Traditionally the reserve of third-party hardware developers, Apple has decided to unveil its own smart battery case that it says extends the talk time of the iPhone 6s to 25 hours.
Battery life has been has been a stumbling block for many manufacturers as mobile phones have grown ever smarter and more powerful. Apple's new iPhone 6s model boasts 14 hours of chat before it needs recharge and around 10 hours of internet via Long Term Evolution (LTE).
Apple responded to criticism earlier this year that two different chips in its new iPhone models were giving out different battery lengths. Apple told the TechCrunch publication in October that different chips gave a minimal difference in battery life of 2 to 3 percent, but added that consumers were still getting the most advanced smartphone chip in the world and one that delivered great battery life.
This new Smart Battery Case - first spotted on the Apple store by industry website Pocket-lint Tuesday - extends the talk time to 25 hours and net surfing to 18 hours.
"Engineered specifically for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6 to give you even longer battery life and protection. The soft microfiber lining on the inside helps protect your iPhone, while the soft elastomer hinge design makes it easy to put the case on and take it off again," says the sales information on the Apple store page. No accompanying press release has been issued and it has received little fanfare from the tech giant.
Available in black and white, and retailing at $99, it's around $30 to $50 more expensive than competitors' products.