Smart Battery Case for iPhone XS Appears to Be Compatible With iPhone X

[MacRumors]

Apple yesterday debuted new Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, and review units are in the hands of members of the media and some lucky people who received early deliveries.

Many iPhone X users have been wondering if the iPhone XS Smart Battery Case will work with the older model given that the two devices are nearly identical in design, and the answer appears to be yes, though there is some uncertainty.

This morning, iMore's Rene Ritchie put an iPhone X running iOS 12.1.2 in an iPhone XS Smart Battery Case and received an error suggesting the iPhone X was not compatible with the case.

He updated the iPhone X to iOS 12.1.3, however, and was able to get the iPhone X to charge in the iPhone XS Smart Battery Case. He also now says that the iPhone X will charge with the Battery Case if the incompatibility popup is dismissed.

Update: iOS 12.1.2 DID NOT work for me with iOS XS case. iOS 12.1.13 DOES work for me. iPhone XS Max case DOES charge X for @chriswelch on iOS 12.1.2. It DOES NOT for me, even on 12.1.13. So, um... 🤷‍♂️More testing! https://t.co/H1kk031Z5d - Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) January 16, 2019

Ok, here's the 💯 correct info: You CAN use iPhone XS battery case with iPhone X. You may get that incompatibility pop up. But, if you dismiss it, it should charge fine. (Update iOS/reboot if not.)(Speaker/mics still won't be aligned, if you care about acoustic performance.) pic.twitter.com/05IQyUctcQ - Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) January 16, 2019

A MacRumors reader was also able to get the iPhone X to charge in an iPhone XS Smart Battery Case, and Chris Welch of The Verge said in his testing, the iPhone X was able to charge an iPhone X running iOS 12.1.2 in an iPhone XS Max Smart Battery Case.

Nothing but XS Max charges in my XS Max case, not even XS or XR. What version of iOS? - Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) January 16, 2019

So it appears, based on this limited amount of testing, that the iPhone X is going to charge in an iPhone XS Smart Battery Case, though there could be some compatibility issues on iOS 12.1.2. If the case doesn't charge the iPhone X, as Ritchie suggested, you can restart the iPhone or update to iOS 12.1.3 to get it working.

It is worth noting that while the iPhone X may charge in the iPhone XS Battery Case, the fit is imprecise. The speaker and microphone holes do not line up, and the camera cutout is a bit off.

Apple's Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, XS Max, (and presumably XR), feature 10.1Whr batteries that extend the life of each iPhone.

The iPhone XS Max normally offers up to 25 hours talk time, 15 hours of internet use, and 15 hours of video playback, which is extended to 37 hours of talk time, 20 hours of internet, and 25 hours of video playback with the Smart Battery Case.

The iPhone XS alone features up to 20 hours of talk time, 12 hours of internet use, and 14 hours of video playback, which is extended to 33 hours of talk time, 21 hours of internet use, and 25 hours of video playback with the Smart Battery Case.

The iPhone XR features up to 25 hours of talk time, 15 hours of internet use, and 16 hours of video playback, which is extended to 39 hours of talk time, 22 hours of internet use, and 27 hours of video playback.

The Smart Battery Cases are priced at $129 and can be purchased from the Apple website.

Article Link: Smart Battery Case for iPhone XS Appears to Be Compatible With iPhone X

 

[rti92391]

As someone who owned the X (upgraded to the XS), this is unbelievable.

I cannot understand the rationale for the software block of this. If someone is willing to spend $129 on it and they’re a X owner, I just cannot fathom why this makes any sense.

 

[dannyyankou]

Just buy a mophie then

 

[Princejb134]

Ouch... Apple can’t seem to get right

 

[Stiss]

Oh Apple.

 

[frosty18]

As someone who owned the X (upgraded to the XS), this is unbelievable.

I cannot understand the rationale for the software block of this. If someone is willing to spend $129 on it and they’re a X owner, I just cannot fathom why this makes any sense.

