Apple May Not Offer Leather Cases for iPhone 15 Lineup

[AZhappyjack]

Apple may not release any leather cases for the iPhone 15 lineup, according to the Twitter leaker known as "DuanRui."

DuanRui sources information from Chinese social media platforms, often revealing accurate insights into Apple's plans in the process. There is little other information about Apple's apparent move to discontinue leather cases at the current time, but "ShrimpApplePro" and 9to5Mac claim that they have heard the same information from other sources, so the rumor seems worth taking seriously at the current time.

Apple first released a series of leather cases in 2013 alongside the iPhone 5S. A refreshed selection of colors has accompanied every new iPhone model since then, featuring minor design refinements, such as the addition of aluminum buttons and MagSafe. Rather than overtly discontinuing premium case options, it seems likely that Apple could replace leather with an alternative high-end material that is vegan and has a smaller carbon footprint.

Article Link: Apple May Not Offer Leather Cases for iPhone 15 Lineup

I got a whole lot of "meh". Probably not upgrading this year, but if I do, Caudabe is my case of choice... but, with that said, I cannot imagine Apple passing on a chance to increase profits with a grossly overpriced iPhone accessory. Sounds like Timmy is losing his moxie.

 

[StyxMaker]

Isn't vegan leather typically vinyl? Or usually it's just a polymer of sorts. (I always laugh at the thought of calling it 'vegan' leather. Let's just call it vinyl and not attach the vegan name to it ;-) )

‘Vegan leather’ is on my list of things that cannot exist. Like ‘fat free half and half’.

 

[Fyrus]

There is realistic enough faux leather these days. Lenovo uses the vegan leather on their Z13 and Z16 business laptops and it’s actually rather nice.

Yeah realistic when it comes straight out of the box, but after a few months of use it’s nowhere near the same as real leather. If you damage leather it will kind of deform over time and get an unique look. Fake leather will just look crap after some wear.

However, the leather Apple uses have been crap since a few years anyway.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Apple leather cases are my go to (silicone ones chip very easily and get sticky after a week).

What about this other leaker who showed off the "new" leather cases last week?

iPhone 15 Pro feature likely confirmed by leaked cases

When Apple unveils the iPhone 15 Pro in a few weeks, we fully expect the traditional mute switch to be...

9to5mac.com

He suggests in his latest tweets that: this is strange as leather case schematics are already out; clones have been on sale in China already; Leather could be exclusive to the pro lineup (he hasn't seen the leather cases for non-pro models so far); leather to be replaced by another "premium" material

 

[Fyrus]

Personally use silicone cases myself, just because it bothers me how quickly the leather ones fade and break apart in a matter of months, if not weeks.

This has been the reason for me I’ve been going for the dark colored leather ones since release.

The silicone ones get destroyed after a few month’s of sliding in and out of your jeans’ pockets. It has been a problem since the iPhone 6, was still a problem with the iPhone 12 cases and I doubt they’ve fixed it in the meantime.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Easier to upcharge 25% or so by calling it Vegan leather. Also gets the army all riled up to promote it. Companies aren't stupid.

Yeah, they aren’t. They just like to insult our intelligence. Which is sadly a winning strategy. This is why I work in the technical department and not marketing or sales. The only department left where calling things by their correct names is still relevant in any way.

 

[Juuro]

It’s about time.

 

[constantsnags!]

I used to get the silicone case but moved away from that. Due to friction over time, silicone cases in my experience begin to peel or have frayed edges. It gets kinda ugly.

Same. It'll be interesting to see what the options are.

 

[MTD's Mac]

All leather is vegan leather. Cows don’t eat meat or meat byproducts.

Unless you mean leather made from living things that identify as vegan, let’s just call it what it is and say imitation leather or artificial leather.

I know it doesn’t have that warm and fuzzy about it but it’s far more accurate.

No?

 

[MTD's Mac]

I find it hard to believe that petroleum-based plastics are more environmentally 'friendly' than a natural biodegradable material.

If anybody can convince people they are, Apple's marketing team can!

