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It’s a great time to buy an iPhone 6 battery case. Last year, there were zero Apple-certified options, but today, there are a handful of good to great choices at various price points. They may look similar to each other in the picture above, but the sea of black shells masks some important differences in iPhone protection, battery recharging capabilities, and pricing. We now have two top picks for the iPhone 6, as well as two completely different top picks for the iPhone 6 Plus. Note that the iPhone 6 versions typically work with the newer iPhone 6s, and the iPhone 6 Plus versions work with the iPhone 6s Plus; both of the “s” models have slightly smaller batteries than their predecessors.
Which battery case should you buy? The most recent update to this piece on October 6, 2015 added another new option! Read on for all the details…
Key Details:
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Anker Ultra Slim Battery Case for iPhone 6
Impressively thin despite packing a 2850mAh battery – enough for a 112% iPhone 6 recharge – Anker’s Ultra Slim Battery Case for iPhone 6 gives up a little power and a little button protection versus the formerly top-rated offGRID Express (below) to achieve a lower price point. Physically very similar in appearance to others in this collection, it benefits a lot from softer curves, and is smaller in every dimension than the offGRID Express. Anker notably sells direct through Amazon, changing the price with various promotions. (It’s currently only $40.)
Manufacturer: Anker |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $100 / $40 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: Ultra Slim Battery Case |
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Incipio offGRID Express
Cleanly designed with great button protection and hand/pocket-friendly curves, offGRID Express was originally our top pick. Incipio’s battery cases get better every year, and this version combines the best features of its iPhone 5 offGRID with design elements drawn from Mophie’s more expensive Juice Packs. offGRID Express also delivers one of the best recharges we’ve yet seen for the iPhone 6: 121% additional power using an efficient 3,000mAh battery. It also includes a headphone port adapter. Note that users have been complaining about broken power switches on a bad batch of offGRID Express units, making our one-time favorite harder to recommend.
Manufacturer: Incipio |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $80 / $67 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: offGRID Express |
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uNu DX-6
Similar to offGRID Express in size and shape, DX-6 also includes a 3,000mAh battery (here with a 116% recharge), and has the same $80 MSRP. While it lacks offGRID Express’s nice button protection, instead using somewhat rough-edged button holes, it includes screen film and uses a slider-style design that some people may prefer. A headphone port adapter is included, as well.
Manufacturer: uNu |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $80 / $70 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: DX-6 |
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Lenmar Maven
Think of Maven as a more polished and more expensive version of uNu’s $80 DX-6. Similar recharging performance (here 112% versus 116%) and limitations on button protection are offset by a softer-edged case design, more gently-tapered button holes, and four color options. The designs are otherwise extremely similar, with 3000mAh batteries inside and pop-off top caps for iPhone 6 insertion and removal.
Manufacturer: Lenmar |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $100 / $100 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: Maven |
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iBattz Refuel Invictus
Very similar in look and feel to a thinner, longer iPhone 3G/3GS, Refuel Invictus is the first iPhone 6 battery case with swappable battery packs. A single 3,200mAh battery (with 127% recharging power) is included in the package, letting you more than completely refuel a dead iPhone; a spare battery with a standalone USB recharger can be had for $25-$30. Refuel Invictus delivers the most power we’ve yet seen for the iPhone 6, but doesn’t outperform offGRID Express by enough (6%) on its own to justify a $20 premium, and the plastic feels a bit light. Consider it if you plan to swap batteries and are willing to pay a somewhat steep price for them.
Manufacturer: iBattz |
MSRP: $100 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: Refuel Invictus |
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OtterBox Resurgence Power Case
The brawniest of the iPhone 6 battery cases is Resurgence, which still manages to be virtually identical in size to the other cases in this roundup despite using dense plastics and a fiberglass filling. Drop-safe but not water- or dirt-resistant like OtterBox’s signature cases, Resurgence provides a nice balance of rugged protection and usability. Full button and switch coverage is built in, as is a unique four-bar remaining power indicator circling the rear power button. A 2,600mAh battery is on the small side compared with the others here, but can bring a dead iPhone back to 98% or 100% power.
