“Mophie’s brand of external battery packs and cases for iPhones have become synonymous with the product category,” Jonny Evans writes for Computerworld, “but this morning Apple took a chunk from the business by introducing its first ever iPhone case with a built-in battery pack.”
“Dubbed the Smart Battery Case and designed specifically for iPhone 6 and 6S smartphones, Apple claims its $99 solution delivers protection and up to 25-hours talk time, 18-hours browsing and/or up to 20-hours audio or video playback,” Evans writes. “Critics will probably spin reality with the FUD that by offering its own battery pack for iPhones, Apple is tacitly admitting battery life in its devices is a challenge. I’d argue the move simply shows Apple accepting reality.”
“Every manufacturer faces battery life constraints and this is why most reputable ones try to tweak their devices to deliver maximum performance for minimal power outlay, rather than packing them with battery life devouring high-spec features that just don’t work well,” Evans writes. “It appears Apple plans to eat Mophie. That’s an inevitable conclusion when you consider most iPhone accessory makers do between 40%-60% of their business in the few weeks before Christmas.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Poor Mophie and the other iPhone battery case makers. Well, at least there’s always the power-hogging fragmandroid crowd to service. Too bad they’re so notoriously cheap. Good luck with those margins!
Oh, if you’re planning on getting an Apple Watch this Christmas, hold off on iPhone battery cases. You’re likely to find you’ll use your iPhone less frequently and battery life will therefore cease to be an issue, if it even is an issue for you currently.
SEE ALSO:
WSJ reviews Apple Smart Battery Case for iPhone 6/6s: Battery life nearly doubled – December 8, 2015
Apple releases Smart Battery Case for iPhone 6/6s, adds up to 25 hours of power – December 8, 2015
Apple Watch increases iPhone battery life significantly; likely to affect future iPhone purchasing decisions – May 22, 2015