Apple has launched a replacement program for some Smart Battery Cases made for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. Under the terms of the program Apple will replace eligible battery cases free of charge.
The $129 Smart Battery Case displays its own battery meter in the Battery widget on the iPhone. It supports fast-charging so you can go from dead to 50% in 30 minutes using a charger that supports the USB Power Delivery protocol. It also works with Qi charging mats. Apple explains the issue on its web site:
Apple has determined that some Smart Battery Cases made for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR may experience charging issues. An affected Smart Battery Case may exhibit one or more of the following behaviors:
- Battery case will not charge or charges intermittently when plugged into power
- Battery case does not charge the iPhone or charges it intermittently
The affected cases were manufactured between January 2019 and October 2019. If you believe your case may be covered under the replacement program, contact Apple and make arrangements to visit an Apple-authorized service provider or Apple Store to have it examined and replaced.