 

[AZhappyjack]

I find it hard to believe that petroleum-based plastics are more environmentally 'friendly' than a natural biodegradable material.

It's not... but it makes the tree-huggers feel better about themselves... of course, we've already killed the cow for food, but heaven help us if we use the skin, too... oh, wait, the burger is artificial, as well... never mind.
But, to clarify, petroleum-based auto fuel and heating fuels are bad for the environment, but petroleum-based "leather" is good... got it.

 

[swarlos]

If true it makes sense as the quality of the leather cases has deteriorated greatly since the iPhone 11 Pro days

 

[ChrisBos]

Lame. Mine made it almost the entire 2 year lifespan of my 13 Pro, which is more than I can say for most cases I’ve had over the last 15 years. Hopefully whatever they replace it with is still good, because the silicone case is one of the poorest quality accessories Apple has ever made.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I’m surprised it took Apple THIS long to make the change. For years & years they touted themselves as the greenest company out there. Tim bragged about it at EVERY Apple event. I always pointed out the hypocrisy of that. Factory farming is not only unethical, it’s one of the leading contributors to global warming. Glad they’re finally getting rid of the leather cases & accessories.

 

[JapanApple]

Fruit leather.

who did you call a fruit? 🤣 ok see what you mean now 😂

 

[JapanApple]

I’m surprised it took Apple THIS long to make the change. For years & years they touted themselves as the greenest company out there. Tim bragged about it at EVERY Apple event. I always pointed out the hypocrisy of that. Factory farming is not only unethical, it’s one of the leading contributors to global warming. Glad they’re finally getting rid of the leather cases & accessories.

I like the idea of stopping making leather accessories, in years I used LV and Coach leather cases. I no longer use them when I bought Promax 14. I agree

 

[Hank001]

Where's the beef!?

You make a good case!

 

[svish]

Apple will most likely introduce cases made from new materials

 

[JapanApple]

Where's the beef!?

You have been to Mcdonald's Burgerking, Sonic Wimpys. Of course i being silly

 

[nathansz]

…..

 

[AZhappyjack]

They will charge more for it I bet

You can bet the farm on that...

 

[DonutHands]

Good. Most of the leather cases I see look terrible after a few months of use. Whatever they are using to color the leather is a really bad process. Why not just have a 'natural' option that actually develops a patina instead of just the color layer wearing off.

 

[Harmonious Zen]

Silicone sucks, it gets sticky in the pocket and chips to hell if you drop your phone.

Yep. I gave up on the Apple silicone cases long ago. Have used a Caudabe Sheath for at least 5 iPhones and I couldn't ask for anything better.

 

[hagar]

It’s 2023. No need to wrap our tech in dead animals.

Agreed. But I feel like the leather they are using is waste from food products rather than animals being killed for iPhone.

Leather is a multi-million dollar industry relying on approx. 1 billion killed animals annually. Most hides come from the meat industry (and contribute to it by driving meat prices down) but a lot originate from other species (exotic wild animals, horses, even cats and dogs, …).

In countries like China (where most leather comes from), no animals are save and there are no animal welfare laws. Lots of animals are horribly mistreated and skinned alive.

Apple states its leather does come from Europe, but there are countless knockoffs from dubious origin. Apple could definitely set the tone here.

It’s all about driving down demand, if not for animal welfare, than for mitigating climate change (an estimated 14,5% of greenhouse gasses come from livestock).

What is the carbon footprint of a cow versus a leather case?

You need a cow for the case, so your point is moooo.

I find it hard to believe that petroleum-based plastics are more environmentally 'friendly' than a natural biodegradable material.

Apple Leather Cases are plastic cases with a thin layer of skin around it. So it’s not one or the other: you need petroleum for the leather case. And leather is far less natural than you would think. A lot of toxic waste is produced in the tanneries during their production, including Chromium (not the browser, a human carcinogen).

If you correctly dispose of your faux leather products after their life cycle, that point would go to the non-animal version as well.

But yes: a non-petroleum based alternative would be even better.

 

[MichaelAdam]

Do you know all the materials in your sneakers by chance?

??? Enlight me