- Apple's twill FineWoven case replaces the leather iPhone case.
- If you scratch it, the scratches will show.
- Nothing stands the test of time better than animal skin.
According to reports from The Verge and many other sites, Apple's new $60 FineWoven iPhone case is terrible, showing marks and damage immediately. Is this FineWovenGate or something else?
It looks like people are very happy with the new iPhone 15. The move to USB-C didn't seem to spark the expected buyer ire, and other unusual updates, like swapping the silent switch for an action button, didn't either. Annoy anyone. That's why Apple's new non-cowhide FineWoven protective case made its way onto the door panel to get one for the team. Obviously, this is the worst situation ever.
Technology analyst and author Younes El Kacimi said: “The decision to ditch leather can be seen as a double-edged sword. While it is a step towards sustainability, it seems Compromising the durability and beauty of leather cases that customers love," told Lifewire via email.
It's always seemed a bit strange that a company as green as Apple still uses animal fur to make its products, but now that issue has been resolved. Apple's FineWoven case is a replacement for its now-discontinued leather case. They are primarily made from post-consumer recycled "content," which likely means plastic (possibly polyester). The material is a very finely woven twill fabric that covers the back, while a slightly tougher variant is used on the sides of the case.
Since the FineWoven case replaces Apple's leather case and costs $59, there are certain expectations. The best thing about leather is that it gets better over time. Nicks, scratches, rubs and scuffs will disappear over time, giving the case its character. We might expect its replacement to do the same. Otherwise, the only advantage the FineWoven has over the $59 silicone case is that it's available in darker colors.
"Received and returned. Feels cheap, almost cardboard-like," teeshot4, owner of the short-lived FineWoven box, wrote in a MacRumors forum thread contributed by Lifewire.
But FineWoven doesn't seem to age like tanned animal hides. When The Verge writer Allison Johnson received a FineWoven wallet for review, she noticed that it was frayed around the edges. Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge, repeatedly scratched the FineWoven's shell with her fingernail, leaving scratches that remained days later and likely forever.
But is it really that bad? Many phone cases develop scratches, even leather, and while the damage can be turned into an attractive patina, scratches and dents will still appear. They haven't disappeared.
iFixit's Arthur Shi picked up a FineWoven case and examined it under a powerful digital microscope. Shi found that its threads were only 6 microns thick, or 1/12 the width of a human hair. In the photo you see here, the black band across the line is a strand of hair.
They found that twill braid is extremely resistant to tearing and abrasion, and even a severe scratch will not damage the thread, although it does permanently distort the braid, resulting in a scratched appearance.
Of course, we'll have to wait and see how these cases change over time. Just like leather, FineWoven's fabric is likely to absorb finger oils and other everyday grime and display them proudly as beautiful stains, just like leather. Or maybe more like denim, another material that improves with wear and tear.
In fact, who but a professional reviewer would try to damage or even damage their $59 item by running their fingernails over it? Buyers will be more gentle with their boxes, and the boxes may look beautiful to wear. Not quite leather, not quite jeans, but still pretty. Apple does have a good track record in cases. They're never cheap, but they're always strong, lightweight, and long-lasting. I bought Apple's Smart Folio case for my 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2018, and I'm still using it, although it's starting to look a little rough this year.
I predict Casegate will go the way of all the other classic Apple Gates and eventually become a way for tech news sites to increase user engagement.
