Apple is launching three battery cases — aptly called Smart Battery — for its latest iPhone models.
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The Cupertino brand has long been rumored to be working on something like this, after all. But what caught many off guard is the sudden release of the accessories, without even a hint from the company.
2018 iPhone Battery Case
The Smart Battery cases cost $129 each, and they're designed for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. They're made out of silicone and come in either black or white color variants.
According to the product descriptions, they're compatible only with the aforementioned iPhone models. That means iPhone X owners can't use the iPhone XS Smart Battery case even though the two smartphones have practically the same dimensions.
One notable feature it has is Qi support. In other words, users can wirelessly charge their iPhone with the case on. It's also worth mentioning that users can check how much juice the case has left via the lock screen or Notification Center.
An iPhone Battery Extender
Apple didn't reveal the exact capacity of the cases, but it did give some good estimates of what to expect from them.
For the iPhone XS, the case is rated to add up to 33 hours of talk time, 21 hours of internet usage, and 25 hours of video playback. Meanwhile, the iPhone XS Max case should add 37 hours of talk time, 20 hours of internet usage, and 25 hours of video playback. Last but not least, the iPhone XR case can add 39 hours of talk time, 22 hours of internet usage, and 27 hours of video playback.
As mentioned earlier, the Smart Battery accessories will be $129 a pop, and users can order the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR cases right now in either black or white. They're expected to start shipping out on Jan. 18.
