Review: Apple Smart Battery Case for iPhone 6 & 6s
Apple's Smart Battery Case will certainly get the job done, but it includes some baffling design decisions, and just isn't a great value compared to third-party products.
First of all, to address the elephant in the room -- yes, the case just doesn't look as sleek as most Apple products, with a protruding battery "hump" that some people have likened to an iPod, a deck of cards, or even a tumor. It's like a mutant version of Apple's regular Silicone Case.
In practice, the aesthetic issue is overblown. A charcoal black version looked smooth and well-made to our eyes, though it's liable to show scuffs and lint over time. And ultimately, it's a battery case -- what matters is how long it lasts and how much protection it offers.
On the second point, the Smart Battery Case is engineered more to be light than rugged, but it does have a thick, grippy rubber exterior reinforced by plastic and metal. A raised lip helps guard the screen. Together these things are enough to protect against bumps and everyday wear and tear, and possibly a few drops if the screen doesn't take the brunt of the impact.
Battery life is decent, but not spectacular. Apple claims up to 25 hours of talk time or 15 hours of LTE data, compared with figures of 14 and 10 on a stock iPhone 6 or 6s. We tried the case with an iPhone 6, and found that in normal mixed use -- with activities like Facebook, music, Words With Friends, and Google Maps navigation -- we were left with a 12 percent charge on the case by the end of the day, about what you'd expect from an iPhone on its own.
One of the neater things about the case its close integration with the Apple ecosystem. It uses a Lightning port instead of micro USB, which automatically makes it more convenient for a lot of people -- especially those with Lightning docks. When you insert or remove a cable, it briefly displays both the phone and the case's power levels, and you can check that information again through an iOS Notification Center widget.
It'd be nice, though, if those separate levels appeared on the iOS lockscreen as well. Really there should be an external LED readout like other cases, which would do away with having to plug in an iPhone or swipe down on notifications just to gauge how much life is left.
On that note, some of Apple's other design choices are just bizarre. There is an LED charging indicator, but it's a basic on/off light, and it's located on the inside of the case -- a place you won't see most of the time. There's no switch to turn the case off and save reserve power. And if you want to connect 3.5-millimeter headphones or stereo cables, the opening for them is too deep and narrow in many circumstances. An exception -- naturally -- is Apple's own EarPods.
The case's flaws might be overlooked except that Apple is charging $99 for a bare-bones product. That's almost criminal when you can get a decent Anker case for $40 that has a 2,850 milliamp-hour battery. For just a dollar more than Apple, you can get Mophie's tougher (and often better-designed) Juice Pack Air. If you're willing to spend about $130, you can get a case from LifeProof that not only charges your phone but makes it nigh-on indestructible.
Putting it bluntly -- there's no reason to go with the Smart Battery Case unless you need something like it the moment you buy your iPhone and, mysteriously, no other option is available. It does what it needs to do, but at a high pricetag and with problems other casemakers solved years ago.
It's a shame, since the case's Lightning port and iOS integration is genuinely useful and sets it apart from the pack. Hopefully this is the harbinger of the technology coming to superior third-party accessories.
Pros:
Cons:
Apple's Smart Battery Case for iPhone 6 and 6s sells for $99 at online and brick-and-mortar Apple Stores.
First of all, to address the elephant in the room -- yes, the case just doesn't look as sleek as most Apple products, with a protruding battery "hump" that some people have likened to an iPod, a deck of cards, or even a tumor. It's like a mutant version of Apple's regular Silicone Case.
In practice, the aesthetic issue is overblown. A charcoal black version looked smooth and well-made to our eyes, though it's liable to show scuffs and lint over time. And ultimately, it's a battery case -- what matters is how long it lasts and how much protection it offers.
On the second point, the Smart Battery Case is engineered more to be light than rugged, but it does have a thick, grippy rubber exterior reinforced by plastic and metal. A raised lip helps guard the screen. Together these things are enough to protect against bumps and everyday wear and tear, and possibly a few drops if the screen doesn't take the brunt of the impact.
Battery life is decent, but not spectacular. Apple claims up to 25 hours of talk time or 15 hours of LTE data, compared with figures of 14 and 10 on a stock iPhone 6 or 6s. We tried the case with an iPhone 6, and found that in normal mixed use -- with activities like Facebook, music, Words With Friends, and Google Maps navigation -- we were left with a 12 percent charge on the case by the end of the day, about what you'd expect from an iPhone on its own.
One of the neater things about the case its close integration with the Apple ecosystem. It uses a Lightning port instead of micro USB, which automatically makes it more convenient for a lot of people -- especially those with Lightning docks. When you insert or remove a cable, it briefly displays both the phone and the case's power levels, and you can check that information again through an iOS Notification Center widget.
