Without any announcement or fanfare, Apple has today released its first ever iPhone battery case, the iPhone 6S Smart Battery Case. The case is available in a choice of two colors, White and Charcoal Gray, and promises up to 25 hours of battery life for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6.
The new case bears a strong visual similarity to the soft and silky silicone cases Apple already produces for these handsets, and features an interior microfiber lining and elastomer hinge. However, the case’s main selling point is, of course, its battery – which Apple claims allows for talk time up to 25 hours and LTE-connected Internet use extending to 18 hours.
The “Smart” tag presumably comes from the advertised ability to see, when an iPhone is in the case, the battery status both on the iPhone’s Lock screen and in Notification Center. The case is also compatible with accessories including the Lightning to USB Cable, which is packaged with all new iPhones, and the optional iPhone Lightning Dock.
The Smart Battery Case is priced at $99 and now available through the Apple Online Store. You should expect to start seeing it on display in Apple Stores and resellers soon – and we wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple later release the case in additional colors, should it prove popular.