Manufacturer: OtterBox |
MSRP: $100 |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: Resurgence |
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Tylt Energi Sliding Power Case
Tied with Refuel Invictus in offering the largest iPhone 6 battery in this roundup (3,200mAh), the Energi Sliding Power Case came very close to matching offGRID Express’s 121% recharge with a 120% test result. But they’re otherwise very different cases: the more expensive Energi includes a slim soft plastic case that can be used with the iPhone 6 at all times, letting you slide the battery on and off as needed. The ergonomics are a little awkward when the parts are together, but the two-piece design has its virtues. Tylt will offer a free headphone port adapter to customers who request it.
Manufacturer: Tylt |
MSRP: $100 |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: Energi |
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BuQu Tech PowerArmour
Different from its rivals due to a very open-edged design, PowerArmour is akin to the basic hard plastic shells some companies sell as iPhone cases, but with a 2,800mAh battery grafted on to the back. We were able to get a 109% recharge from PowerArmour, which is respectable for the price, and if you have a 2.1-Amp wall adapter or USB port, you can refuel it quickly at 2-Amp speeds. That said, you lose a lot of protection compared with offGRID Express. A unique sliding Lightning connector is the most distinctive feature of this case, which ships with a headphone port adapter.
Manufacturer: BuQu Tech |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $80 / $78 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: PowerArmour |
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PowerSkin Spare
If BuQu’s PowerArmour was sexier but less powerful and protective, you’d have PowerSkin’s Spare, which sells for the same price while offering a lower-capacity battery, no headphone port adapter, and less protection on the top and sides. The key weakness is its 2200mAh cell, which falls below PowerSkin’s promised 100% recharge, delivering only 83% fuel to an empty iPhone 6. Offered in three iPhone-matching metallic colors, Spare looks nice and would be a much more compelling option at a lower price point.
Manufacturer: PowerSkin |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $80 / $70+ (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: Spare |
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Incipio offGRID Shine
Combine the co-molded design of Incipio’s DualPro Shine case with a battery pack and you get offGRID Shine, a premium version of our top pick offGRID Express. While it’s one of the very best options around when judged solely as a case, offGRID Shine somehow underperformed its less expensive older brother in the recharging department, despite having a similar 3,000mAh battery inside. It achieved only a 108% recharge versus Express’s 121%, a non-trivial difference. However, Shine is compatible with Incipio’s upcoming offGRID Dock, a $40 recharging station that lets your iPhone 6 stand upright on a desk.
Manufacturer: Incipio |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $90 / $81 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: offGRID Shine |
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Mophie Juice Pack Air, Plus, and Ultra
Mophie has three different Juice Packs for the iPhone 6: Juice Pack Air ($100, 100% promised recharge), Juice Pack Plus ($120, 120% promised recharge) and Juice Pack Ultra ($150, 150% promised recharge), with 2,750mAh, 3,300mAh, and 3,950mAh batteries, respectively. We tested the Juice Pack Plus (shown in matte black above), which actually delivered a 137% recharge, and feels really nice in the hand, particularly in its glossy white and semi-glossy gold variants. It has great button protection and is compatible with an optional $50 Juice Pack Dock for recharging. The single biggest issue is Mophie’s pricing, which is higher than all of the competing options we’ve tested, but the power capacities of the Plus and Ultra models are hard to beat.
Manufacturer: Mophie |
MSRPs: $100 / $120 / $150 |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: Juice Pack Plus |
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Mobee Magic Case 2800
The single advantage of Mobee’s Magic Case 2800 will be theoretical for most users: in addition to packing a 2,800mAh battery with a micro-USB recharging cable, this case hides an inductive charger in its rear, compatible with Mobee’s separately-sold Magic Charger and Magic Feet charging surfaces for Macs. Hidden might be a strong word, though, as Magic Case is conspicuously thicker and heavier than its rivals, but lacks button protection and has a very small headphone port passthrough on the bottom. We were able to get a 115% recharge for the iPhone 6 from Magic Case, which is above average given the battery capacity, but hard to get excited about given the non-discounted $80 street price.
