We already knew Apple was working on a new Smart Battery Case for the iPhone XS. However, a new leak not only confirms the Smart Battery Case for the iPhone XS, but also for the iPhone XS Max and potentially even the iPhone XR. The iPhone XR already has better battery life than the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and even the iPhone 8 Plus. Now it’ll be Apple’s longest lasting iPhone by a wide margin.
Apple’s new Smart Battery Case will have a smaller bottom bezel, will connect via the Lightning port, and will come in leather, not silicone like the previous iPhone Smart Battery case. The new case will also sport a new design. Unlike the battery wart on the back of the old case, the new one will blend seamlessly into the sides and bottom.
Fixing the iPhone
Apple’s Smart Battery Case makes up for the iPhone’s greatest shortcoming: its short battery life. With the exception of the iPhone XR, battery life on the iPhone has been disappointing. The iPhone XS is just another iPhone in a long line of iPhones with reduced battery capacity. The iPhone X, while less efficient, made more room for a bigger battery. Many iPhone owners aren’t happy with Apple’s ongoing battery life shortage.
The Smart Battery Case for previous models of the iPhone functioned much like the AirPods or Apple Pencil. From within iOS, you could see the battery charge levels, letting you know when your iPhone would start relying on its own power. This kept users informed, and were able to get to a charger before they’d need one. With the Smart Battery Case, iPhone users were finally getting the battery life they expected from Apple’s smartphone.
Improvements this Year
The new model will be available in leather, unlike the previous silicone model. It’ll also feature a larger, more uniform battery bump on the back. It appears as though this will still offer a place to put your finger for improved grip, but won’t make the edges appear as thin as the previous model. It should look less goofy though. The change in design was likely due to Apple’s decision to move to leather, but also makes more space in the case for a larger battery.
This leak came to us via Apple’s reseller channels. Apple was planning to release this during fall of 2018. It appears as though their schedule has been pushed back. There are only 3 days left in fall, and Apple hasn’t announced them yet. As such, we can likely expect Apple to release these in early 2019. There’s no word on price yet, but the outgoing models were $99.00. We also don’t know what colors will be offered. Previous models came in white, black, and (Product) Red. Hopefully the pricing and colors carry over, though Apple may choose to reduce the price of the accessories, given the seemingly lower demand for the new iPhones over their extremely high prices.
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