Apple Now Sells Smart Battery Cases for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR

Apple unexpectedly started selling Smart Battery Cases for all of its most recent iPhone models today. Previous versions of the case only supported smaller, non-Plus iPhones. And Apple has never shipped such a case for an X-class iPhone, or any iPhone with wireless charging capabilities.

“The Smart Battery Case gives you even longer battery life while offering great protection,” an Apple description notes. “Inside, a soft microfiber lining helps protect your iPhone. And on the outside, the silky, soft-touch finish of the silicone exterior feels great in your hand. A soft elastomer hinge design makes it easy to put the case on and take it off.”

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More important: The $129 cases are compatible with Qi-certified wireless chargers, just like the iPhones they protect. They can be charged more quickly with USB-PD compatible chargers, and they support all Lightning accessories.

The effects vary by iPhone. The Smart Battery Case for iPhone XS delivers up to 33 hours of talk time, Apple says, up to 21 hours of Internet use, and up to 25 hours of video playback. The XS Max version lands at up to 37 hours of talk time, up to 20 hours of Internet use, and up to 25 hours of video playback. And the XR version provides up to 39 hours of talk time, up to 22 hours of Internet use, and up to 27 hours of video playback.

These are the first Smart Battery Case designs since the iPhone 7 and they are available in black or white versions.

iPhone XS Smart Battery Case

iPhone XS Max Smart Battery Case

iPhone XR Smart Battery Case

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Conversation 26 comments

  • robincapper

    15 January, 2019 - 5:38 pm

    <p>Given they all (Ok, lots) end up in a case I wonder how much cheaper premium phones would be if identical hardware was available in a cheaper plastic chassis?</p><p>I never see the front of my phone except when removed to clear dust etc from the case interior.</p>

    • MikeGalos

      15 January, 2019 - 8:03 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397177">In reply to robincapper:</a></em></blockquote><p>I've had a bunch of smartphones through the years starting from a Motorola MPx-200 back in 2003 and I've never felt the need to hide it in a case or treat it delicately because it was so fragile it couldn't stand up to daily use and I've never had one fail or be damaged from it being treated as a mobile device nor had to replace a broken screen.</p><p><br></p><p>Perhaps I've just failed to pick a phone based on its being thin (and then doubling its thickness with a case) or because it was made with such silly things as a glass back.</p><p><br></p>

    • Daekar

      15 January, 2019 - 8:50 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397177">In reply to robincapper:</a></em></blockquote><p>If I could get A Galaxy S phone made of plastic I would. This glass nonsense is just ridiculous. </p>

      • michael_babiuk

        16 January, 2019 - 2:57 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#397196"><em>In reply to Daekar:</em></a><em>If a person wishes to wirelessly charge his smartphone, than a glass back is almost mandatory.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

        • coreyp

          16 January, 2019 - 5:55 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#397345">In reply to Michael_Babiuk:</a></em></blockquote><p>Nokia did wireless charging with non-glass phones. Their polycarbonate backs were incredibly durable.</p>

    • skborders

      16 January, 2019 - 12:03 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397177">In reply to robincapper:</a></em></blockquote><p>We had that in the LUMIA 920. Built like a Tank, and looked good to boot.</p>

      • orbsitron

        16 January, 2019 - 4:07 pm

        <blockquote><em>The Lumia 920 was the best phone I've ever owned. <a href="#397296">In reply to skborders:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • skborders

    15 January, 2019 - 7:20 pm

    <p>I find this odd as the XR gets better battery life than the 7 Plus did.</p>

  • TallGuySE

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2019 - 7:47 pm

    <p>Just ordered one. My XS Max will usually end a long day with at least 20% battery left. But going out using GPS and taking lots of photos will drain the battery. This will be nice to have, and the integration with iOS is a bonus. </p>

  • MikeGalos

    15 January, 2019 - 7:59 pm

    <p>It's amazing how iPhone users always talk up the industrial design and the Apple trademarked "colors" and always hide both of those in their amazingly ugly cases.</p><p><br></p><p>Seriously, you'd think Apple would at least make cases that weren't among the most hideous in history.</p>

    • Bob Shutts

      15 January, 2019 - 8:57 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#397191"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a><em> Mike, in your first post you eschew aesthetics as a factor when selecting a phone. In your next post, suddenly aesthetics become important to you when you select the case? Perhaps being a hater of all things Apple has something to do with it? ?</em></blockquote>

    • BrianEricFord

      15 January, 2019 - 9:17 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397191">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>You think Apple’s leather and silicone cases are “amongst the most hideous in history?”</p><p><br></p><p>You're a liar or you have bad taste.</p>

      • pecosbob04

        15 January, 2019 - 9:24 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#397199"><em>In reply to BrianEricFord:</em></a><em> "</em>You're a liar or you have bad taste." <em>Why can't we have both?</em></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Daekar

    15 January, 2019 - 8:48 pm

    <p>So… Is Apple just incapable of making attractive accessories? Because those are terrible looking. Glad to see them available though, battery life really is the weakest part of the phone experience now, so it's good that they're addressing it. </p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2019 - 9:12 pm

    <p>i wonder how adding a big battery to the already massive XSMax effects comfort while in the pocket.</p><p><br></p><p>seems too big. </p>

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    15 January, 2019 - 10:53 pm

    <p>I just don't get why all cell phone makers have to keep to around same battery size and make the device so thin it. Why not make it a tad bit wider and include a battery that would last longer. So what if it's the same size as the 2016 iPhone. </p><p><br></p><p>But I am the crazy guy who thinks batteries should be removed let and swappable.</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    16 January, 2019 - 5:34 am

    <p>Ok, so it includes a battery (probably worth about $10), but $129 for a PHONE CASE. Really? Only Apple could get away with that…. and they probably will. The world has gone mad.</p>

    • paradyne

      16 January, 2019 - 6:38 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397232">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>A wireless charger as well as the battery, and integration with the phone so it displays the case battery charge level.</p><p><br></p><p>But yeah. Apple tax.</p>

      • RonH

        Premium Member
        16 January, 2019 - 9:26 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#397238">In reply to paradyne:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>The case is not a wireless charger, but can be charged wirelessly…</p>

    • cjones

      Premium Member
      16 January, 2019 - 8:52 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#397232">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>The upcoming Mophie case will be $119. Both are overpriced. </p>

  • ibmthink

    16 January, 2019 - 5:59 am

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Apple still has not figured out how to make battery cases that aren't ugly. Amazing industrial design! /s</span></p>

  • wocowboy

    Premium Member
    16 January, 2019 - 7:12 am

    <p>I can go for a couple days easily on my XS before needing a charge, so I'm not desperate for one of these, but I had one for my X and I could go several days with it before charging, so I might pick one up. They aren't the most attractive case, but I don't care. The addition of wireless charging capability is a nice feature. Like others have noted, I would MUCH rather have a little bit thicker phone that contains a bigger battery, but no manufacturer seems willing to offer anything like that that doesn't look like something godawful. For all the rhetoric about how cellphone manufacturers "listen to our users" they absolutely refuse to make this slightly thicker phone without calling it "industrial" or "rugged" and put it out lacking any sort of current feature set. </p>

  • briantlewis

    16 January, 2019 - 10:23 am

    <p>Looking forward for one of these for an upcoming trip to Germany.</p>

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    16 January, 2019 - 10:35 am

    <p>fugly</p>

  • Pierre Masse

    16 January, 2019 - 1:30 pm

    <p>Jeeeez! It's the price I would expect from a phone!</p>

  • dontbe evil

    19 January, 2019 - 4:25 am

    <p>time to milk more apple fans till the end</p>

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