Manufacturer: Mobee |
MSRP: $80 |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: No Full Review |
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Prong PWR Case for iPhone 6
Long-delayed after an early 2015 announcement, Prong’s PWR Case for iPhone 6 combines a 2,600mAh battery sled with a detachable iPhone 6 case and one very novel feature — fold-out wall blades. The blades pop out of PWR’s back, enabling the case to refuel wherever you can find a standard wall outlet. (A micro-USB cable is included as a backup.) Expect one full 0-100% recharge for the iPhone 6 from the integrated battery, and consider this case if you don’t want to carry around a standalone iPhone USB Power Adapter everywhere you go.
Manufacturer: Prong |
MSRP: $100 |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 |
Full Review: PWR for iPhone 6 |
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iPhone 6 Plus Battery Cases
MOTA Battery Case for iPhone 6 Plus
Most manufacturers have shied away from making iPhone 6 Plus battery cases, noting that this is Apple’s first iPhone with enough built-in power to actually last for a full day of active use. But MOTA has managed to pack a 4,000mAh cell into an enclosure that surprisingly doesn’t make the already-large iPhone 6 Plus more difficult to hold, while delivering 86% additional power — enough for 20 hours of additional calling time. The case comes with two differently-colored bumpers and a headphone port adapter; the black one has a $56 street price, with brightly colored versions starting at $40. While not Apple-certified, the case worked perfectly in our testing.
Manufacturer: MOTA |
MSRP / Sale Prices: $90 / $40-$56 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 Plus |
Full Review: MOTA |
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PowerSkin PoP’n 3
Not technically a battery case but now available as one of very few options for iPhone 6 Plus users, PoP’n 3 is a 4000mAh Lightning battery pack that uses suction cups to attach to your bare or encased iPhone. The 4000mAh cell delivered a 102% recharge here — more efficient than MOTA’s cell above — but notably (and oddly) does not have enough power to begin charging a completely discharged 6 Plus. It works fine when the iPhone has even a 2% charge, though, and its flexible Lightning connector is compatible with numerous popular cases.
Manufacturer: PowerSkin |
Prices: $50-55 (Amazon) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus |
Full Review: Spare |
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Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 6 Plus
Mophie’s Juice Pack for iPhone 6 Plus ($100) has a 2,600mAh battery inside, promising a 60% recharge and actually delivering 70%, starting with a completely discharged iPhone 6 Plus. While this is a small battery for the big iPhone, the case feels really nice in the hand, particularly in its glossy variants; matte black, glossy white, and semi-glossy gold versions are available. Our review unit had some connectivity issues with its Lightning connector, as discussed in our full review. A dock (shown above) is sold separately for $50.
Manufacturer: Mophie |
MSRP: $100 |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 Plus |
Full Review: Juice Pack |
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Tylt Energi Sliding Power Case for iPhone 6 Plus
Larger and more powerful than the iPhone 6 version, Energi for the iPhone 6 Plus is the best overall performer we’ve seen for the bigger iPhone: it delivered a 90% recharge in just under 1.5 hours, thanks to its 3,500mAh battery and atypically fast 2.1-Amp charging. It’s also novel because it’s modular, starting with a slim soft plastic case that can be used with the iPhone 6 Plus at all times; the battery sled can be moved on and off as needed. Officially licensed by Apple, Energi is currently our top pick for the iPhone 6 Plus on quality, though MOTA’s unlicensed Battery Case offers nearly as much spare power at a lower price.
Manufacturer: Tylt |
MSRP: $100 |
Compatibility: iPhone 6 Plus |
Full Review: Energi |
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Conclusions
There are enough iPhone 6 battery cases at this point to give you a reasonable choice of features, capacities, and prices to meet your needs — Apple-certified, high-quality options start at $67 (street price) and offer various case styles with different levels of protection. Our top pick for iPhone 6, Incipio’s offGrid Express, has the best overall combination of performance, protection, and pricing we’ve seen, while Anker’s Ultra-Slim Battery Case makes small compromises on power and protection to achieve an even lower price point.
