Apple has launched a new snap-on battery case for its iPhone 6s and iPhone 6 smartphones that is designed to extend battery life.
The smart battery case retails for $99 and promises to extend battery life for up to 25 hours of talk time on the smartphones, up to 18 hours of Internet use on LTE, and even longer for audio or video playback, according to Apple.
The new case has a soft microfiber lining inside to help protect an iPhone’s glass surfaces and a soft elastomer hinge design that makes it easy to install or remove the extended battery case from the handset. The exterior surface of the case is silicone for easy gripping.
The case, which was designed by Apple for its phones, is available in white or charcoal-gray.
When installed on an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6, the battery case can simultaneously charge the phone and itself to extend a user’s phone performance. A battery status icon on the phone’s lock screen tells users how much charge is left in the case and phone at all times.
The battery case supports Lightning accessories, such as the Lightning to USB Cable that comes with the latest iPhones, and also works with the optional iPhone Lightning Dock.
Apple’s latest iPhone 6s and 6s Plus smartphones went on sale Sept. 25. The iPhone 6s includes a 4.7-inch display, while the 6s Plus has a 5.5-inch display, both of which are wrapped in a new stronger cover glass. Both new phones are built around Apple’s fastest smartphone chip, the A9, which is a third-generation 64-bit chip. The cameras on the latest devices received a major upgrade with the addition of a new 12MP iSight camera that has 50 percent more pixels than earlier devices. Both phones also are now capable of 4K video, run on iOS 9 and include new 5MP FaceTime HD front cameras.
Earlier in December, reports surfaced that Apple could be planning to offer a smaller, entry-level basic iPhone 6c to replace its dated iPhone 5s in early 2016, according to a recent eWEEK report.
The rumored iPhone 6c would have a 4-inch display and be equipped with Apple’s latest A9 processor, which is more powerful than the A8 processor in the iPhone 5S, according to a Dec. 3 report by Seeking Alpha. The story is based on a report by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who “has a good track record when it comes to sharing specs for future Apple products (and a mixed track record regarding launch dates/pricing),” according to Seeking Alpha.
The A9 processor is the same one that is now built into Apple’s latest iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smartphones. A smaller 6c phone “could replace the 5s as Apple’s entry-level model and appeal to those who prefer the smaller form factors of older iPhones,” the article reported. The rumored phone would also include a metal case instead of the plastic case of the 5c, support for near-field communication and Apple Pay, and a camera similar to the one in the iPhone 5s. Support for Apple’s latest 3D touch-screen input feature is not expected in the upcoming phone, the story said. Based on Kuo’s estimates, the iPhone 6c would ship in early 2016 and would be priced at $400 to $500. That would be cheaper than the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which start at $649 and $749.