We haven't seen one like this before: Apple's new battery case for the latest iPhone generation comes with a handy button to launch the camera.

Not everyone likes Apple's weirdly shaped battery cases for iPhones, but ever since the first one came out for the iPhone 6s, they have managed to establish a loyal fan base.

The protective covers for the latest iPhones come with the familiar battery bump, but also have a new camera launcher button that works both when the phone is locked and unlocked. A short press takes a photo, a longer press starts a video.

There are no exact capacity specs for the built-in battery. According to Apple, it should extend the phone's battery life by "up to 50%".

Apple has considerably increased the battery life on the current iPhone generation compared to previous models, and pairing it up with a battery pack should get even the most active smartphone users well beyond a full day's usage on a single charge.

The battery case is charged either by lightning cable or a wireless charger. You can also charge both the case and your phone at the same time.

The Smart Battery Cases are available in pink, black and white for iPhones 11,11 Pro and 11 Pro Max for US$129 in the United States.

 - dpa