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Apple iPhone XS Smart Battery Case Review: Worth Your Money?

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Smartphones are by our sides, on our desks, in our pockets and bags all day long. We use them for hours every day (as the latest software on iPhone and Android phones reveals in all-too-clear detail).

David Phelan

Update: Extra details about charging times now added.

So, it’s no surprise that battery anxiety, that great malady of the twenty-first century, is more perniciously present than ever.

The latest iPhones, I’d venture, have great battery life. I favor the iPhone XS Max and, as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve never had an issue with the battery running out, nor with the iPhone XR which, after all, has the largest battery of any iPhone. But how about the iPhone XS, the smallest-screened of the 2018 iPhones? Again, I haven’t had an issue except on those extra-long days, like flying west from London to California, for instance. On those 32-hour days caused by the time difference, the iPhone XS has struggled.

So, that was the Smart Battery Case I plumped for, to see if it could banish battery anxiety altogether. The essentials of this review apply to the iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR as well, but it was the iPhone XS I tested.

David Phelan

How does it fit?

You can tell from the moment you open the packaging, with the back plate holding the case in place, that this is a product where attention to detail is everything. It is beautifully crafted from premium materials.

David Phelan

To wrap it around the iPhone XS you bend the upper part of the case back to 45 degrees. Once you’ve done that, you can slide the iPhone in from the top of the case along the microfibre lining. It fits smoothly on to the internal Lightning connector at the base of the case.

David Phelan

How does it look and feel?

It’s big. It makes a slim, lightweight phone heavier and considerably thicker. But that may be a worthwhile trade for the peace of mind of knowing your phone won’t run out of juice.

The design here is different from previous Apple smart battery cases. They have a battery bulge in the middle of the back. Here, it stretches right down the back from just below the camera unit to the bottom. This means there’s a lot more battery on board, but it feels very different in the hand. It will no longer slide into a trouser pocket, for instance.

The silicone back is smooth and tactile. This feels good to the touch and is entirely non-slip – unlike most smartphones out there today which can slide off even the flattest surface, no matter how carefully you put them down, the instant your back is turned.

Or is that just me?

It’s also, no surprise here, a perfect fit. Every button clicks with the same pressure as the phone when it’s naked. The switch to enable and disable the phone’s ringtone and turn it to silent is reachable – though you’ll need a fingernail to flip it on and off easily.

And the holes drilled in the bottom edge are, of course, a flawless match for the two grilles on the base of the iPhone.

David Phelan

So why isn’t this compatible with the iPhone X?

Good question. First of all, the speaker grille and microphone are different places on the new iPhone. Which is presumably why Apple specifies that this case is only for the iPhone XS.

The precision with which the holes are drilled on the case is impressive, a mark of that Apple attention to detail and the general high quality of the build.

David Phelan

How does it work?

Seamlessly. Once attached, the battery works with the internal cell to provide you with extra power. Although on the iPhone’s screen you have the same single battery icon as before, when you connect it to or disconnect it from power, the home screen briefly shows two batteries and their respective strengths.

This is the first reason why the case is called smart, because it works with the iPhone’s operating software. You can also swipe left-to-right on the first home screen to show the iPhone’s widgets, including battery power for each.

In fact, you can get an idea of how things are going just by looking at the battery icon at the top right of the display. While there’s juice in the charging case, the icon glows green, with a tiny Lightning symbol next to it, to show that the phone is being charged. When the icon goes back to plain white, the case is spent.

David Phelan

What about wireless charging?

This is the coolest thing about the battery pack. A Lightning socket on the base of the case, is the fastest way to charge both phone and case.

But, as you know, the iPhone XS is also compatible with QI wireless charging pads. Trouble is, the battery case is so thick there’s no chance it will work. Except, Apple has put a wireless charging coil in the back of the case.

Plonk the combined unit on a charging pad and the two charge merrily together. Note, though, that this is way slower: a full charge takes several hours. When you charge through the Lightning connector, though, it's pretty fast, from 20% to 100% in not much more than an hour. And this is a hefty battery.

David Phelan

How much use is it?

Plenty. It’s designed so that the case discharges first, the iPhone second. This is clever because it means, for instance, that you can clad the iPhone in its case in the morning and then shed it later, when you’re going out for the evening perhaps. At that point you can be confident that it will still have 100% charge.

Apple

Is it worth it?

Well, it’s not cheap - $129. But it’s immaculately built, works perfectly and is smarter than rival products.

And if you regularly find your iPhone running out of juice, it is the simplest way to avoid that, even if you don’t charge it every night.

It makes for a much thicker gadget to carry around and, more importantly I’d say, significantly heavier.

If you figure you’ll only need back-up occasionally, then I’d stick with a separate battery which has the advantage that it can be used on other phones as well.

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