Apple tells customers that some iPhone 18 Pro Max devices on AT&T are unable to make calls or send texts, with affected phones getting stuck in SOS mode. The company says a software and carrier settings update should prevent future occurrences, but customers who have already been affected will need a replacement device.
According to the reports, the issue is tied to AT&T-specific operation on certain iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Both outlets describe two updates—one software update and one that includes carrier settings—as the remedy for preventing the problem. They also agree that customers who experience the failure to call or text, rather than merely the risk of it, should expect their devices to be replaced at no cost.
While both sources cover the same underlying problem—loss of calling and texting capability on AT&T—their emphasis differs slightly: CNET focuses on the free replacement outcome, while ZDNet highlights the SOS-mode detail and the role of updates in avoiding the issue.
