Guilty as charged: Apple confesses some Smart Battery Cases are having 'issues', offers replacements Apple has announced yet another replacement programme — this time for several models of its pricey Smart Battery cases. According to a post on Apple's website, some cases will fail to charge when connected to the mains — or will charge intermittently. The flaw also prevents the battery case from discharging juice to the phone …
Hardware-wise, yes; it's a commodity with all the pluses and minuses that entails. The differences between premium and (ahem) other vendors become more apparent at a software level; security, privacy, usability, compatibility and dependability. That's why people pay the difference.
How hard would it be for Apple to put a bigger battery in some of their 'phones?
I have a Moto G7 Power and it shames my iPhone 6s Plus every day. My iPhone (with it's new battery) needs charging everyday, the Moto every other day. That's just to be on the safe side, 'as it looks like the Moto could run for 3 days. I use the Moto as a WiFi hotspot and for mapping. It's the iPhone's interface and and software integration that stops me looking for a premium Android 'phone
"How much does a "smart battery case" add?"
Pretty much doubles the thickness. Plus it's a horrible, badly designed*, cheap silicone case. If Apple made a well designed leather version I'd be in like a shot.
*Actually make that NOT designed. There appears to be no thought or care taken in the design process, just a case of 'Glue a standard battery to the back of one of our cheaper cases, wrap the whole lot in nasty silicone, job done."
"I guess Apple values the 2.5mm of depth and 45 grams of weight less than the Moto over the battery life."
Anecdotally - Linus (from Linus Tech Tips) was talking to a Corning rep when Gorilla Glass 6 was released who reckoned that if they'd kept everything else equal teh screens would be nigh indestructible. Unfortunately every time they improved the strength of the stuff Apple would shave it thinner, compromising it's strength, to fit with the Apple aesthetic.
The battery on that phone is brilliant. I bought one. Only thing is, I ended up sending it back because of the silly Wifi/Bluetooth issue which was causing crazy network lag.
But even the replacement Nokia gets 2 days.
My Keyone, that it replaced, got 2 days.
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"Danger or no danger, however, it's not a good look for the maker of reassuringly expensive kit."
I don't think customers care any more. We're so used to being used as beta testers; every piece of software, every piece of interconnected tat, every TV, even cars; they're all either getting 'critical' upgrades, 'mandatory' patches or recalls.
My 4-month old car was recalled recently to have the engine replaced due to a badly manufactured counterbalance shaft; which could "cause the engine to seize, potentially locking the transmission and drivetrain whilst moving". So nothing major then.
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