Skip to main content

Lunecase uses excess iPhone energy to light LED notifications on case

Launched on Kickstarter earlier this week and doubling the funding goal already, Lunecase is a new type of iPhone case that harvests electromagnetic energy from the smartphone and uses it to power a LED light on the back of the case. When you receive a call, the LED light built into the back of the case will light up with a call icon. A similar icon is displayed when you receive a text message. This type of visual notification could be particularly useful when the phone has been silenced and placed face down on a flat surface. 

The Lunecase isn’t powered by the iPhone battery, but rather the low levels of electromagnetic energy emitted by the iPhone, fairly common with mobile devices. The Lunecase is only compatible with GSM networks (AT&T and T-Mobile) and will not work with CDMA networks (Verizon and Sprint). The case sizes will fit the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S. The creators of the Lunecase, Conceptor, displayed an early model of the case at CES 2014, but that version used a green LED ring positioned around the Apple logo to provide notifications rather than separate white icons to indicate the difference between a call or a text message.

Lunecase text notification
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Interestingly, the Lunecase continues to display that phone icon while the call is in progress. If you like to use fake calls to remove yourself from uncomfortable social situations, that’s just not going to work if the people around you are aware how the Lunecase works. One repeated concern with the case is that it potentially impact call quality, but the creators have indicated that prototype testing over the last several months haven’t indicated any impact on the GSM network. 

Recommended Videos

Similar to other cases in this style, the Lunecase includes a slight lip on the front so the iPhone screen doesn’t actually touch the flat surface when placed face down. The case is made of hard plastic on the inside and a thin rubber coating on the outside. It’s going to be available in colors other than basic black once the Kickstarter project comes to a close. While many of the early funding levels are gone already due to heavy interest, the Lunecase can be funded at a $39 price point. The team is also offering a discount on the future iPhone 6 version of the case, a model that’s expected to be released within three months after the launch of the iPhone 6.

Lunecase-back
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The projected timeline of the project seems to be fairly quick compared to other Kickstarter projects. Prototype development has already been completed and the team is moving into pre-production mode. Conceptor expects to have the first Lunecase samples during this month and will finalize testing on those samples during June.

The first production run for consumers is expected to begin during July 2014 and the product will actually ship during August 2014. If you are interested in funding this project, be aware that many crowdfunded projects miss projected dates due to overseas manufacturing issues and could delay the final product by weeks or even months.

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
Why you shouldn’t care what number Apple puts on your iPhone’s software
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen.

One number may change to another number at an important industry event on June 9, and despite some of the headlines that have been circulating around the news, this succinct explanation of what may happen allows you to guage its real importance. Apparently, Apple may use the WWDC 2025 keynote presentation to announce a change from the expected iOS 19 software’s name to iOS 26, and here’s why you shouldn’t worry about it. 

Many people won’t even know

Read more
20 iPhones elevate Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later scene
A camera rig with 20 iPhones being used to shoot part of 28 Years Later.

We already know that the iPhone is a versatile piece of kit with a powerful camera capable of capturing highly impressive video.

That quality, coupled with the phone’s small size compared to conventional movie cameras, has been inspiring a growing number of filmmakers to use Apple’s handset for at least some of the shots in their grand productions.

Read more
iOS 19 isn’t coming this fall … because Apple is calling it something else
The back of the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Apple will unveil the latest version of the iPhone operating system at WWDC next month, but apparently it won’t be “iOS 19.”

The tech giant is going to shake up the naming system for iOS, with the next version set to be called iOS 26, according to a Bloomberg report by prominent Apple tipster Mark Gurman on Wednesday.

Read more