Stuck on SOS: Apple Will Replace iPhone 18 Pro Max Units on AT&T

Some owners of the iPhone 18 Pro Max on AT&T say their phones have stopped working normally and can only place emergency SOS calls. The problem has drawn enough attention that Apple has agreed to replace the entire phone for affected customers, rather than offering only a software fix or a single part swap.

The reporting available so far does not say how many handsets are affected, what caused the fault, or how quickly replacements will be handled. Apple has not published a detailed explanation that we could find, so the scope of the problem remains unclear.

Anyone who sees the SOS-only message on an iPhone 18 Pro Max with AT&T service should contact AT&T or Apple support before heading to a store. Confirming eligibility for a replacement first can save a trip, and it gives owners a clear record of when the problem began.