It'd be nice, though, if those separate levels appeared on the iOS lockscreen as well. Really there should be an external LED readout like other cases, which would do away with having to plug in an iPhone or swipe down on notifications just to gauge how much life is left.
On that note, some of Apple's other design choices are just bizarre. There is an LED charging indicator, but it's a basic on/off light, and it's located on the inside of the case -- a place you won't see most of the time. There's no switch to turn the case off and save reserve power. And if you want to connect 3.5-millimeter headphones or stereo cables, the opening for them is too deep and narrow in many circumstances. An exception -- naturally -- is Apple's own EarPods.
The case's flaws might be overlooked except that Apple is charging $99 for a bare-bones product. That's almost criminal when you can get a decent Anker case for $40 that has a 2,850 milliamp-hour battery. For just a dollar more than Apple, you can get Mophie's tougher (and often better-designed) Juice Pack Air. If you're willing to spend about $130, you can get a case from LifeProof that not only charges your phone but makes it nigh-on indestructible.
Conclusions
Putting it bluntly -- there's no reason to go with the Smart Battery Case unless you need something like it the moment you buy your iPhone and, mysteriously, no other option is available. It does what it needs to do, but at a high pricetag and with problems other casemakers solved years ago.
It's a shame, since the case's Lightning port and iOS integration is genuinely useful and sets it apart from the pack. Hopefully this is the harbinger of the technology coming to superior third-party accessories.
Score: 3 out of 5
Pros:
- Tight iOS integration & Lightning port
- Decent protection
- Extra battery life enough for most of a day
- Easy installation & removal
Cons:
- Too expensive for included features
- May be ugly to some
- No external LEDs or controls
- Makes 3.5mm port incompatible with some accessories
Where to buy
Apple's Smart Battery Case for iPhone 6 and 6s sells for $99 at online and brick-and-mortar Apple Stores.
Comments
http://daringfireball.net/2015/12/the_curious_case_of_the_curious_case
It goes on for a while about all the great features of the product, then it makes a single, wildly unsupportable claim ("... in normal mixed use ... we were left with ... about what you'd expect from an iPhone on its own."), then it depends into endless petty griping.
A review should be a review of the product on it's own that discusses the products merits and design decisions. This is mostly just a long list of: "It doesn't have ... (insert detail of competing product that the reviewer likes) BS."
We get it, it's *different* from the other products. Maybe do your job and figure out *why* it's different, what the design decisions that lead to this difference are, and whether they make any sense.
The lightning port seems like the killer feature, aside from the obvious which is extra battery life and the protection of having a case.
The headphone jack not working with some headphones like some of Apples own Beats headphones seems like an inexcusable oversight.
Capacity and quality seem to be fairly decent, but perhaps the $99 price tag seems a touch high.
It seems like Apple could have done a little bit better, but it's not horrible for a first shot.
3 out of 5 seems about right. I think we should not hate on it, but maybe expect just a little bit more from Apple on this one.
I don't know why people keep complaining about lint. Put on a dark colored pair of pants and you're going to attract lint. Is any piece of clothing that is black or dark blue/gray a design fail? I have a stone colored Apple case for my 6S and it shows no dirt or lint.
(the review, not the case)
They don't usually. Heck, I have a non battery case for my iPhone that doesn't really work with my Sony headphones, it's why I like how the Apple leather case has an open bottom.
However, writing a lengthy article to justify something so 'ungainly', is excuse-making at it's best. When has Apple neglected aesthetics and beauty in it's products? How many times have we heard Jobs or Cook gush over the 'gorgeous' design of an iPhone or MacBook.
I'm all for functionality and usability. Heck, I wish there was more of it from Apple. To start, give me an iPhone that isn't so slippery to the touch. But let's just stop with the bullsh*t and apologizing for clearly, a case that never should have been needed in the first place.
The "good" performance at a premium price seems par for the course for Apple accessories--but they generally win you over with beautiful design and functional touches that 3rd party accessories lack. Not so much here. Can't figure out how this even merited three stars.
It fits with the prices of the Mophie cases.
Also, Apple accessories can cost more than 3rd party options.
But with this case the customer gets more; a Lightning connector and a very easy to use design.
"May be ugly to some"
That can be said about every piece of tech ever created.
One of the silliest comments in a professional review imo.
"No external LED or controls"
Considering the very nice battery tracking software for this case, I don't see this as a major problem.
Also without external controls/LEDs, the Apple case has a simpler, more rugged exterior design.
"Makes 3.5 port incompatible with some accessories"
This is true of many 3rd party iPhone cases, including the one that I use on my phone.
- If it's that big of an issue, get an adapter.
The gold laptops don't get the hate because most users "like," them even though they are pretty awful from a design standpoint and would probably make Steve Jobs barf.
People don't "like" the looks of this case (at least not right off), but Steve Jobs was all about design, not pretty objects and this case is actually a pretty neat little design.