APPLE has confirmed that a small subset of iPhone 18 Pro Max devices in the United States are experiencing cellular connectivity failures on the AT&T network. Affected users report sudden loss of service, inability to place calls, and, at times, the appearance of the SOS emergency indicator.
Apple states that the underlying fault requires hardware replacement rather than a software fix, and there is no evidence yet that a software update can restore connectivity to devices that have already lost cellular capability.
In response, Apple released iOS 27.0.1 alongside a carrier profile update. The company urges all iPhone 18 Pro Max users to install iOS 27.0.1 promptly, with the carrier profile update rolling out automatically over a fourteen-day window. Importantly, the updates are described as preventative and not capable of restoring devices that have already lost network access. For those affected, Apple advises contacting Apple Support or AT&T, or visiting an Apple or AT&T store to pursue a hardware replacement.
The issue appears limited to AT&T in the United States, with no widespread reports on other carriers, and Apple has not disclosed details about the faulty component or the replacement process beyond indicating that full device replacement is the current approach. The article notes a speculative link to Qualcomm baseband hardware but does not provide conclusive evidence.