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I have to agree. Got the green one and it looks terrible out of the box. Will be returning it and getting a silicone one for now.
Exactly this. I was very disappointed. I've shared the photo I took as soon as I opened the box on other threads but it seems especially relevant to this one. I did not touch any part but the edge and never took it out of the box. It looks almost used and is actually more teal than green.
IMG_0810.jpeg
 
I was hpoint to pick one up on launch too… I wonder if they will actually launch at the same time
Just collected the new phone from the Apple Store. The team members were surprised not to have the finewoven watch straps in. Yes, the case scratched easily and seemingly permanently - I could’nt bring myself to buy one. They’re not a complete disaster though. And they do have a new-car smell.
 
I never really cared for the Leather variant cases, I used to purchase them, keep them on my iPhone for a few weeks then end up getting the Silicon Case which I think are superior to the Leather from almost every metric anyway. I'm guessing the FineWoven are similar to the leather to some effect, but I will still try it out in case I like it. But I'm kind of disappointed Apple isn't releasing a Red Variant of the Silicon, I think it was the most attractive color to place on a dark colored iPhone, it really made my Space Gray iPhones pop over the years.
 
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Thats a nope for me. I've never been tempted with Apples iPhone cases or bands - way over priced. Ive never had a problem with Amazon knock-offs or Otterbox. The one band I bought from Amazon that was the same as the metal bands was just as good.
 
I have owned dozens of iPhones over the years, never once have I used an Apple case on any of them.
No one in my immediate family ever wants one either.. (Caudabe has gotten most my money over the years)

The kids always want cases that stand out / get attention (Casetify usually) so they are definitely not an Apple case target market in my house.
Only apple case I used was the extended battery case and I loved it. Wish they still made something like that. The magnetic crap attached to the back of the phone is an absolute so go for me. Like keeping my ID or debit card in there? I don’t trust it. It could fall off while going into my pocket. I see these magnetic attachments and I cringe.
 
Can we just finally go back to the bumper cases Apple made for iPhone 4? Those were the best cases they’ve made yet.
Totally agree. Loved the bumpers. Can’t even find knock offs of those now. Everything has a plastic back. I just want a bumper.
 
This is what happens when corporations chase vague moral missions instead of trying to make great products. I can finally say...with 100% confidence Steve Jobs never would have allowed this. He would not let Apples name be put on something he knew was trash just because it made him feel like he was "saving the environment". Cooks moral vision exceeds his product vision and as more corporations succumb to this way of thinking US quality will decline. Thankfully many Asian companies just want to make great products at a reasonable price.
All I know is Tim Cooke isn’t changing the accessories in his love dungeon from silicone and leather to fine woven. That’s for sure.
So why force this sub par over priced product on us?
It’s not like my apple shares have been taking a beating all year…. Thanks Tim.
 
I am unsure what to think because I think any Apple case would scratch permanently if you dug your fingernail into it, and that’s most of what the verge was mad about. Avoiding them for now.
A silicone case does not scratch from a finger nail. A leather case might indent with a finger nail but this recycled material is woven fabric densely pressed to form. Once you separate the bond the forming process creates. It’s gone forever.
If someone grazing their finger nail over a case and reporting it with accuracy makes you avoid their news. Then boy wait till you find out the weather man didn’t get the forecast right. You might just avoid weather all together.
 
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A silicone case does not scratch from a finger nail. A leather case might indent with a finger nail but this recycled material is woven fabric densely pressed to form. Once you separate the bond the forming process creates. It’s gone forever.
If someone grazing their finger nail over a case and reporting it with accuracy makes you avoid their news. Then boy wait till you find out the weather man didn’t get the forecast right. You might just avoid weather all together.
The articles I saw said they dug their finger into it, not just grazing it with their fingernail. There is a big difference between those two actions.
 
While I’m not thrilled about FineWoven, someone taking a fingernail and scratching it and complaining is like dropping a phone on the ground and complaining about the glass shattering. That is not normal wear and tear and doing the same to a leather case, the same thing happens.
If a finger nail ruined leather people would have stopped buying leather jackets and boots would have stopped being made. I have a pair of leather boots 15 years old that laugh at your idea of a fingernail hurting it.
 
The articles I saw said they dug their finger into it, not just grazing it with their fingernail. There is a big difference between those two actions.
Even at its worst this means the product is weak. Imagine dropping this case on its back, or having it in your pocket with your car keys. It’s a real world test. Can this phone case handle a pocket full of coins and keys?
When leather and silicone CAN. The fine woven is a lackluster bunk product.
 
