Tech

Apple’s clever software solution lets iPhone batteries skirt shipping limits

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 21/09/2026, 12:40:14 UTC.

Briefings

Apple introduced a firmware workaround allowing iPhone 18 Pro Max models to bypass international shipping restrictions on lithium-ion batteries. This solution keeps capacity below the 20Wh limit during manufacturing but automatically reverts to the device's original rated capacity upon first boot. US eSIM-only models reached approximately 21.75Wh, while European models with physical SIMs reached around 21.06Wh. The article was published on September 21, 2026, and details are sourced from Apple's support page and The Verge.

Key points

• A firmware lock prevents iPhone 18 Pro Max batteries from exceeding 20Wh during shipping, but this restriction is removed after the device boots up for the first time.
• US eSIM-only models achieved a capacity of approximately 21.75Wh, whereas European models with physical SIMs reached around 21.06Wh.

Context and limitations

This briefing covers the specific workaround for iPhone 18 Pro Max models as of September 2026. It does not include data on other iPhone models, battery capacity variations across different regions, or the long-term stability of the firmware lock.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 21/09/2026, 12:41:17 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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