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Chinese smartphone accessory manufacturer Anker has announced a new iPhone lighting accessory that connects to Apple mobile devices via the Lightning cable.
Last week, we reported, via 9to5Mac, that Apple could soon support Made for iPhone (MFi) lighting accessories. This new device from Anker confirms that report and comes as the first device that will work natively with Apple’s hardware and software.
The iPhone LED Flash, as it’s currently being called, will retail for $ 50 and work exclusively with iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models. According to Anker, the flash unit works with Apple’s stock camera app, as well as third-party camera apps, and is capable of firing off 10,000 shots per charge. When the battery is dead, it can recharge via a Lightning cable (although you can’t use the one that’s built-in, which is inconvenient).
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| Ignore the ‘December 27, 2019’ release date — it appears it won’t be out for another month. |
Anker claims the light, which bears a striking resemblance to the Lume Cube, can help ‘illuminate objects at 2x the range and 4x the brightness’ compared to the LED flash modules onboard the latest iPhone models. It comes with a diffuser (also similar to Lume Cube) and features a standard 1/4”-20 tripod mount.
No definitive date is given for the launch, but 9to5Mac is reporting it will be available sometime in January. In the meantime, you can keep an eye on Anker’s website for more information. We have contacted Anker for a confirmation on the release date and will update the article accordingly if we receive a response.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)