Transforms the usefulness of the phone? Common, give me a break. It is a battery with charging coil glued to a silicon case with some small controller to show battery life. This is technology from two decades ago. No great deal of R&D, marketing or manufacturing here. Basically, 130$ of the 139% price tag is pure profit margin.
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Apple Releases Smart Battery Cases for iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, Qi Wireless Charging Supported
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Transforms the usefulness of the phone? Common, give me a break. It is a battery with charging coil glued to a silicon case with some small controller to show battery life. This is technology from two decades ago. No great deal of R&D, marketing or manufacturing here. Basically, 130$ of the 139% price tag is pure profit margin.
Here are three sensible comments via ArsTechnica:
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"Just make a bigger heavier high capacity model."
"In the same way that it's easier to put a sweater on when it's cold, it's easier to add capacity then to provide a way to slim the phone down."
"Quality is worth money. If all you care about is the mA hours, this isn’t for you. If you want one that doesn’t require its own separate power converter and cord, that comes in one piece that can attach off and on rapidly, that has good software integration, that charges over wires or magnetically, that doesn’t require you to flip switches to change between charging mode and discharging mode, that supports quick charging, that doesn’t block your signal, etc. then this is a product for you."
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"impractical hump"
"It’s likely for two reasons—to not block the antennas and also to allow it to bend/hinge so you can slide it off easily."
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The existence of a cheaper alternative has never really stopped people from picking the “official” Apple offering.
Not sure if you're taking the piss or not lmao but it's HK$999 which is around US$127, so actually cheaper lol (There's no VAT in Hong Kong)
It probably works with the X if the case fits.
Using a flexible 'lightning extender' one can connect any other (lightning) iOS device to the old cases and they'd show up and function as expected. I've had my iPhone 6 case connected to an iPhone SE and an iPad mini, I presume that Apple didn't bother to lock down the software to only allow the battery case with certain devices.
Another interesting tid-bit is that one can daisy chain the cases, see screen shot.
I have a battery case on my iphone 6s, then using the flexbile 'lightning extender' connected my wife's battery case. Both showed up, though sometimes it shows as 'A1585', I didn't have them connected long enough to determine which was draining first.
Mark
I've never been a fan of Apple's charging cases. They do their job, but the hump is really annoying. One of the reasons why I went for the Xs this time is to have something smaller in my hands and my pocket, it battery life was a problem I'd much rather buy an Xr or a Max and enjoy the bigger display and the additional battery life. I know the case provides even more juice and in some situations they're more convenient than an external battery pack, but the advantage of having the pack is you can charge multiple devices at a much lower price.
By the way I wish they made a slightly ticker Xs with room for a bigger battery, no more protruding camera, more battery life, it would be perfect
By the way I wish they made a slightly ticker Xs with room for a bigger battery, no more protruding camera, more battery life, it would be perfect
This form factor must be a tribute from Joni to Phil
We needed something to immortalize him - now he doesn’t appear anymore in keynotes
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The accessory is quite expensive but honestly it looks like it's the best battery case someone could have made. It allows for easy attachment to the phone, improves on the ugly design of the old ones, doesn't have a chin and is Qi charging compatible (which is why it doesn't have a chin after all).
Nobody seems to have mentioned that this case seems to effectively cover the speaker grilles. Or am I looking at it wrong?
Yes I was poking fun at the OP trying to equate Canadian dollars with US dollars. Foreign currency exchange rates are a thing. Interesting it’s actually cheaper there but obviously Apple is keeping it below the psychological barrier of 1,000... 999 is so much less lol.
I really disagree with most here that the case would look better if the entire surface was thicker instead of just the battery bump.
The phone already becomes a thicker package with a case and the added thickness from the battery would make it way more clunky, even though you can still feel the thickness on the middle right now. At least now you can still see and feel the silhouette of the phone + case at the top and even slightly at the sides.
It's an iPhone with a backpack. As far as power-user gear goes, this isn't that bad.
(I'm no power user, so I'm not considering buying this for my XR)
The phone already becomes a thicker package with a case and the added thickness from the battery would make it way more clunky, even though you can still feel the thickness on the middle right now. At least now you can still see and feel the silhouette of the phone + case at the top and even slightly at the sides.
It's an iPhone with a backpack. As far as power-user gear goes, this isn't that bad.
(I'm no power user, so I'm not considering buying this for my XR)
Depends on how big the camera cut out is. If I recall correctly the camera on the X is 1/2 to 3/4 of 1mm closer to the edge
It’s been mentioned a few times upthread but according to Gruber at Daring Fireball there are cutouts.
