Apple Battery Case: A Contrarian View

[JulesK]

I'm curious if this is thinner than mop hied juice pack reserve.

I've never handled that case, but I've had other Mophie cases, and this is far sleeker. The Apple battery case is, if you were to take out the "hump", somewhat thinner than a Speck Candyshell case (and I've been using one with the 6/6s for over a year). I wish that the silicon covering were a little harder/less tacky. It does pick up lint and dirt pretty easily.

All in all, a great case.

 

[pcubed18]

It definitely is. Feels better too due to the silicone...softer touch.

Well. So you have handled the new juice pack reserve and think this is thinner? I got the reserve during Black Friday for $39.99. But for me I want what's the slimmest and I believe they give the same amount of power. So any findings in terms of actually handling size is great. Thanks!

 

[Jakeycov]

I bought the Apple Battery Case. It is the first case I wanted to get for one main reason. Lightning Cable. I have a lightning cable in my car, my wife's car, my office my kitchen, bedroom and living room. It means I can charge mine (and my wife's phone) wherever we like. The kids use them to charge their ipads, so they are scattered about the house. I had an external battery pack before which was about £20, but most of the time it ends up being flat because I forget to charge it (one compatible charger in the corner of my office) - it just doesn't get charged because I always forget. The battery case works seamlessly with our existing set-up. At the moment my wife has gone out and she's taken the battery case, tomorrow I may be in London, so I can take it. It is much more flexible (both ways!) than the competition. As for cost, then yes it is expensive, but I'm not so worried about finding the cheapest product, I am much more interested in finding one that works with my lifestyle. As for design, well It feels good to hold and you automatically use the edges to rest your fingers against. It is a lot easier to hold than the usual silicone cases - the extra thickness makes typing easier and removes a bit of the claw grip that annoys me about thin phones. So, overall it's a good purchase for us. Your mileage my vary...

 

[66gonzo]

Well. So you have handled the new juice pack reserve and think this is thinner? I got the reserve during Black Friday for $39.99. But for me I want what's the slimmest and I believe they give the same amount of power. So any findings in terms of actually handling size is great. Thanks!

I currently have the mophie reserve for the exact same reason as you...and ordered the smart battery case because I wanted less bulk. It's scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. I'll let you know if it is truly more comfortable.

 

[pcubed18]

I currently have the mophie reserve for the exact same reason as you...and ordered the smart battery case because I wanted less bulk. It's scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. I'll let you know if it is truly more comfortable.

Awesome thank you!!!

 

[Xprmntr]

Using it now- never had a battery case- too bulky and unflattering

Although apples case is bulky, it feels soft and I appreciate all the mass they've stripped From it

Adds a significant weight to it, but u can get used to this

I plan only using it non-regularly

Got two iPhone 6 silicone cases for the price of one discounted one during a recent BB sale for my 6s because the battery case made me realize how much better it feels than clammy aluminum to grip, I also replaced my third party sport band for apples because of this

 

[skiltrip]

I scoffed at this case when I first saw it. I still think the price is a bit criminal, but Apple is Apple.

I really like the idea now. If I ended up switching from the 6s+ to the 6s I might be inclined to pick this up. I love the lack of any buttons. I love the easy install.

My only gripe, and it's a really big one, is the headphone hole. This is a definite deal breaker. I use Aux in my car. None of my 1/8" cable ends would fit in that whole. Extensions are ridiculous and just end up lost or forgotten when you needed them.

 

[66gonzo]

Awesome thank you!!!

Yep, it definitely feels better than the mophie JP reserve. Yes, it does look odd, but the case is pretty nice (my other case is an Incipio Dual and it feels similar).

 

[pcubed18]

Yep, it definitely feels better than the mophie JP reserve. Yes, it does look odd, but the case is pretty nice (my other case is an Incipio Dual and it feels similar).

It's thinner than the mophie? Gives same amount of juice as the reserve too? Are you worried about getting more lint because it's silicone compared to mophie?

Looking forward to your findings.

 

[pcubed18]

Also wondering if this case is going to have the same issues as the silicone case... I.E. Peeling and getting greesy after awhile.

I also wonder if the addition of the cellular bands will make a difference compared to mophie cases.

 

[skiltrip]

When I saw this thing first announced, I, like many, scoffed at it.

I just bought one.

I gotta admit, I love it.

