The iPhone 18 Pro Max costs $1,299 in the US for the base 256GB model, $1,499 for 512GB, $1,899 for 1TB and $2,499 for the new 2TB tier. That is $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max at the bottom of the range, but the gap widens fast as you add storage: the 1TB model is $300 more than last year and the 2TB model is $500 more. Every color costs the same, and the price is identical whether you buy unlocked from Apple or through a carrier before discounts.
Quick answer
iPhone 18 Pro Max price: $1,299 (256GB), $1,499 (512GB), $1,899 (1TB), $2,499 (2TB). Paid over 24 months that is about $54.12, $62.45, $79.12 or $104.12 a month. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro is exactly $100 less at every tier, starting at $1,199. Major carriers have offered up to $1,200 off with a trade in and an unlimited plan since launch.
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max on September 9, 2026, opened preorders on September 12 and started shipping on September 18. Here is every configuration, what changed against last year, what the monthly payment really works out to, and how to pay less than the sticker price.
iPhone 18 Pro Max price at a glance
US prices before tax, unlocked. Carrier offers as listed in late September and early October 2026.
iPhone 18 Pro Max price by storage
All four storage tiers come in all four colors: Silver, Black, Glacier and Burgundy. Color has no effect on price. The US models are eSIM only, as they have been since the iPhone 14.
| Storage | iPhone 18 Pro Max | Monthly, 24 months | iPhone 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB | $1,299 | $54.12 | $1,199 |
| 512GB | $1,499 | $62.45 | $1,399 |
| 1TB | $1,899 | $79.12 | $1,799 |
| 2TB | $2,499 | $104.12 | $2,399 |
The monthly figures are the full price split over 24 months with no interest, the way Apple Card Monthly Installments and most carrier installment plans present it. Sales tax is charged on top, and in most states it is due on the full price up front even when you pay the phone off monthly.
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max price
The headline increase is $100. The real increase depends entirely on how much storage you buy.
| Storage | iPhone 17 Pro Max (2025) | iPhone 18 Pro Max (2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB | $1,199 | $1,299 | up $100 |
| 512GB | $1,399 | $1,499 | up $100 |
| 1TB | $1,599 | $1,899 | up $300 |
| 2TB | $1,999 | $2,499 | up $500 |
The reason is memory, not the phone. Contract prices for the DRAM and flash storage inside phones roughly tripled over the first three quarters of 2026 as AI data centers absorbed supply, and the tiers with the most flash in them moved the most. We covered the full story in why every iPhone got $100 more expensive and the 1TB models went up $300.
The practical effect is that each storage step now costs more than it used to:
What each storage upgrade costs on the iPhone 18 Pro Max
Price difference between neighboring tiers, iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max.
How to pay less than $1,299
Almost nobody needs to pay full retail. These are the main routes, with the offers that were running in the first weeks after launch. Carrier deals change often, so check the current terms before you sign.
- Carrier trade in. T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T have each offered up to $1,200 off the iPhone 18 Pro Max with an eligible trade in. The catch is the fine print: the discount is normally paid as monthly bill credits over the life of a 36 month installment plan, it requires a premium unlimited plan, and you lose the remaining credits if you leave early.
- Prepaid carriers. Visible has offered $480 off with its Visible+ Pro plan, spread over 24 months of credits, and Red Pocket has sold the Pro Max at $100 off with no trade in at all. These suit people who do not want a three year commitment.
- Apple trade in. Apple gives an instant credit for an eligible old phone, toward the new one or as an Apple Gift Card. The amount depends on model and condition and has been well below the carrier maximums, but it comes with no plan requirement.
- Buy the storage you actually need. With the jump from 512GB to 1TB now costing $400, 256GB or 512GB plus an iCloud+ plan is far cheaper over three years for most people.
Worth knowing
Do not wait for last year’s model to get cheaper at Apple. On the day the iPhone 18 Pro launched, Apple raised the prices of the older iPhones it kept selling by $100 too. If you want a discounted iPhone 17 Pro Max, look at carriers, resellers and refurbished stock instead.
