It is a pre-measure they have done deliberately. If this case turns to be s*** again, it won't be easily traced back to Apple.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Rumored to Introduce FineWoven Successor With iPhone 17
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The scale of making things around iPhone distorts entire markets. If Apple got into kangaroo leather, it would probably destroy an entire (but perhaps niche) economic sector.
Plus, y’know, leather bad.
I want a human leather case considering the more than expected pricing. Also, should cost the same as silicone cases given their labor, manufacturing costs and gross margin.
Let me ask you this...whats so wrong with leather? as others have pointed out, the cows are still being slaughtered for food....AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS...Leather products have been used for centuries as well. Same as wood and paper! What are we never going to eat beef again or cut down another tree to build a house? Also isnt there synthetic "Vegan" leather thats just as good? I know pleather tends to break down over time but idk much about various other forms of leather.
What about all the 3rd party case makers who use leather AND PLASTIC in all its various forms. What about Rubber like materials too? Those are used all the time in the armored cases like otterbox uses.
Why is apple so hell bent on this hippy dippy save the world nonsense? Im all for them reducing greenhouse and carbon footprints. Im all for them using recyclable material. These are good things but this stupid idea of fine woven cases over leather or fake leather cases is just stupid and is of lower quality at the same premium price!
What about all the 3rd party case makers who use leather AND PLASTIC in all its various forms. What about Rubber like materials too? Those are used all the time in the armored cases like otterbox uses.
Why is apple so hell bent on this hippy dippy save the world nonsense? Im all for them reducing greenhouse and carbon footprints. Im all for them using recyclable material. These are good things but this stupid idea of fine woven cases over leather or fake leather cases is just stupid and is of lower quality at the same premium price!
Also known as the very concept of stupidity under Tim Spindler’s era: double down on something that doesn’t work.
Apple is planning to reintroduce a premium leather-alternative case for the iPhone 17 lineup, according to the leaker known as "Majin Bu."
Following the discontinuation of its controversial FineWoven cases, Apple is apparently planning to debut a new attempt at a leather-alternative fabric case this year alongside the iPhone 17 lineup. The new synthetic fabric will reportedly feature a more technical and less luxurious design.
Compared to FineWoven, the fabric is said to have a more rich, visible texture, as well as enhanced resistance to scratches and daily wear-and-tear. The material features a "rubbery, grippy texture," but feels less premium than its predecessor in favor of practicality, but questions still remain about its long-term durability.
The new fabric cases will purportedly be available in green, orange, blue, and purple. They will also adhere to Apple's environmental goals.
Moreover, there is also apparently the possibility of offering "Liquid Glass"-style cases, but Majin Bu provided no further information about what this could entail. It could be related to earlier rumors about a Liquid Glass color option for the iPhone 17 lineup itself, or perhaps be a new take on Apple's clear MagSafe case. The leaker also further reiterated rumors that the silicone cases for the iPhone 17 lineup will feature a lanyard loop.
Article Link: Apple Rumored to Introduce FineWoven Successor With iPhone 17
For any civilized human being, genuine leather will continue to be the best choice, as it has been for the last 3000 years.
Hopefully these are more durable than the FineWoven cases; they are one of the rare misses for Apple.
Synthetic materials? hard pass. Not making that mistake again like FineWoven.
Again fabric, just make a nice vegan leather case is you're really committed tot the non-leather bit.
I don't understand why this is so hard for Apple.
There are car interiors with vegan leather that are really nice.
AFAIK, the skin from the cows you eat the meat from are not used for fashion-purposes.
At least not for a majority of the leather produced world-wide.
In any case, the original "fine woven" cases were, to quote Steve Jobs "Not their finest hour"....
There are always outliers.
We have folks that "live inside their Vision Pro"
Someone here is probably still using "iPod Socks"
I guarantee that someone around the forum is still irate about the loss of the TouchBar
on and on..
That is an AWESOME idea. Apple either needs to bring back their leather cases or do this. Nomad makes excellent leather cases and I've had one for each my past three iPhones. Also have had two of their AirPods Pro leather cases, which are great, too.
I agree. I bought mine for about 10 bucks when Apple discontinued them. I never used it until my silicone case basically fell apart. The FineWoven looks better and has held up well. I think vegan leather would be a nice alternative but I’m certainly ok with this ( and maybe the new one).
They're not durable at all. I dropped mine a few times and each time the case immediately chips and it eventually exposed the phone in one of the corners. The bottom part also ripped, unrelated to any drops because it's too soft and thin. Insane for a $50 case.
Spot-on.
When I'm out making photos in San Francisco I always keep my silicone-case iPhone in my shirt pocket. Easy to take out (pulling straight up) when I want to make a photo. But near impossible taking it out an angle should someone running by want to jack my phone.
Last edited:
It'll feel less premium than FineWoven? So disposable trash then, since FineWoven was about as premium as compacted newspaper.
That's indeed the weird part, if BMW, Audi and Merc can offer vegan leather (and even have it as the standard option, which suggests enough availability at competitive prices) then surely there's up to par vegan leather options for Apple.
Last edited:
I have a Mujjo leather case on my 16 Pro. Before that, I had a green fine woven case and it held up great. I get a new case when I get a new phone. I find it disturbing that people take Apple's choice to not make a leather case as a personal afront. Apple doesn't throw a flyer into the box of your new iPhone stating you're an eco-terrorist if you buy a leather case. Geez, people, lighten up.
As long as these new cases are not saturated in water-repellant toxic PFAS 'forever chemicals', I'm in!
I’ve done the same and the silicone chips off, but there was some white plastic material underneath it that got exposed. I’m not sure if I had the same exact case you did.
Even though it did protect the phone, which I was actually impressed with. I’ve had tougher cases that survived the fall with no damage, but my phone did not. It sacrifices itself to protect the phone. If I had a choice of the case or the phone surviving, I would pick the phone.
I agree it’s not a case for rough use. I think it’s more of a case for someone that works in an office, hands are always clean and gently places it in their jacket pocket. My favorite brand of case is Mous. They hold up well and protect the phone. The only downside is they’re pricey.
If you'd really like to see that happen, write a *thoughtful* letter to Craig F at Apple with your suggestion. He'll read it and take it under consideration. And write back.
Making noise on a tech forum will go nowhere.
While I’m sure Apple was partially playing into animal rights when it announced the FineWoven cases, it’s actually the environmental impact of the tanning process for leather that was their stated motivation. There are some really nasty chemicals and waste involved - including chromium. This, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
However, there is movement in the industry toward more sustainable methods of leather tanning.
I don’t understand the logic “minority cares about the leather use, therefore we should use leather”. Guys, are you ok? Apple is not doing this for democratic reasons 🙂 they do it because it is the right thing to do.
Nobody asked to remove chargers. Apple did. Nobody asked to remove AirPods. Apple did. Nobody asked to stop using leather. Apple did.
Whether they did it for financial concerns or another is a different topic, but just because majority doesn’t care whether Apple produces leather products or not, doesn’t mean Apple should re-introduce leather.
Nobody asked to remove chargers. Apple did. Nobody asked to remove AirPods. Apple did. Nobody asked to stop using leather. Apple did.
Whether they did it for financial concerns or another is a different topic, but just because majority doesn’t care whether Apple produces leather products or not, doesn’t mean Apple should re-introduce leather.