The front spacing speaker is a perk I hadn't even considered, but it makes watching video and listening to music while doing other things much more enjoyable. No more cupping the speaker or accidentally covering it. It really does make a big difference.

The hump has another benefit that I hadn't considered. It actually makes it easier to pick up from the desk if that makes any sense. The thinness and slick sides of the 6s make it a little awkward to pick up off the desk. Not like it's hard, but it's definitely quick and easy with the case on it. It gives the edges a little boost up.

I love how easy it is to get on and off. I don't always want a battery attached to my phone, and it's easy to shed it when I need to without having to pry it off with a spudger or guitar pick.

I also have a ZeroLemon battery case. I do not like it. The mAh are much higher, but it feels terrible in hand. It feels big, heavy, and is very slippery. I don't like that matte hard plastic feel, as it has zero grip. It's also a real pain to take off, and it's what I was referring to with the spudger or guitar pick. I actually used a heavy gauge guitar pick when taking it off. It may have an on/off switch, it may have more juice, but if it makes the phone feel terrible in hand then it's no good to me.

I really, genuinely like the feel in hand of this battery case, which is something I've not been able to say about any other battery case I've ever had the displeasure to use/hold.

I'm only on my first day with the Apple Battery case, but I expect to finish my work day with juice still in the battery and the phone still at 100%.

 

[jshort]

When I saw this thing first announced, I, like many, scoffed at it.

I just bought one.

I love it.

The front spacing speaker is a perk I hadn't even considered, but it makes watching video and listening to music while doing other things much more enjoyable. No more cupping the speaker or accidentally covering it.

I love how easy it is to get on and off. I don't always want a battery attached to my phone, and it's easy to shed it when I need to without having to pry it off with a spudger or guitar pick.

Hey.. I know where to go for the case / iPhone battery status once past the lock screen but.. do you know how you get it to display ON the lock screen?

 

[JulesK]

Hey.. I know where to go for the case / iPhone battery status once past the lock screen but.. do you know how you get it to display ON the lock screen?

I think it only does that when you install the case. It sometimes does that momentarily for me when I plug in a cable to charge.

Charging speed is a little inconsistent. Sometimes as fast as you would expect he phone itself when using a 2.4A charger, even with the phone fully charged; sometimes it just crawls in that same situation. But generally plenty fast enough for me.

 

[jackwins]

When I saw this thing first announced, I, like many, scoffed at it.

I just bought one.

I gotta admit, I love it.

The front spacing speaker is a perk I hadn't even considered, but it makes watching video and listening to music while doing other things much more enjoyable. No more cupping the speaker or accidentally covering it. It really does make a big difference.

The hump has another benefit that I hadn't considered. It actually makes it easier to pick up from the desk if that makes any sense. The thinness and slick sides of the 6s make it a little awkward to pick up off the desk. Not like it's hard, but it's definitely quick and easy with the case on it. It gives the edges a little boost up.

I love how easy it is to get on and off. I don't always want a battery attached to my phone, and it's easy to shed it when I need to without having to pry it off with a spudger or guitar pick.

I also have a ZeroLemon battery case. I do not like it. The mAh are much higher, but it feels terrible in hand. It feels big, heavy, and is very slippery. I don't like that matte hard plastic feel, as it has zero grip. It's also a real pain to take off, and it's what I was referring to with the spudger or guitar pick. I actually used a heavy gauge guitar pick when taking it off. It may have an on/off switch, it may have more juice, but if it makes the phone feel terrible in hand then it's no good to me.

I really, genuinely like the feel in hand of this battery case, which is something I've not been able to say about any other battery case I've ever had the displeasure to use/hold.

I'm only on my first day with the Apple Battery case, but I expect to finish my work day with juice still in the battery and the phone still at 100%.

Im with you on this. I really like it! Granted, I have only been using mine for a couple of days, but I love the feel of the silicone and the added weight. To me, the only negative is the lint the case attracts, but that's minor.

And it fit my Cinder!!!

 

[skiltrip]

Im with you on this. I really like it! Granted, I have only been using mine for a couple of days, but I love the feel of the silicone and the added weight. To me, the only negative is the lint the case attracts, but that's minor.

And it fit my Cinder!!!

Right on!

My other gripe is the headphone hole. But, I picked up the $10 belkin adapter they sell at the Apple Store, and I keep it hooked to my Aux cable in the car, because that is really the only place I need it. Whenever I use headphones, I actually use the included Earpods because I love the comfort and have no issues with the sound of them.

