Imagine purchasing an iPhone case that not only doubles your handset’s battery capacity but also adds an Android phone too. Would such a case be of interest to you? ESTI, the fledgling Israeli company behind it, thinks so, and so do the 4,000+ backers who recently helped it reach more than $600,000 in funding on Kickstarter. Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone case called the Eye.
The Eye iPhone Case
Ambitious in nature, the Eye is a revolutionary new iPhone case designed to expand your iPhone’s functionality. While it does the obvious, that is, protect your precious iPhone from damage, it also increases its battery capacity by providing a chargeable external power source. However, as we’ve already touched upon, its main focus is to give iOS users a touch of Android on the go.
Android phone in an iPhone case
At this point, many thoughts have probably gone through your mind as to the nature of the device. As such, let’s clear one thing up. This isn’t a hack; it’s not a way to run both iOS and Android on your iPhone. Yes, you’ve probably seen attempts at that before, with developers on various forums claiming success. However, that’s not what the Eye iPhone case is or offers. This is an almost standalone Android phone packed into an iPhone case, with the only connection between the two devices being the protection a case gives and the use of the iPhone’s lightning port. This enables the transfer of power, files and more; however, we can assure you that there’s a full-fledged Android phone in there.
Android specs and features
While the Android and iPhone have a kind of symbiosis going on in terms of power, there’s also another feature which is shared, and that’s the rear-facing camera. In fact, the Eye can share the rear camera of an iPhone 7 Plus, which means superior images and selfies are possible. However, the Eye iPhone case is also compatible with other Apple handsets, from the iPhone 6 to the very latest model.
5.5-inch AMOLED display
Not only will you get a feature-packed Android iPhone case, but there’s also a 5.5-inch Full-HD AMOLED display. It will enable you to use Android and all of its features and apps apart from the iPhone, giving you an authentic feel of two devices in one.
Storage
One huge bonus of attaching this iPhone case is the extra storage it offers users who don’t have microSD card support. Images, video, text, work, etc. can be transferred to the Android phone for saving on a microSD card with a capacity of up to 256GB. Data can later be retrieved using the built-in Android file explorer tool.
Two SIM cards
Imagine going from having the single phone number to attaching the iPhone case and having three numbers. That’s what the Eye will do for you, enabling you to separate incoming and outgoing work calls from calls to and from family and friends.
3.5mm headphone jack
If you’re the owner of an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, a 3.5m headphone jack may be a welcome sight, meaning that old pair of quality headphones you spent big on can now again be used. All you have to do is populate the Android phone’s microSD card with your favorite tracks, and your all set.
Android Nougat 7.1 and apps
Along with its own features comes Android Nougat 7.1, which means you can enjoy everything that Google Play has to offer, including games, video, apps, useful tools and more. It’s a tasty feast of choices just waiting for you to explore. Other Android-related features include native call recording, customization, and file transfers, including music. Other features include built-in Qi wireless charging for the iPhone case and its 2800mAh battery.
However, that’s not all, as less mundane features are also included, such as 4G LTE, an NFC chip, an IR blaster for controlling devices like TVs, and last but not least, a car mount.
Release date and price
During its Kickstarter campaign, ESTI promised delivery would be sometime in August. However, some critics have cast doubt on whether this timeline is achievable due to possible mass production issues, although as far as we have been able to ascertain, no such problems exist. If you’re a backer, we advise you to contact the company if you have doubts.
There are two models: one 4G and the other without. They come with different prices, with the more expensive starting at $229 and the cheaper at $189.
