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

[bobob]

It looks weird, but I can see what they were trying to do. Keep the uniform look, keep it looking symmetrical, stick a solid battery in there, while still making the top easy enough to bend to get the phone out.

More importantly, they are placing the battery such that it doesn't interfere with the cellular radio.

"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."

 

[venomgt95]

I dont understand Apple's obsession with "thin" Thinner (usually) means more fragile. In my honest opinion, the 5S was of the upmost perfect design in thickness and overall shape.

Case isnt the most attractive thing ever, but, at least its practical.

 

[Narcaz]

Well, i find it horrible, at least from these pictures. But I'm sure they'll sell enough of these for this case to be profitable. They are first party, they can use lightning and they can integrate into the closed iOS ecosystem.

The functionality might be good, but i wonder if the profits from this niche market are enough to compensate the image hit. Aren't they also trying to brand their stuff more in a fashion way? And to be honest: they really couldn't find a way to implement their terraced batteries patent (e.g. 12'' Macbook) and make this case more aesthetically pleasing?!

 

[Boatboy24]

What about adding 1-2 mm thickness to new iPhones and having good battery life right out of the box. IMHO unfortunately that case looks ugly.

Then they wouldn't be able to charge you an extra $100 for 'good battery life'.

 

[SuperHamster]

This appears to be, to me, a part of Apple’s strategy for Business. They’re making it for their most common model, in gray and white, it makes their devices last longer for jobs that need it, and the hump (I would imagine) will make the iPhone easier to hold.

The one excellent comment here. Overall Apple seems to be pushing the Business angle now, makes good sense given their saturation in the consumer market.

 

[Nozuka]

first review is out

http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/08/apple-smart-battery-case-iphone-review/

 

[AlliFlowers]

For those who are interested it's 1877mAh

Thanks! That was what I was looking for. It's hardly worth the effort for that. I have an external that I carry around, that isn't much larger than the "hump" on that case, and it's 90,000mAh.

 

[PlainviewX]

Doubling down on secrecy has finally worked!

 

[OllyW]

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.

What's wrong with iPod socks? They are still keeping my iPods safe 10 years down the line.

 

[msh]

I can think of several things that came out on Jobs watch that were just as 'ugly' as this and pretty useless, like iPod socks. At least this has utility and appears to go beyond what 3rd parties offer.


Too bad he didn't say that when Apple released iPod socks. Or the hockey puck mouse. Or an iPhone that dropped calls when you held it a certain way.



Sure the socks were cute in a novelty kind of way but they didn't serve any real function. At least this battery case appears to have cool technology and real functionality behind it. I'm going to assume it was designed the way it is for engineering reasons not because someone thought an iPhone case with a hump would look really sexy. I suppose Ive could have told the engineers to go back to the drawing board but I'd need to use one first before coming to that conclusion.

You're right. It's really me yelling, "What the **** is that?!"

 

[Seifensieder]

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

He wouldn't have approved it. He would have thinking about the battery capacity.

 

[canesalato]

The functionality might be good, but i wonder if the profits from this niche market are enough to compensate the image hit. Aren't they also trying to brand their stuff more in a fashion way? And to be honest: they really couldn't find a way to implement their terraced batteries patent (e.g. 12'' Macbook) and make this case more aesthetically pleasing?!

Uhm...good point. Well, I guess i don't think they'll get an image hit. Most people won't probably even know this product exists.
People interested will buy, most of the other won't care.
For people who DO care about details, this is not the first nor the worst thing apple has made this year (for me, personally, the smart keyboard)...but they are a minority.

 

[Rogifan]

first review is out

http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/08/apple-smart-battery-case-iphone-review/

"Apple's first battery case works, and it works well."

So perhaps function over form in this instance.

He wouldn't have approved it. He would have thinking about the battery capacity.

So he would be able to change the laws of physics? Let's face it, it's not like Jobs wasn't also obsessed with thin.

 

[tsubikiddo]

OMG! Who designed this? It is fugly

 

[sziehr]

I dont understand Apple's obsession with "thin" Thinner (usually) means more fragile. In my honest opinion, the 5S was of the upmost perfect design in thickness and overall shape.

Case isnt the most attractive thing ever, but, at least its practical.

The drive is to be thin is all based on ives. I think we could rapper off the size quest as well. The next bit is weight they also want to keep the device stupid light.

 

[nicho]

not sure if this has been picked up on because of people's comments that it's ugly etc. (i actually don't think its that bad, from most angles it looks better than a mophie juice pack and is similarly priced...)

but the apple store page suggests it is not "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" but one that will prolong it TO those figures...

 

[Max(IT)]

And apple subtly admits the iPhone 6 and 6s battery life is not what users want.

... or not.
iPhone battery life is outstanding, but there are people that just want more.
Here the solution.
Third parties like Mophie already sell something similar.

but will it work on the 6?

I'd like to have an official statement about that. I will buy one soon.

April fools. Must be. Or a money grab. $99 is a lot. Not a lot for apple, but considering you can get a charging case for easily a third of that... They saw Mophie and others making bank on these and decided to get some cash too.

Let's design a sub par product (internal battery capacity) and then make more money by supplementing it with an accessory. Watch them say how wonderful they are by giving users the "choice".

I feel so meh about this.

Oh give me a break.
Stop comparing cheap chinese accessories with quality products.
Other quality battery cases are similarly priced (i.e. Mophie).

 

[Abazigal]

I do agree. I love the 6+ and it's capacity, it will get me through the day and require nightly charging, but you've got to admit when they're sacrificing function for form and then coming up with something looking like this, it's adding fuel to the (thinness argument) fire.

I would argue that it's form that enables function.

Personally, I love the way my 6S+ feels in my hand naked. I have used my last 2 iPhones without any cases and that my current iPhone is now clad in a Spigen air cushion is a concession to its camera bump. But otherwise, when I occasionally take my phone out of the case to use at home, I feel the thickness and contours of the 6S+ fit my hand just right and doubt that a thicker phone would be as ergonomic or satisfying to hold.

One day, I will muster up the nerve to use my 6S+ without a case, but it seems that that day is not today.

 

[Rogifan]

What's wrong with iPod socks? They are still keeping my iPods safe 10 years down the line.

View attachment 604366

Ha, I can only imagine the comments around here if Apple released something like that today.

 

[vmachiel]

Or maybe this is proof that it will not be reaching its end soon. They can keep making phones thinner and thinner, and just offer first party battery cases to those that want the option of thickening up...

God I hope not.. I was always for the whole thinner thing, but I hope it's reached it's limits now.

 

[YvesM007-1993]

Question: How do You access the audio jack/3.5mm port?

To me it seems that, if you want to get it out, you would have to yank the cable instead of the connector-part, no?

 

[boto]

The most innovative product from Apple this year!

 

[samcraig]

So perhaps function over form in this instance.
So he would be able to change the laws of physics? Let's face it, it's not like Jobs wasn't also obsessed with thin.

Good review to read. I wouldn't say it's a "glowing" endorsement. But it's a solid review.

 

[nicho]

Thanks! That was what I was looking for. It's hardly worth the effort for that. I have an external that I carry around, that isn't much larger than the "hump" on that case, and it's 90,000mAh.

are you sure about that number? that's the power in a car battery...

 

[freepomme]

Hahaha. Who designed that ugly looking case! Lol