All I know is any argument I had with myself about keeping the 6s Plus over the 6s because of battery life is out the window. So far, this is outlasting the Plus, and the best perk is I can take the case off when I don't need it, and one handed use all day every day!

It's hard to believe how much I've changed my tune on this case.

 

[mikemj23]

Love the case. Some real world usage. I use my iPhone pretty intensively during the day. Location services always on (Waze, Apple Maps - commute over an hour each way everyday) Streaming XM, Apple Music, corp email on push, brightness at about 80%, phone calls constantly etc. Normally, with my 6s, I would barely make it to the end of the day after an overnight full charge . I also have an AW and rely on my iPhone to see my blood sugar readings that are pushed from my Continuous Glucose Sensor so battery life is very important.

Currently at 13hr 15min of usage and 36hr 57 min of standby. Battery is currently at 23%.

 

[66gonzo]

It's thinner than the mophie? Gives same amount of juice as the reserve too? Are you worried about getting more lint because it's silicone compared to mophie?

Looking forward to your findings.

Definitely thinner than the mophie, except where the "bump" battery is....that's about the same thickness. I'm not too worried about lint, BUT i do have a dog that sheds and it definitely holds onto the dog hair.

As I said though, it feels SO much better in the hands than the mophie. I don't know if it was just me, but when I had the mophie on I would have a ton of typos when texting (usually missing the space bar and hitting "n" instead). So issues with that so far.

A heads up (and I didn't read all the posts and am just replying so if this was mentioned, I'm sorry), if you use it to charge your phone, meaning, use another case through out the day and then slip this case on when the phone battery is low, the phone+battery case gets pretty warm. If you use it as your primary case, no issues with the device and case getting hot.

 

[aj11fan]

So for those who own it, how exactly does the charging work without a power button? For example, if my phone is 50% charged and the case is 100% charged, will it charge only 50% and then stop or does it continue to charge after phone is 100% charged?

Contemplating in picking one up and this is my only issue.

 

[skiltrip]

So for those who own it, how exactly does the charging work without a power button? For example, if my phone is 50% charged and the case is 100% charged, will it charge only 50% and then stop or does it continue to charge after phone is 100% charged?

Contemplating in picking one up and this is my only issue.

As soon as you put the phone in the case, it'll begin charging the phone until the phone is at 100%. Then, it will keep your phone at 100% and will use the rest of the case battery till it completely drains. At that point your phone will still be at 100% and you'll begin to use your phone's battery like normal.

It's pretty simple the way it's implemented. No thought required.

 

[califfo1975]

When I saw this thing first announced, I, like many, scoffed at it.

I just bought one.

I gotta admit, I love it.

The front spacing speaker is a perk I hadn't even considered, but it makes watching video and listening to music while doing other things much more enjoyable. No more cupping the speaker or accidentally covering it. It really does make a big difference.

The hump has another benefit that I hadn't considered. It actually makes it easier to pick up from the desk if that makes any sense. The thinness and slick sides of the 6s make it a little awkward to pick up off the desk. Not like it's hard, but it's definitely quick and easy with the case on it. It gives the edges a little boost up.

I love how easy it is to get on and off. I don't always want a battery attached to my phone, and it's easy to shed it when I need to without having to pry it off with a spudger or guitar pick.

I also have a ZeroLemon battery case. I do not like it. The mAh are much higher, but it feels terrible in hand. It feels big, heavy, and is very slippery. I don't like that matte hard plastic feel, as it has zero grip. It's also a real pain to take off, and it's what I was referring to with the spudger or guitar pick. I actually used a heavy gauge guitar pick when taking it off. It may have an on/off switch, it may have more juice, but if it makes the phone feel terrible in hand then it's no good to me.

I really, genuinely like the feel in hand of this battery case, which is something I've not been able to say about any other battery case I've ever had the displeasure to use/hold.

I'm only on my first day with the Apple Battery case, but I expect to finish my work day with juice still in the battery and the phone still at 100%.

For curiosity guys, what is the average drain in percent per minutes that you notice with your battery case connected and on wifi + 4g? With the phone in standby and wifi + 4g connected i had about 6% drain in 3h that is more than with iphone battery alone. No app is / are running in background. Is this normal?What are your stats just to know how good is my brand new case? Thanks.