The iPhone 6 Plus has fewer options, but there are two clear winners if you’re looking for a complete battery case. Tylt’s Energi Sliding Power Case delivers the largest recharge and most unique design, while MOTA’s Battery Case offers the biggest bang for the buck, cutting corners (including Apple licensing) in the process. We’d recommend Energi unless price is the most important factor to you.
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I contacted MOTA before buying their battery case and was told that it is in fact MFI certified: https://twitter.com/Mota/status/559779084784652288
Best looking out the bunch. Saw this on sale good to know its MFi certified. #Thanks!
Tim, looks like they said the Lightning plug (a part they bought) was MFi. There’s nothing on their site or packaging to say that the battery case as a whole is certified. Just want to highlight the difference.
and what about mophie? http://www.mophie.com/shop/iphone-6-plus
Martin, their case isn’t out yet and should be shipping at some point next month. It has a 2,600mAh battery (versus the 4,000mAh in the MOTA above) and will sell for $100. We saw it at CES earlier this month, and will definitely update this one we’ve had a chance to test it fully.
Is there a Logitech case that is compatible with their Protection+ system? Useful for mounting in the car
I’m currently using the MoKo iPhone 6 Battery Charger Case and so far it’s working out great.
Are there any cases that will utilize the lightning cable instead of usb? I’ve had several versions past versions of the Mophie cases and this “piece” is what aggravates me in all battery cases.
I apologize ahead of time if I overlooked this detail in any of the aforementioned battery cases.
None announced yet, Nick. Apple still doesn’t appear to be offering the female Lightning port parts in quantities sufficient for developers to make cases. It’ll happen later this year, but maybe much later this year.
Ah yes, that makes sense. Glad to know its not completely out of scope for these types of products. Thanks Jeremy!
Not sure how you can “review” that MOTA case and not comment on the dirty fingerprints that were left all over the case. Ew.
It was mentioned in the full review (linked in the box that says “Full Review”). Soft touch rubber attracts fingerprints, just like the glass of iPhone screens. Regrettably unavoidable unless you switch materials and/or colors.
Not sure why no one has ever commented on one glaring negative feature of all the iphone battery cases since their invention. And what is that? It’s the cutout for the camera lense. You can not snap a keepable photo using the flash and not have the reflection caused by the small cutout negatively effect the photo. To overcome this issue, you inevitably have to remove the battery case to resolve this issue. Mota’s long horizontal opening on its iphone 6 + case resolves that problem completely.
A glaring defect (pun). The other reviews device that doesn’t block the full function of flash is the PowerSkin. Although I view that as more of a bulky accessory than a less intrusive case. Another objection to most of these is the need to carry an adapter for headphones. So, not only do you have to carry a different USB charging cable, you’ve also got to worry about the headphone dongle. Shabby. I’m about downsizing.
Do any of the Battery cases have a holster or belt clip?
Thanks. this was a useful comparison. May I suggest publishing a summary table at the end – it would make it easier to digest all the info.
I was happy to have a 120% morphie for my iPhone 5. I would like to select a battery for my iPhone 6 plus.
Another feature I would like to find is a camera strap attachment or battery case. Any suggestions? I did see there will be a kickstarted project for the camera strap ( with lens options) in August.
Really looking for suggestions on the camera strap for iPhone plus, so i can wear the phone.
Well I bought the Mota for iPhone 6 plus and it was shoddy and broke in a matter of months. I like to charge my phone with the case and then charge the case overnight, so by taking it on and off to charge the case alone the lightning adapter broke right off the case and was still in my phone. My conclusion is you get what you pay for. So next was a decision between the Mophie pack 9which was not out when I bought the Mota) and the Tylt, I went with the Tilt for the bigger battery and the slip off charging sled…….I LOVE THIS CASE AND SLED!!!!! I’, thrilled to pieces with it and am the happiest I’ve ever been. Better than my Mophie i had for my iPhone 5 and forget about the Mota for my 6 plus! I did ask for the headphone jack extender and received it promptly after send them my proof of purchase. BEST CHARGING CASE EVER!!!!