Apple Launches Official $99 Battery Enhancing Case for iPhone 6s

[samcraig]

You haven't asked me then.

Obviously. And I never said the response would be across the board.

For me - we've reached the "thinness" threshold. Too much thinner and we're getting into an issue of brittleness and not even girth to hold the phone. Again - this is my opinion. But I do share it with many in my circle. YMMV.

That being said - I would love it if Apple just adopted quick charging in their next device. I have a work cell and personal. And my personal cell has quick charging. And it's fantastic to have. It also has wireless charging which adds to convenience.

 

[PHIL5]

My goodness, this is an Ugly Camel Idea.

 

[majkom]

this piece of **** shows how bad apple really is under cooks guidance... yes, they are profitable, yes, they will be for many years, but hell.. this abomination will never be possible under Steves lead... hell, it is so ugly

 

[Keirasplace]

So if you're going to make the phone thicker, why not apply the thickness to the ENTIRE phone and up the battery capacity even more?

Because MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT THAT. Seams simple enough.
You do realize that battery weights a lot and even one mm would be a lot more weight in a large phone.
The Iphone 6s+ is already one of those that lasts the longest.

 

[clukas]

The ugliest apple product designed in a while.

 

[a.gomez]

why I just moved to a sony xperia phone - also that thing is just ugly! I really have no idea what is going on with Apple these days.

 

[KPOM]

It's pretty obvious this is a sign that the iPhone market is mature (as is the smartphone market in general). Apple wants to drive revenue growth, so putting out first party accessories is a way to do it. Battery cases by definition are compromises, so no matter what people would have complained about the design.

 

[KALLT]

Apple is clearly taking the piss... right?

 

[Enygmatic]

So much complaining and crying over an OPTIONAL accessory. Like they don't make battery cases for EVERY damn phone out there. It's no "subtle admission of failure" by Apple; why shouldn't they offer their own competitively-priced version of one of the most popular accessories sold in their stores - for their biggest/most popular product?

Jesus.

These are smartphones - pocket computers. Now with 4K cameras, HD displays, and desktop-level processors. Oh, and people stay on the damn things 24/7. People "want" all-week battery life out of the box... well, go become a scientist and/or engineer and help everyone get on that. Otherwise, 1-2 days is where we are.

Get a feature phone if you want 4-5 day battery life. Otherwise, buy the case (if it's useful) or don't.

 

[meaning-matters]

I wonder how many inside Apple's gate are troubled with this Joni design.

 

[AriB2783]

Is this the culmination of the longest con in tech history? Jesus, just stop making the damn things thinner.

 

[deadshift]

No it just wants to cash in on the extended battery pack market that has existed ever since the original Mophie. But it does make you wonder why they are piddling with these penny ante (to Apple's bottom line) accessories when clearly Apple engineers could be better used in its main product departments. Seems like everything new out of Apple recently is either a new accessory or a slight update or derivative of a pre-existing product.

There are NO good lightning port battery cases on the market for the 6/6s. There should be. This is the ONLY one. I think that's why Apple put out this humpback case, to fill a market gap. I think they expected someone else to make a better one, but because nobody else did in time for the holidays, Apple did. My feelings are mixed because I don't like the shape, and don't love the material.

I want extended battery life, but I also have huge hands. Not everybody is me, and I totally accept that just because I want a battery case does not mean the phone is wrong. I think the phone should be designed with/for a removable case. Let apple make a single thing very well, and let customization occur in the third party space.

 

[kizaw]

Wow, the nerve to ask you to give them $99 on top of the phone cost because they know they dropped the ball on the battery life. Bad Apple on this one. I returned my 6s in the first week because the battery life was a joke. Had to go with the 6s+ just for the bigger battery. This is disappointing!

 

[brvhrt]

This is one of those products best left to third parties whilst Apple concentrate on finding ways to build the solution in to future iPhone devices. They are producing way too many SKUs when they should be concentrating on improving the quality and design of a core range of devices and services. Like I say all the time now, these days Apple exist to build products for shareholders, not customers.

 

[Rogifan]

Someone always says "Steve never would have allowed this..." I always have rolled my eyes, but I think we can agree this might actually be that situation.

He allowed the hockey puck mouse. Nothing could be worse than that. And from the reviews of this thing it seems like it's not a bad product in terms of functionality it just doesn't look good. The hockey puck mouse was ugly and poor function too boot.

So much outrage over this hideous case. Writing on the wall is clear.. Apple is caring way too much about introducing profitable products which this case certainly will be. I hate this, every time a company starts operating this way, it's the beginning of the downfall. They should have R&D'd this product and nixed it. You have to be profitable and making amazing products. Not one or the other.

Considering most of the comments here how will this be profitable as no one will be buying it.

Just a terrible idea when there are plenty of options already in the market place made with better materials at half the cost. And who wants a terrible looking battery hump? The newer mophie slim case retails for $60 but was on sale for $40 a few times in the last 2 weeks and looks better to boot.
And to tell the truth I've left my battery case at home because battery life has been acceptable. Not excellent but acceptable. And that case is rugged with 3 different colored bumpers and has a 3300 mah battery. Plus it looks nice and was only $50.
On a saper

Good thing none of us have to buy it.

 

[baller1308]

Wow, the nerve to ask you to give them $99 on top of the phone cost because they know they dropped the ball on the battery life. Bad Apple on this one. I returned my 6s in the first week because the battery life was a joke. Had to go with the 6s+ just for the bigger battery. This is disappointing!

I actually found the 6's battery life to be sufficient. Better than some larger capacity android phones.

Regarding the case, not sure why they went with the hump. Full back coverage would have looked nicer and they probably could have thinned the hump down when taking advantage of the entire back. Some iOS integration is nice, but they probably could have done more, maybe smart charging.

 

[joueboy]

This is a top secret project of Tim Cook going on for awhile code name "Project Quasimodo". I can't believe he didn't called for press release.

 

[cdmoore74]

Only a hardcore fanboi would buy this case. Hunchbacked, ugly, wrong materials and expensive. Battery cases should not be that flexible.
A Apple case with the same IPhone materials and quality could have been epic. This here is a eBay run of the mill battery case with Apple logo and pricing.

 

[iZac]

What a horrible turd.

Edit: at least it makes the design of the 6 series look better by comparison. That't not hard though.

 

[cliffster82]

Pretty cool that they made this. I would guess that chunk of battery on the back feels weird at first but probably helps with grip too.

 

[matt3526]

If they stopped on the thinner and lighter quest then then wouldn't have to do this.

 

[carrrrrlos]

In other news Apple hires Samsung designers for new smart battery case.

 

[skiltrip]

I had a battery case for my 6 briefly. Then, I thought to myself that with the now increased height and weight of the 6 with the case on, I might as well have bought a Plus in the first place and get the larger screen along with it.

 

[dannys1]

Havent those saying "just add 1-2mm to the original phone" realised it takes THIS much extra thickness to add any reasonable difference to battery life.

Cant understand the moaning here either you all said use cases, you all complained you don't care about thinness and want extra battery life, here you go!

Well this was certainly unexpected.

Looks terrible with that unusual bulge, should really have filled out the entire back in my opinion.

How would the camera work then?

 

[windywalks]

They have those layered batteries in MacBooks that would have looked like less of and eyesore and yet they choose to make an iPhone-Quasimodo.
Hope it comes in Quasimodo Green.

Edit: Dang, only comes in Jack Black and Betty White.