini update that may add OLED, per Bloomberg via Forbes, and has added 36-month financing for cellular iPads. A Lego Ideas iMac G3 proposal of about 700 parts has passed the first Ideas portal stage; Lego's board will review it next, likely needing Apple's permission.