Apple itself makes relatively few add-ons, but when it does, theyre something special.
Apples deep integration between hardware and software lets it add features that are impossible for anyone else.
You even see battery packs clamped to phones with rubber bands.
Apple
“Apple has amazing system integration,“CocoSign co-founder Caroline Leetold Lifewire via email.
“Apple fully controls the field of manufacturing iOS devices as well as the related accessories.”
This was done with magnets, and was quickly reverse-engineered by third-party case makers.
Apple
They just added magnets in the right places on their cases.
Other tricks require deeper hooks into the operating system, hooks that Apple doesnt make available to third parties.
iPhone Smart Battery Case
Apples owniPhone battery casehas two excellent features.
Apple
Oneeasily copiedis the square hump containing the battery, which flaunts rather than hides the battery part.
The second is the smart circuitry that interacts with the iPhone.
Apples case isnt just a dumb battery pack with an on-off switch.
Apple
Itdisplays the battery packs charging statuson the iPhones lock screen, and in the Today View.
Recent models of the battery case have a dedicated camera button.
Press it and the camera app launches.
Then you’re able to use it to trigger the shutter.
KeyBoards
The iPads Magic Keyboard and Trackpad case is a genuine wonder.
It is both absurdly expensive and worth every penny.
But in practice, it hasnt worked out.
But these integrations arent always available to third parties.
Apple fully controls the field of manufacturing iOS devices as well as the related accessories.
The biggest downside for users is the “Apple Tax.”
Apples accessories are almost always way more expensive than third-party alternatives.
If you want to get the best accessories, youll have to pay.
The fantastic iPad Magic Keyboard and Trackpad mentioned above is a great example.
If you want one for your 12.9-inch iPad Pro, itll cost you $350.
For a keyboard that will be obsolete as soon as the iPad Pro changes shape.
And thats how Apple gets you.
