Apple’s Smart Battery Cases for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR won’t ship until July
Apple’s official Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR appear to be in short supply, with Apple.com showing the accessories won’t ship until early-to-mid July.
Searches on Apple’s various online stores show that the shipping delays have been added to the products in various countries and regions, including, but not limited to, the United Kingdom, United States, France, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.
The cases were released at the beginning of the year, adding 33 additional hours of talk time, 21 hours of internet use, and 25 hours of video for the iPhone XS, 37 hours of talk time, 20 hours of internet, and 25 hours of video playback on the iPhone XS Max, and 39 hours of talk, 22 hours of web, and 27 hours of video on the iPhone XR.
Apple hasn’t offered any explanation as to why expected shipping dates for the cases have been extended, though manufacturing delays are most likely to blame.
Despite the stock shortages, third-party retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and John Lewis continue to show the accessories as available online without any dispatch delay.
According to Apple Store employees, customers who previously purchased a Smart Battery Case and require a replacement due to a fault will have to wait until July when the products return in-stock, signalling that even units reserved for Genius Bar swaps have been effected by the apparent stock shortage.
Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are priced equally at $129/£129.