Apple is telling iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T to have their handsets swapped out if the phone cannot connect to the carrier's network, according to reports from Mashable, CNET, AppleInsider, MacRumors and Bloomberg published Saturday.
The affected units display an SOS indicator rather than a normal signal, leaving users unable to place calls, AppleInsider reported. Apple has said it will replace those devices free of charge, per CNET.
Mashable framed its coverage as a set of steps AT&T customers should take to restore service, while MacRumors reported that Apple has directed owners hit by the cellular problem to get a replacement device.
The reports point to a hardware-specific fault rather than a general network outage, since the issue is tied to a particular model and carrier combination. The coverage does not specify how many units are affected or what causes the failure.
Apple has not publicly detailed the scope of the problem beyond advising replacement, and the reports do not indicate whether the company has issued a formal repair program or support document. AT&T has not commented in the material reviewed.
For owners, the practical takeaway from the reporting is straightforward: if an iPhone 18 Pro Max on AT&T shows SOS and will not make calls, the device should be exchanged rather than troubleshooted further.
What to watch next: whether Apple or AT&T confirms how many devices are involved and whether the replacement offer is extended beyond AT&T customers.