I got my pacific blue case a few days ago and will be returning it. It’s not a good case imo. It feels like a ten dollar Amazon special not a premium case that we are expecting. I ordered a nomad leather case instead. I have a feeling that Apple will either drop this case due to the amount of low sales and returns or offer something else with the 16.
I imagine apple has made MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of these cases. And someone at Apple right now is pissed. How can they “ recycle “ all of these returns and unused cases? The recycling process can’t be good for the environment and what can they turn it into? They dropped the ball on this one.
 
Yikes. I'm glad I picked up an extra Apple leather case for my 14 Pro before they all sold out. I guess when I buy my next iPhone I'll be getting a third party case unless Apple improves them.
They changed the footprint of the phone so it won’t fit….. can already confirm that.
 


Apple has stopped selling leather accessories, and the company claims its "FineWoven" range of iPhone cases and accessories are overall more environmentally friendly. But in the court of public opinion, early reactions to Apple's alternative material choice appear to be trending towards the negative end of the spectrum.

finewoven-case-the-verge.jpg

Image credit: Nilay Patel of The Verge

Apple calls the new fabric option a "luxurious and durable microtwill," and has priced FineWoven iPhone cases at $59, MagSafe Wallets at $59, AirTag holders at $35, and Apple Watch bands at $99.

The quality of the iPhone cases in particular seems to have riled some customers, with several MacRumors forum members stating they have returned the cases. "After holding it in person", said poster inducecurrent, "it feels more like a $10 cheapo case from Amazon rather than Apple-quality, especially at this price point."

"Received and returned," said another forum member. "Felt cheap almost like cardboard." EvanEiga replied: "The case itself is nice IMO, but I'm not sure if the premium cost is worth it. Leather cases felt so much nicer. I am all for mother nature but when it comes to bang for the buck, FineWoven case is just subpar." Most respondents to a MacRumors forum poll thus far seemed to agree.

Positive customer reactions are just as hard to find on Twitter (X). "I've been using Apple's cases for my phones since the iPhone 7," said X user @eggbutspam, "but I've never returned a case so fast like I did with the FineWoven case I preordered last Friday. FineWoven looks like absolute trash."

"Just got mine in the mail," reported one Reddit user. "It's basically like a polyester pillowcase sandwiched in a plastic shell. I don't hate it, but $60 is kind of insulting."

"Same here," replied another Redditor. "The material looks and feels pretty nice, although it's 0% like leather or suede and definitely not worth $60."

finewoven-bands-2023.jpg

Perhaps the most vehement criticism has come from The Verge's Alison Johnson, who called the new iPhone cases "really bad" and described Apple's FineWoven accessory line in general as "categorically terrible."
Considering many iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 customers have yet to pick up their FineWoven accessories, it's too early to conclude that these early adopter opinions reflect a broad consensus, but so far it has not been the best advert for Apple's new FineWoven accessory range. Have you bought one of the new cases or bands? Let us know what you think of them in the comments.

Article Link: 'Categorically Terrible,' and Other Early Reactions to Apple's New FineWoven Accessories
No one is mentioning this at all. But guess what happens when you get these items wet.

THEY HOLD LIQUID LIKE A SPONGE.

$60.00
 
Apple somehow forgot that leather is a sustainable, renewable, biodegradable durable natural product that's been approved by all societies for thousands of years.
If they are concerned about humanly ending the life of farm animals there are people like minded that quietly farm and harvest this way and waste nothing as God intended not in a violent wasteful death as is the norm for industrial & government farming.
Yea nothing beats all natural materials.
These fine woven cases with their synthetic materials will be here long after our great great grandchildren are living beyond thunderdome.
But those leather cases have naturally biodegraded…..
 
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I'm sure the dead animals would not agree
Been wondering about this.

No animal gets killed for leather.

So really it's a choice of lettiing their skin rot in the ground to be eaten by bugs, or making leather products out of it...

Not sure which one the dead cows prefer - if I had to take a guess, I'd say they don't really care. Since they're dead.

Also - please correct me if I am wrong - maybe there are animals that get killed for leather in which case, I'd be absolutely against it.
 
What a misstep this is.

I'm all for getting rid of leather. The problem is that Apple decided they needed something novel to fill that premium price point. They just clearly didn't spend enough R&D effort on what that material should be.

Makes me relieved I accidentally made the right choice over my 15 case. I only picked silicone because I preferred the shade of the Storm Blue case over the FineWoven Pacific Blue.
its weird because there are really nice materials that are not leather...

I loved, loved, loved my Woolenex incase MacBook Pro case, it was the absolute best. It was this hard beautiful fabric. It did fray over time though... but it was just so nice to hold, a very nice feeling.
 
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