Apple on Tuesday released its very first battery pack, dubbed the Smart Battery Case and designed for the iPhone 6s and the previous-generation iPhone 6.
The $99 accessory provides device protection and offers even longer battery life: up to 25 hours of talk time, eighteen hours of Internet use on LTE (ten hours without the case) and twenty hours of video playback versus eleven hours provided by the iPhone 6s.
The built-in battery rests on the backside, beneath the credit card-sized protruding bulge. Passthrough and crossover designs permit users to connect Lightning accessories whilst the case is in use and let the case charge itself and the iPhone at the same time.
This accessory joins Apple’s existing lineup of $35 Silicone Cases for the iPhone 6s and the recently launched $49 iPhone Lightning Dock and is available starting today from the Apple Online Store and Apple retail stores.
On the outside, the case features soft-touch finish that “feels great in your hand.” On the inside, it has soft microfiber lining and the soft elastomer hinge design which makes it easy to put the case on and take it off again.
The Lightning-enabled accessory was designed by Apple to support various Lightning accessories, including the Lightning to USB cable included with your iPhone. As a bonus, it works with Apple’s own iPhone Lightning Dock.
“With the Smart Battery Case on, the intelligent battery status is displayed on the iPhone Lock screen and in Notification Center, so you know exactly how much charge you have left,” writes Apple.
There’s also an indicator light on the case for at-a-glance overview of the charging status. Lastly, there’s a cutout on the accessory for the iPhone’s speaker. True to its form, the company did not divulge the case’s battery capacity.
Availability
The Smart Battery Case is offered in White and Charcoal Gray, with first shipments estimated to arrive between December 10 and December 14 Apple is also offering free shipping between December 11 and December 15).
The case is compatible with the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 4.7-inch iPhone 6s. A variant for the larger-sized iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus is not yet available.