iPhone 11 Pro Max has new battery design, ditches L-shaped motherboard

By Mike Wuerthele

A teardown of the iPhone 11 Pro Max reveals some design changes for 2019, including a different shape in the battery, and the return to a rectangular iPhone motherboard.

The teardown, by Vietnam-based YouTuber Dchannel, depicts the new parts in the iPhone 11 Pro Max. As predicted, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has reverted to a rectangular motherboard, instead of the L-shape that debuted in the iPhone X.

Notably, the motherboard is smaller, and appears to have fewer connection points than the iPhone XS Max board. Apple, like most smartphone manufacturers, relies heavily on glue to secure batteries and other components, however.

Additionally, the video shows the larger battery in the model, versus what was used in the 2018 iPhone XS Max. In what appears to be a single L-shaped cell, the battery is 3969 mAh, up from the 3174 in the iPhone XS Max.

It isn't yet clear if the L-shaped battery is a single cell, or still two, with a less discrete exterior divider.

Fundamentally similar to the 2018 iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max were revealed at Apple's "By innovation only" event at the Steve Jobs Theater on September 10. Equipped with new Super Retina XDR 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED displays, the new models might look similar to their predecessors, but add significant speed improvements and new functions like novel camera capabilities.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max comes in silver, gold, space gray and new midnight green finishes. Regardless of finish, the iPhone 11 Pro Max begins at $1,099, and will ship to users on September 20.