What you get for the money
Part of the case for the Pro Max over the cheaper Pro is the same as every year: the bigger 6.9 inch screen and the bigger battery. This year the battery gap is unusually wide. The Pro Max carries a 5,391mAh cell, almost 12 percent larger than last year’s, and Apple rates it at up to 45 hours of video playback against 36 hours for the Pro.
| Spec | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1,199 | $1,299 |
| Display | 6.3 inch ProMotion | 6.9 inch ProMotion |
| Battery (SIM tray models) | 4,056mAh | 5,391mAh |
| Video playback | Up to 36 hours | Up to 45 hours |
| Chip | A20 Pro, 2nm, on both | |
| Cameras | Identical: 48MP main with variable aperture from f/1.48 to f/4, 48MP ultra wide, 48MP 4x telephoto | |
| Colors | Silver, Black, Glacier, Burgundy | |
The cameras are the same on both sizes, so the extra $100 buys screen and battery only. If you are choosing a finish as well, our guide to every iPhone 18 Pro color covers which ones show fingerprints and which sell out first.
How it compares with the rest of the 2026 lineup
The Pro Max is not the most expensive iPhone anymore. The foldable iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, which is $500 less than a 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max but $700 more than the base model, and it has no telephoto camera. At the other end, the cheapest new iPhone at Apple is the iPhone 17e at $699, and the standard iPhone 18 is not due until spring 2027.
| Model | Starting price (US) |
|---|---|
| iPhone Duo | $1,999 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $1,299 |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $1,199 |
| iPhone Air | $1,099 |
| iPhone 17 | $899 |
| iPhone 16 | $799 |
| iPhone 17e | $699 |
For older models and refurbished prices, see our iPhone price list for 2026.
The ongoing costs
Two costs come after the purchase and are worth budgeting for. AppleCare+ for the iPhone 18 Pro Max is $14.99 a month or $149.99 a year, which brings a cracked screen down to $29. Without it, an out of warranty screen repair on the Pro Max is $379, and a battery replacement, when you eventually need one, is $129, the highest battery fee Apple has ever charged.
Apple also does not include a power adapter in the box. To get the advertised charge to 50 percent in about 15 minutes, you need a USB C adapter rated at 60W or more.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
$1,299 for 256GB, $1,499 for 512GB, $1,899 for 1TB and $2,499 for 2TB in the US, before tax. All four colors cost the same.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Yes. It is $100 more at 256GB and 512GB, $300 more at 1TB and $500 more at 2TB. The bigger increases at high storage come from a sharp rise in memory chip prices during 2026.
What is the monthly payment for the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
About $54.12 a month over 24 months for the 256GB model, $62.45 for 512GB, $79.12 for 1TB and $104.12 for 2TB, before tax and before any trade in or carrier credit.
How much cheaper is the iPhone 18 Pro?
Exactly $100 at every storage tier. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and runs to $2,399 for 2TB. It has the same cameras and chip, with a smaller 6.3 inch screen and a smaller battery.
Can I get the iPhone 18 Pro Max for free?
Only in the sense carriers use the word. Offers of up to $1,200 off require trading in an eligible phone and staying on a premium unlimited plan for the length of the installment agreement, usually 36 months, with the discount paid as monthly bill credits.
Which storage size should I buy?
256GB suits most people who use iCloud for photos. Choose 512GB if you shoot a lot of 4K or ProRes video. The 1TB and 2TB models carry the steepest price increases this year and only make sense for heavy video work.
The bottom line
The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, which is a $100 increase that looks ordinary until you climb the storage ladder, where the 1TB and 2TB models are $300 and $500 dearer than last year. Buy the smallest storage that genuinely fits how you use the phone, take a carrier trade in only if you are happy to stay three years, and remember that the extra $100 over the iPhone 18 Pro buys a bigger screen and a much bigger battery, not a better camera.
Sources and further reading
- MacRumors: iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, Pro Max at $1,299
- MacRumors: iPhone 18 Pro’s $100 price increase is actually $300 if you want 1TB
- Tom’s Guide: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max deals at T-Mobile, Verizon and more
About this article: GeekBlog covers U.S. technology news, AI, phones, smartwatches and gaming. Every story is written and checked under our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake or have a story tip? Contact our editors.
