Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to negative criticism over the company's new Smart Battery Case, saying the "hump" battery cell is designed for easy-on, easy-off use.
Cook, who was in New York attending an Hour of Code session on Wednesday, told Mashable that other battery cases like those offered by Mophie are difficult to put on and take off due to their rigid full-length battery packs.
"You know, I probably wouldn't call it 'the hump,'" Cook said, referring to the protruding battery pack. "If you make this solid all the way across, in order to get it on, you'd find it very difficult to get it on and off. So the guys had this great insight to put the bend in along with making it a smart case."
Apple's Smart Battery Case features a flexible fluoroelastomer skin, allowing users to bend the top portion out of the way when inserting and removing an iPhone. Apple quietly released the accessory on Tuesday.
Cook was quick to point out that most iPhone users "probably don't need this at all" if they charge their device daily. Instead, the battery life extender is designed for special scenarios like hiking and overnight trips.
The Smart Battery Case is the first official battery pack to launch since the original iPhone debuted in 2007. The product's design is a departure from popular third-party offerings that incorporate large battery cells that effectively doubles handset thickness. Detractors, however, say the hump-like protrusion breaks up iPhone's clean lines.