Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I had to register just to make a comment about this. Wouldn't it be better if they just increased the thickness a little bit to pack bigger battery? I don't know who's gonna end up wearing this ugly looking case and I really hope iPhone 7 will utilize the new "sheets" battery which they used in the new MacBook 12". I would love to see 3000 mAh for 4,7" and 4500 for 5,5".
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
It really is nice of Apple to try, but yes, there are better options out there. The title of the thread is the understatement of the century.



Such truth. Steve would've never made the case for a case like this . . . . . questionable.

I have a good feeling he would've at the very least, made the case to be one solid battery all around like the Mophie options. The wart in the back is a bit odd and unsettling.

I currently have a Mophie Juice pack Air - with battery to the edges which brings its own problems. Over all the Mophie is decent enough. The main 2 things I prefer about the Apple version...

First there isn't a deep hole around the camera on the Apple case, I'm certain this causes bad photos in lower light on the Mophie. Annoyingly it's on days out out that I would use the battery case and on them days I'm more likely to be taking photos.

Second, it's thin around the edges. I need to try it in store, but this should be better in my hand than my chunky up to the edges Mophie (for which I have to adjust my grip due to thickness). I grip my naked iPhone around the edges, the back of the phone doesn't actually touch my palm, similar to this but my hand is lower on the body:

DSC00661.jpg


Additional things that I like on the Apple version:

- It plays nice with my docks.
- The battery is not on top of the antenna lines (and it has signal boosters).
- Battery levels in Notification Centre.
- Regular Lightning cable to charge.

Is there a case that does all of these things? If no, then for some there are not "better options out there" no matter how many times you or others say it.

I only need to use the case a few times a month when I have a long day. And the Mophie is holding up well. But the Apple version is definitely on my shortlist for when I need a new one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobob
I kind of have to like this Apple battery case. I guess more big reason to get it, is probably NOT what it's actually designed for "extra long usage" but more so if you're in a weak cell area, this would be a good reason to get it.

the LED indicator "inside" the case u can't even see if a phone if connected, is the same weird Apple decision as the Apple pen sticking out of the lightening port of a iPad Pro, or connecting the Magic mouse underneath to charge for 15 seconds.

Why does Apple do these things ? I dunno *shrugs* .. i just but 'em.. :D
 
Last edited:
It's ugly, but it serve a purpose for the few who don't have a charger at work or in their car. Knowing apple, they probably had a good reason for their ugly design - my guess is that it probably fits better in one's hand and especially a smaller hand. They care about such things.

I think so, but they also care about the design and this thing is ugly.
I'd much rather bring an external battery with me that can power other appliances like the iPad and if iPhone's battery life is poor for my needs I can buy the Plus and have plenty of battery life
 
That decision reminds me about my old Dell x51v!
Dell x 51 v.jpg

This old guy could drain its main battery for about one-two hours just for playback a music with locked screen in your pocket. It's was so many years ago, that I can't exactly remember, but two batteries that was came with it, doesn't been able provide all day long music listening. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fzang
who cares - have had all iphones beginning with the original - used Android, switched to the samsung s6 edge and now couldn't resist to buy the Microsoft Lumia 950xl
beside smaller bezels, larger screen, pc-like usability ... I can exchange the batterie (when needed), no need for any kind of batterie-case
from timt to time I update the iOS Apps in iTunes -- nostalgia -- but I don't see any real reason to come back

Thanks for sharing your story. Hope you're happy. Maybe someday they'll be a few dozen Windows Phone users, and someone will start a rumors site for you... ;-)
 
The design is fine. Apple is trying to be different from the competition; I get that. I also am a fan of their polystyrene cases, so cheers for that.

They just need to knock $30 off the price tag. Similar battery cases are selling for less than $40 online.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
It's possible because I'm not glued to my phone constantly.

My phone is currently sitting on my desk next to me, other than replying to an email and checking a couple things and taking a quick call, I haven't used it and it's been off the charger since 6:45 this morning. Battery is at 96%. I have a job that requires my brain and full attention from the time I get here to the time I leave, so I'm not sitting on my phone playing games or dinking off. The phone is a tool for me, not an entertainment device; as such, it is never in my hands being used for hours on end constantly. I also have full brightness, and wifi and bluetooth on. Your usage may vary.

With that case, I bet I could go two full weeks between charges, easy.

So what you're saying is you don't use your iPhone? You have a near $1000 glancer, congrats.

The usage you've described is basically impossible for probably over 90% of iPhone users. I would have absolutely no doubt that anyone who uses their iPhone for business in any way will never last that long without recharging or being near enough to 0% to feel compelled to charge it.

I'm sure you'd get even better battery life if you only used your iPhone on the 1st Saturday of the month but that would be just as ridiculous.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
Do I hate the design? Meh, nearly.

Do I think it's a valid Apple designed product that they needed to make, no.

The whole point of Apple products is to take an existing category and improve it to own the market by creating a revolutionary device. Not making something with barely any differentiating features that many people would argue is ugly as sin and then make it more expensive than most competitors.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
Google went out of business eh? Here is one there are a bunch on amazon second link.

Also apple liscensed the female port in January.

http://9to5mac.com/2015/01/12/detai...tning-port-specs-for-third-party-accessories/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UV...ttery+case&dpPl=1&dpID=519catrcnKL&ref=plSrch

Umm, thanks for the somewhat snarky response. But I didn't say that Apple hasn't made it available for licensing. I said that nobody has licensed it.

As far as the Amazon link, discounting the fact that the case you linked to is for the iPhone 5 chassis, a two year old (at minimum) phone do you really believe that someone is selling an Apple licensed Lightning port enabled battery case for $12? If so, I have some Jets Super Bowl tickets to sell you. Front row. 50 yard line. $25 each.

