iPhone 18 Pro Max hit by cellular bug, Apple asks affected users to swap devices

MUMBAI: A phone that cannot make a phone call has landed Apple in an awkward spot. Apple is asking some AT&T customers to replace their iPhone 18 Pro Max after a cellular bug left affected devices unable to connect to mobile networks.

The $1,299 iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale about two weeks ago. According to a Bloomberg report, some customers on AT&T have lost cellular service, preventing them from making calls, using mobile data or sending and receiving text messages.

For affected users, the phones remain largely unusable away from Wi-Fi. Apple has not disclosed how many customers have experienced the problem.

“We have identified an issue affecting a small number of iPhone 18 Pro Max users on the AT&T network that may cause a device to lose service and be unable to make calls,” an Apple spokesperson told Bloomberg News.

Apple has already released a carrier settings update and iOS 27.0.1 to address the issue and prevent it from affecting additional users. The carrier settings update is expected to reach AT&T customers automatically over the next 14 days.

The company is advising users to install all available software updates as soon as possible. Customers can also check manually by opening Settings, selecting General and then tapping About.

For users whose devices have already lost cellular service because of the bug, however, a software update may not be enough. Apple and AT&T are advising affected customers to swap their devices for replacement units.

The problem is particularly notable because the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses different cellular modem hardware from some of the other new iPhone models sold in the US.

The Pro Max features a Qualcomm-made cellular modem, while models including the smaller iPhone 18 Pro use Apple’s in-house C2 modem.

The hardware distinction has drawn attention as the reported cellular issue appears to be limited to the iPhone 18 Pro Max on AT&T, based on customer reports cited in the Bloomberg report.

Apple has positioned the iPhone 18 Pro Max around upgrades to its camera system, battery life and performance. The reported network issue, however, has added an unexpected wrinkle for early buyers of the company’s top-end smartphone.

For now, Apple’s software updates are aimed at preventing further cases, while customers whose phones have already been affected may have to take the more inconvenient route: replacing the device altogether.