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No surprise really. Only that it's taken this long. Apple originally wasn't in the case/bumper market with their phones and tablets. But they saw potential revenue flying out the window. Better to have your own official product which carries the weight of your brand on it. Also - now they don't really "ever" have to worry about thinness being a sacrifice when it comes to battery life. They've got a solution. Just like the bumpers.
 
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they would launch anything these days with an apple logo just for the money...
The absolutely no one has to buy. And if it's as horrible as people here think then very few people will be buying it. Perhaps this is the iPod Socks of Tim Cook's Apple. :)

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To me it de-values the product. It's like they are admitting: 'Our phones batteries are **** implying that the customer has to buy an external accessory to make it ideal.

That's a crock. They've been selling Mophie cases in their stores for years. Most users (myself included) can make it through their day with the iPhone 6 with no need for any additional charging. But there are some people who need that extra bump, and they buy battery cases. Just like some people want their phones to be protected no matter what, so they buy ugly Otter Box cases.

If you decide you're one of those people you can buy an accessory that customizes your phone to your particular set of needs. I used to own a Mophie case and carry it in my briefcase, so I could put it on my iPhone if I ran into a situation where I needed more juice and couldn't charge.

The biggest thing I take from this release is that Apple has pretty much gutted Mophie. There is no need to buy a Mophie case now when Apple has given me the best of both worlds. A battery case that I don't need a micro usb cable to charge.
 
this article leaves out some interesting facts:

"
The Apple case has some ‘smarts’ to justify its name. For starters, it includes iOS system integration to show the battery pack status in Notification Center and the lock screen. The case itself also includes a discreet light that indicates charging status (amber, green, or off).

Moreover, Apple says that other cases often impair cellular performance as the battery gets in the way of the radios. For the Smart Battery Case, Apple has incorporated a passive antenna which reroutes radio frequencies and minimizes interference. For sound, the case includes a specifically designed acoustic opening to channel audio from the iPhone speaker.

The company also claims its charging mechanism is better than competing cases. Most cases first charge the phone and then charge the battery pack. Apple’s case can crossover to charge the integrated battery mid-way through the phone charge cycle."

and also a picture of this:

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Typical reaction. Same thing was said about the Watch stand, except for those that actually bought one who said it was really nice. My question is why did Apple feel the need to release one of these? Why not just leave it to 3rd parties?
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Well this was certainly unexpected.

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

I'm assuming that since it's flexible, they needed to leave a gap between the edge and the battery (the latter obviously not being flexible) so it can be easily installed/removed.

Not a critique on the aesthetics, just the physical engineering. :)


The Apple case has some ‘smarts’ to justify its name. For starters, it includes iOS system integration to show the battery pack status in Notification Center and the lock screen. The case itself also includes a discreet light that indicates charging status (amber, green, or off).

Moreover, Apple says that other cases often impair cellular performance as the battery gets in the way of the radios. For the Smart Battery Case, Apple has incorporated a passive antenna which reroutes radio frequencies and minimizes interference. For sound, the case includes a specifically designed acoustic opening to channel audio from the iPhone speaker.

The company also claims its charging mechanism is better than competing cases. Most cases first charge the phone and then charge the battery pack. Apple’s case can crossover to charge the integrated battery mid-way through the phone charge cycle.

Neat. As usual, the devil is in the details :D
 
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Apple today quietly launched a new iPhone 6s Smart Battery Case that will prolong the smartphone's talk time and internet use by up to 25 and 18 hours respectively (via CNET). The case's outside material compares similarly to the company's previous line of silicone accessories, with an added hump sitting in the middle of the backside where the extra battery rests.

Apple finally admits that "thin" is too thin!

Hey guys - for iPhone 7, get rid of the camera bump. Make the phone a bit thicker and use the extra space for more battery.
 
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The design is fine, who cares if it has a hump. The purpose is to minimize the size of the phone at the bottom so that it continues to fit in places it would have prior with just a standard case. The case is removable which means the phone can be thin and light when you want or bigger and longer lasting if needed. I get through the day fine so this case is not for me but there are times when I do need a little more for travel. I bought a portable battery which cost 30% of this price but its harder to manage and more trouble to take than a simple phone case. I would have gone with the case instead. Over time this design will become common and having the option of light or extended battery is great. Its like older phones with removable batteries that came with a new back to cover the bigger battery hump.
 
TOTALLY AGREE! MAKE IT RUBBERIZED ON THE OUTSIDE, BUILD THE CASE INTO THE PHONE AND MAKE IT DOUBLE THICKNESS! Sorry for yelling but I've been saying this for years.
Not all of us want a thicker phone. I also prefer leather cases to silicone.
 
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My theory is it more focuses on the previous generation. iOS 9 ate battery unapologetically on the 6/6+. It'd last half a day. It's for the "S," but I'm sure it's a workaround, and where there is an entire generation of phone that basically had its battery cut in half, there's a chance to make money.

The battery on the "S" seems pretty incredible for an iPhone, honestly, as my 6S+ lasts all day, 9-10 hours usage, with around 20% to spare at bedtime.

Albeit it's face-palm worthy. I am beyond myself on this. Yet another product with 10-year old design relevance from Apple in a month... They either think the early 2000's are coming back, or the new beautiful is ugly.

The Apple Watch stand and this case belong in the era of the iMac G4.
 
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