And would you put a $12 battery case from a company you've never heard of on your $800 phone?
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Umm, thanks for the somewhat snarky response. But I didn't say that Apple hasn't made it available for licensing. I said that nobody has licensed it.

As far as the Amazon link, discounting the fact that the case you linked to is for the iPhone 5 chassis, a two year old (at minimum) phone do you really believe that someone is selling an Apple licensed Lightning port enabled battery case for $12? If so, I have some Jets Super Bowl tickets to sell you. Front row. 50 yard line. $25 each.

And would you put a $12 battery case from a company you've never heard of on your $800 phone?

My bad just a joke not a troll. Apologies

Here is one that is more legit

http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/20/aukey-pb-n30-3600mah-external-battery-charger-iphone-lightning/

As far as the liscensing not sure if there is a list of companies apple posts for specific technologies they license that could be an issue with competition among case manufacturers
 
My bad just a joke not a troll. Apologies

Here is one that is more legit

http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/20/aukey-pb-n30-3600mah-external-battery-charger-iphone-lightning/

As far as the liscensing not sure if there is a list of companies apple posts for specific technologies they license that could be an issue with competition among case manufacturers

Thanks, and I wasn't trying to be a jerk, either.

But even the latest one you linked to misses my point. It's an external battery. Not a lighting enabled battery case. There are loads of external batteries out there, and a lightning port on them isn't really necessary, or comparable to a lightning port on a battery case. All you need to do to use the external battery is plug the USB A end of your lightning cable into the battery, and the lightning end into your iPhone.

The biggest pain about a third-party battery case is the fact that you have to remove it to charge it separately, carrying around an extra cable, or lose the functionality of the lightning port on your iPhone if you charge the case in place with the micro usb. The Apple case allows someone to keep the case on their phone and use their lightning cable to charge, while keeping access to all of the other lightning cable functionality.
 
So what you're saying is you don't use your iPhone? You have a near $1000 glancer, congrats.

The usage you've described is basically impossible for probably over 90% of iPhone users. I would have absolutely no doubt that anyone who uses their iPhone for business in any way will never last that long without recharging or being near enough to 0% to feel compelled to charge it.

I'm sure you'd get even better battery life if you only used your iPhone on the 1st Saturday of the month but that would be just as ridiculous.

Impossible, no. Improbable, yes. Sad reality is that most people don't really use their phone as a tool, they sit on the couch wasting their life playing a stupid game for 4+ hours straight. Top apps are never anything but games. We both know this.

Business is irrelevant, as most people who have iphones don't have them for business. Talking on the phone - in a business use case - doesn't use much battery anyway. Neither does sending emails or texts.

Buy the ugly battery case and move on with your life then; be glad Apple finally offers an in-house solution if your phone battery is so wretched.
 

Wow..Kudos to you. Those look great. Having used to work at Best Buy I assumed Mophie and some generic ones were the only names in battery cases. The second one looks great...hmmm now I have a choice. I want to see a Apple Battery case in person first.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
No, you'd just be told you should charge it. Battery life is better now on the iPhone 6/s (rated, at least) than any phone before it. Battery cases used to be something they didn't make, sure, but not because the iPhone had better battery life.

If people were complaining, you're probably right. But at the same time they would be improving the battery life for the next gen. My point was, this wouldn't fly under SJ. He didn't like these types of compromises.
 
If people were complaining, you're probably right. But at the same time they would be improving the battery life for the next gen. My point was, this wouldn't fly under SJ. He didn't like these types of compromises.

Oh, my mistake. You're right, people didn't complain about previous iPhones having bad battery life
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/12/02/how-to-fix-bad-iphone-4s-battery-life-in-5-minutes/
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4353390?tstart=0
http://www.zdnet.com/article/iphone-3gs-users-complain-of-poor-battery-life/
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2009/07/15/iphone-3gs-battery-life-apples-poor-customer-support/
http://www.cnet.com/news/iphone-3g-battery-draining-too-fast-try-this/

This would fly under SJ. Battery life is better than ever, people are just using their device more than ever.
 
a zero lemon battery case or a mophie battery case thats better than the apple battery case i love zero lemon batteries
 
Additional things that I like on the Apple version:

- It plays nice with my docks.
- The battery is not on top of the antenna lines (and it has signal boosters).
- Battery levels in Notification Centre.
- Regular Lightning cable to charge.

Is there a case that does all of these things? If no, then for some there are not "better options out there" no matter how many times you or others say it.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. People just saw it once and dismiss is as ugly. But there really is no other better alternative if we are talking about "apple" to "apple". Apple design considers:
- docking layout
- antenna position
- signal booster
- notification for battery level
- charging

As I said, nothing is what it seems. People really need to take a second look, it will change their mind. It did to me.
 
I think if they would have simply tapered down the edges or made it so it was flat on the back it would look much better. Battery cases do sometimes feel weird in the hand (but that is second to their function) and this one looks to be better. There is no need for Apple to be in this space but hopefully this a test run for a better product (or better yet API) down the line that integrates more deeply with the OS.
 
I kind of have to like this Apple battery case. I guess more big reason to get it, is probably NOT what it's actually designed for "extra long usage" but more so if you're in a weak cell area, this would be a good reason to get it.

the LED indicator "inside" the case u can't even see if a phone if connected, is the same weird Apple decision as the Apple pen sticking out of the lightening port of a iPad Pro, or connecting the Magic mouse underneath to charge for 15 seconds.

Why does Apple do these things ? I dunno *shrugs* .. i just but 'em.. :D

I would imagine if you can see the indicator light, the phone is not connected :D
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.