 

[Max(IT)]

I like the case mainly because it seems more advanced compared to other cases. The fact that it shows battery status on screen is cool, the internal antenna is cool too. I ordered one and am waiting for it to arrive this Monday. The hump looks out of place but I haven't seen it in person to judge.

Currently I roll around with a Trianium battery case most days for my 6S. Especially if I'm at work, I work about 13hrs a day, 3 days a week. I don't like sitting my phone on a charger because I'm hardly in one spot.

If I forget to charge my phone and case before work, I know I'm screwed somewhat. Thankfully I can just pop my Trianium case off my phone, let it charge on some random persons micro-usb charger and wait like 3-4 hrs for it to charge halfway. By that time my iPhone is hanging on for its dear life. I pop the battery case on, it charges almost fully and I keep moving through the day.

But then I read this post on Daring Fireball:
http://daringfireball.net/2015/12/the_curious_case_of_the_curious_case

"If you find yourself short on battery with your iPhone every day (or even most days), and you can’t make an adjustment to, say, put a charging dock on your desk or in your car to give your iPhone’s internal battery a periodic snack, then you should probably bite the bullet and switch to a 6S Plus. However bulky the Plus feels in your pocket and hands, it feels less bulky to me than the iPhone 6S with any battery pack. An iPhone 6S Plus, even with a normal case on it, weighs noticeably less than an iPhone 6S with the Smart Battery Case. If you need the extra battery capacity every day, you might as well get the Plus. (If you actually prefer the bigger Plus to the 4.7-inch devices, you’re in luck — you get the screen size you prefer, and a significantly longer-lasting battery. My advice here is for those who prefer the 4.7-inch size, other considerations aside.)"-John Gruber----


This made me really rethink things. Why am I walking around with battery cases when an iPhone 6S Plus has probably enough battery power for my needs?

It makes way more sense to just "bite the bullet" and spend $100 bucks for the 6S Plus vs $100 bucks for a battery case that doesn't have an on and off feature. Also, continuously charging my iPhone doesn't seem really smart to me because wouldn't my phone be warm all the time? The bulge in my pocket is another concern. I like my jeans a little snug.

I already posted my iPhone 6S for sale. Still want to see the case for myself before I return it.

That article didn't consider the case where someone doesn't need the extra juice every day, but just in some occasions.
If I'm going to take a ride during the summer, with just a pair of shorts or jeans and a T-Shirt, I don't want the extra bulge of an iPhone 6+ ....


BTW yesterday I took my time to examine one at the nearest Apple Store and my impressions are very positive about it. I'm going to buy one next month (Wii U, Xbox One, iPad Mini 4 .... my budget just finished this month ).
The quality is superb, like my iPhone Apple case, and the general feeling is so much superior to the Mophie I bought (and sold) a few months ago.

 

[skiltrip]

For curiosity guys, what is the average drain in percent per minutes that you notice with your battery case connected and on wifi + 4g? With the phone in standby and wifi + 4g connected i had about 6% drain in 3h that is more than with iphone battery alone. No app is / are running in background. Is this normal?What are your stats just to know how good is my brand new case? Thanks.

I just just had my case drain overnight about 15% in 6.5 hours. So it appears normal based on your observations.
Wifi is on, and I closed all apps before laying it down for the night.

 

[califfo1975]

I just just had my case drain overnight about 15% in 6.5 hours. So it appears normal based on your observations.
Wifi is on, and I closed all apps before laying it down for the night.

thanks a lot; it looks thereby a faster drain than iphone native battery at same conditions.
Thanks

 

[skiltrip]

thanks a lot; it looks thereby a faster drain than iphone native battery at same conditions.
Thanks

Yeah. I was a little bummed to find there was this much idle drain. Overall it still brings a major improvement to the phone's battery alone though.

 

[cdmoore74]

While I wont buy it personally but I fail to see the problem with others having another battery case option to chose from.

If it's too ugly for you? Simply don't buy it, and let the others who do enjoy it to do so in peace.

It's like the uproar people made about the 12-inch Macbook having core M and only one port. Don't like it? Don't buy it.

I don't mind having another option; not the point. What matters is that Apple had the nerve to design such crap and then price said crap at such a ridiculous price. On top of that Apple didn't even have to release a battery case. There is no shortage of battery cases on the market today. This product hurts my respect in Apple; much more than the Apple Watch. They better design the crap out of the iPhone 7 and don't let the moron who designed the case touch it.