Around 2 weeks ago, I received the Apple Smart Battery Case for my iPhone 6. Initially skeptical and, like many, not at all impressed with the design of the battery case, curiosity eventually got the better of me. As one of many who enjoy the iPhone but feel that its battery life is sorely lacking, I decided to see if the Apple Smart Battery Case was worth the $99 in the end or not.
The first few days with the case surprised me. Although I still wasn’t a fan of the way the case looked (and felt it was reminiscent of the ugly extended batteries for my old HTC EVO 4G circa 2011) it ended up being more comfortable than I thought. The case’s design kept the sides thin and the phone well-protected. The material covering the outside was also smooth and nice to touch, although it does have a negative aspect: it is a total lint and pet hair magnet.
As for how well the case itself performed, I found within the first couple of days that the performance was alright. Of course it ended up greatly extending the life of my iPhone’s battery to the point where it could last from early morning to late at night, and could even last well into the next day. Since that’s exactly what the case is supposed to do, for all intents and purposes I have to give the case a thumbs up in that regard.
However, even after 2 weeks I still stand by the fact that you can get a bigger battery for a better value just about anywhere else. The additional 1877 mAh battery inside of Apple’s Smart Battery Case is nice, but as I previously mentioned I was able to get a 3000 mAh battery from another manufacturer for about half the price of this battery. Admittedly, my cheaper case is not as comfortable to hold – but in terms of looks it didn’t look as bizarre, and it had a couple of other notable perks over the Apple battery case as well.
I’ve been pretty busy these past couple of weeks. I’ve been using my phone for a lot of navigating, shopping, and even as a hot spot for my computer more than a few times, and of course the typical web browsing and occasional social media surfing from time to time. E-mails are always rolling in for one reason or another so my phone is pretty much always in use from about 8 AM to 11 PM on most days. Previously, it wasn’t uncommon for me to need to plug in my device in the middle of the afternoon for a top-up in order to ensure that my phone would make it through the evening. With the Smart Battery Case that’s no longer a problem.
The past couple of days have given me a better idea on how long the phone can last with the case on lighter days, because I haven’t been as busy (but the phone was definitely in use). The last full charge I made on my phone was the night before last. That completely charged both the case and the phone, and the phone came off of the charger at 9:30 AM yesterday morning. By the time I went to bed around midnight, the case had just run out of juice. My phone was around 30% at about 6PM today, which is when I decided to go ahead and plug it in again. It has been going for a little over 32 hours total, with 12 hours and 21 minutes of actual usage.
Overall, I still think the case is overpriced, but that’s expected out of Apple. I have grown accustomed to the way the case feels, and I like the way it feels. I still don’t like the way it looks. The Apple Smart Battery Case may be unsightly, but it isn’t a total waste of money at the end of the day. It does make a big difference in how long your phone will last, especially if you consider your smartphone usage anywhere from light to moderate. For heavier usage, I think there is better value to be found elsewhere. I’m still hoping that the release of the Smart Battery Case is a sign that the next iPhone will have a more permanent solution to the iPhone’s battery life problem.
