You’re confusing comparative ability of the machines with objective quality. There used to be pride in owning an Apple product because Apple took pride in building them. Now they are the same cheap trash with offshore tech support that every other company pedals to the market. Compared to its contemporaneous competitors in the market, Apple products still win … but compared against themselves, Apple products of the past were significantly better (for their respective times)
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'Categorically Terrible,' and Other Early Reactions to Apple's New FineWoven Accessories
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Didn't it used to be called "Pleather" like 20 years ago? 🤣 And Pleather was for people who could not afford real Leather. Now Pleather is back and it saves the Environment!
I used to love their leather cases, but when I got my iPhone 13 Pro Max... I hated my last one. It cracked so fast and wore quickly. I've had one of their leather case (or multiple) for every iPhone since the 8 Plus.
If it means they don't have to use a FineWoven case, maybe.
if they can make lab grown meat - maybe make lab grown leather or something akin to the texture that isn’t just plastic or PU
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
But who makes the most profitable phone case?
These FineWoven cases look 3D printed with a cheap $99 printer! 🤣
I agree. Personally, I like leather and I'll either use a clear case or leather from a 3rd party. But, we've had decent alternatives for decades. Pleather, Vegan, vinyl, what ever. LOTS of options outside of this. Finewoven is nothing new. It's the same material they use for those squishy keyboard wrist rests and mouse pads. Apple's version happens to use recycled materials. That's where the expense comes in. It's a known fact using recycled materials is more expensive. That's where your premium cost for a less premium material comes from.
Yeah but the profit margin on it is shrinking with so many returnsBut who makes the most profitable phone case?
Apple should hire the folks who make the Native Union version of woven materials. It's nice, holds up well, and is durable.
I thought it seemed like a durable synthetic so I got mine last week. After this article I popped one out to check get a feel for it. My phone arrives tomorrow and generally in the year I keep a phone it remains encased from the plastic to when I sell it.
Meh.
Just returned and heading to pickup my standard lightest otter-box they sell at Best Buy. $10 cheaper too.
Meh.
Just returned and heading to pickup my standard lightest otter-box they sell at Best Buy. $10 cheaper too.
Actually I think they should. However cars would be recognizable anyway. I never understood that prestige argument. Most of use here live in quite wealthy countries. It is very hard to impress people with things you own here. In Germany people tend to hide their wealth. Rich people here often have very low profile mansions or they hide their large mansions behind trees and walls.
FineWoven looks, to me, like synthetic denim - which surely ranks even higher on the craptastic table than pleather.
Plenim.
The animal's are being used for food anyway, these cases are probably worse for the environment.
There's a lot of hyperbole in this thread over an iPhone case. Buy it, don't buy it, cancel your iPhone order because you're so outraged over the case. You have freedom of choice.
I fear that accessories made from this FineWoven material may develop into an uncontrollable bacterial threat.
Seems like the main issue is that while these are replacing leather on Apple's end, they're not really a replacement for the people who want a leather case. Most of the complaints seem to be an issue of mismatched expectations.
As for the durability complaints... I've never bought cases with the expectation they remain looking good forever (I've run with Jettech clear cases for two phones now, and that gets scratched and scuffed up, shows dirt, and the edges yellow because it's TPU plastic. It's kind of what I expect.) If you don't like how the fine woven stuff will weather (I know some people love the leather patina the cases got, some hate it) I get going for something else, but it's weird to be so precious about something that exists to take a beating so that your phone doesn't.
Regen Ag leather. Problem solved. Requires effort though and is not simply a label.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
No that would be total profit realized. Margin remains the same. For whatever number returns/rejects, some probably larger number will buy them, love them, evangelize them, replace them (over and over) and collect them all. I'm convinced Apple could box poop and a segment of fans would step on each other to try to be first to buy and then gush about best poop ever.
I think the real argument here is simple there is nothing premium about the case. There is nothing that makes it worth 60 bucks. Its the Apple cleaning cloth all over again. Want to show how much disposable income you have? This is the case to buy. It brings nothing to the table compared to a case at Five Below.
Apple wants people to give them money because its not leather. The margins on this case being produced at a Apple scale have to be huge. 60 dollar leather case you can say of course it costs more than a cheap case its real leather. This is no longer better materials than a cheap case but they kept the price the same.
Apple lost this one. They wanted to see how dumb people were and they found the limit.
The extreme fans don't count. Apple could go to buy every iPhone case at Dollar Tree slap a Apple sticker on it and charge 80 bucks and people here would still defend it.
The quality of Apple accessories doesn't match their premium price in many scenarios nowadays. They never were cheap but now they are not even trying to hide it. Same quality as the competition but you basically pay for the logo.
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Gonna wait a bit to see some reviews when people get their 15s and buy some 3rd party leather. But Nomad seems to have a good lineup with lots of choices. Cases and wallet style and choice of standard leather and a higher quality leather. Magsafe compatible as well. They also claim to be a carbon neutral company but those claims from every company is dubious at best. Carbon Credit industry is unregulated and often a scam. Virtually all are worthless offsetting nothing. It's a sham. Anyway, at least they produce leather.
People really loved the Apple leather case quality. Then Apple replaced it with an inferior product, named it a direct replacement for leather, made a big deal about it, charged the same money for it. So, there is understandable backlash.