I know! I’m a XS owner too but this is downright wrong. If enough people complain they can easily fix this with a software update for the X

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Out of luck? This saves X users from buying junk.

 

[beerfish89]

As someone who owned the X (upgraded to the XS), this is unbelievable.

I cannot understand the rationale for the software block of this. If someone is willing to spend $129 on it and they’re a X owner, I just cannot fathom why this makes any sense.

It does work and charge on an iPhone X. Working perfect on mine. Sound is just as loud as before.

 

[jmh600cbr]

quite infuriating. As the X gets older we need this more. The XS is brand new, the battery should be fine for now.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Saves countless iPhone X users money.

 

[Unity451]

The apple pencil first gen needed company.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

If only Apple looked at its own product road map once and a while, there wouldn't be a jarring transition. Every. Single. Year.

 

[12vElectronics]

Maybe Apple is planning on releasing a smart case for the X? That way a case must be purchased for each specific iPhone. Makes good business sense.

 

[kiensoy]

The iPhone X set the path for the next 10 years, said Tim Cook, but discontinued it a year later and seems to not support it anymore. Early adopter issues.

 

[Malcster]

Disappointing! Off to cancel my order..!

 

[beerfish89]

Disappointing! Off to cancel my order..!

I does work with the iphone X works perfect on mine. I updated a previous reply with pictures of it working

 

[MarkB786]

Time to upgrade to the XS! If AAPL really cared about its users, they would keep this kind of stuff in mind.

 

[magicschoolbus]

So a guy on Reddit cuts off an iPhone 7 case and plugs it into the X and it works - Apple releases a case that fits and should work, but add software to make it not work.

The days of my patience with Cook and Co's new Apple are running thin.

 

[Malcster]

I does work with the iphone X works perfect on mine. I updated a previous reply with pictures of it working

Cheers I’ll keep the order, I can always return it if it doesnt!

 

[beerfish89]

So a guy on Reddit cuts off an iPhone 7 case and plugs it into the X and it works - Apple releases a case that fits and should work, but add software to make it not work.

The days of my patience with Cook and Co's new Apple are running thin.

Everybody needs to chill out it does work with the iPhone X

 

[lanegandy]

Looks like it is working on most people's iPhones. Maybe Macrumors should get multiple sources before writing an article

 

[cocky jeremy]

The iPhone X set the path for the next 10 years, said Tim Cook, but discontinued it a year later and seems to not support it anymore. Early adopter issues.

Surely you didn't believe this meant the iPhone X was going to be getting new products for 10 years, did you?

 

[AaronE]

It does work and charge on an iPhone X. Working perfect on mine. Sound is just as loud as before.
View attachment 816014 View attachment 816015 View attachment 816016

You're the real MVP!

I was starting to quickly regret purchasing the case for my X. Should be here tomorrow!

 

[RamGuy]

Just buy a mophie then

The issue with non-Apple Battery Cases is the fact that they work as glorified battery packs and chargers. Your phone has no real clue that you are utilising a Battery Case.

Why is this a issue? Well because there are numerous things your iPhone will do only when it's connected to power. It saves a lot of power hungry tasks by default to only be done when it's connected to a charger.

Your phone is automatically in a more power hungry state by default when you are connected to a charger. This is not a issue with the Apple Smart Battery Case because it's directly integrated with iOS. With this case your phone knows it's just a secondary battery and it will behave accordingly.

When utilising battery cases from Mophie and other brands it will simply behave like a regular charge. Those cases have become smarter so they won't completely overload your iPhone's battery by continuously provide charge/power as long as the case's battery still have juice let of it but it will still trick your phone into believing you are connected to a wall outlet and behave accordingly reducing the potential battery life of the case drastically compared to have it all behaves with the Apple Smart Battery Case.

 

[ersan191]

Apple is pretending like the X never existed for some reason - they pulled all of the silicone cases and nearly every accessory for it and started making XS versions and never looked back.

Edit: I see some people saying it works, that's good news at least - but every accessory is only made for the XS now.