iFixit Gets Closer Look at Apple's Maligned FineWoven iPhone 15 Case With Teardown

[MacRumors]

Alongside the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, Apple introduced a new case material called "FineWoven" as an alternative to leather, and unfortunately, it has not proven popular with some customers.

Image of FineWoven case under microscope from iFixit​

Given the criticism of the FineWoven case, teardown site iFixit obtained one of the accessories and decided to take it apart to get a closer look.

Using a digital microscope, iFixit viewed the FineWoven fabric at 52x and 490x magnification, confirming that it is indeed made up of bundles of tightly woven fibers. Each fiber is much smaller than a strand of hair, measuring in at about six microns thick.

Groups of the individual fibers make up threads that are around 150 microns thick, and iFixit says the microtwill material that Apple is using is not too far off from high-end jackets from companies like Patagonia and Arc'teryx.

When the FineWoven fabric is scratched, the fibers don't break, but the scratch does cause the affected fibers to reflect light irregularly, which means there's a visual mark. The softness of the material also means that items in the pocket with the case can leave an indentation.

Because the FineWoven case is made from fabric, it did stain when exposed to hot sauce and oil, though it was able to resist coffee. When exposed to certain foods or liquids, FineWoven case owners can expect to see the case become stained, and iFixit wasn't able to get the oil or the hot sauce stain out.

iFixit cut the case open to see how it was assembled. The FineWoven fabric is on the outside, with a gray foam inside. Beyond the gray foam, there's a rigid plastic sheet, the MagSafe hardware, white foam, another rigid plastic sheet, and an inner layer of FineWoven fabric. All of the layers are thin, and the FineWoven fabric itself is about 0.17mm.

The sides of the case feature the same FineWoven fabric that appears to have been coated in a resin-like material, producing a hard, non-porous surface.

iFixit suggests that those with FineWoven cases protect it with a Durable Water Repellent spray to make the case more resistant to staining and liquid.

Article Link: iFixit Gets Closer Look at Apple's Maligned FineWoven iPhone 15 Case With Teardown

 

[vegetassj4]

from the look of the port holes in the picture, it looks more RoughUntangled.View attachment 2252963

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/questionable-rumor-says-iphone-15s-new-leather-alternative-case-is-called-finewoven.2400079/post-32417935

Called it. Now pay me for my predictions like Kuo and Gurman.
For donations, I also take Apple Pay, Cash, Check, Credit Card, Bitcoin, Dogecoin, XRP, Combos and/or Slim Jims.

 

[ddhhddhh2]

Alright, so we put our iPhones in protective cases... and then baby the heck out of the case! Because, you know, that case might get a scratch on its protective surface!

 

[vercordio]

Phone less fragile than case?

 

[B-Mc-C]

Just left the my store and the wall of FineWoven cases and wallets were already completely destroyed with scratch tests, like 30 scratches on each one. They are definitely going to have to replace the whole wall of display units on a daily basis. Crazy. Apple needs to reverse course on these. Imagine how they will look after a month!

 

[User 6502]

This is one of the worst products Apple made in recent times. Overpriced, low quality, low durability, bad looking, cheap looking

 

[surfzen21]

Its 2023 and this case can't even withstand a hot sauce stain!!

This world is coming apart at the seams. 🤣

 

[Kazgarth]

I think its the first step to normalize fabric covers.

We'll probably see collab with brands in the coming years for luxury iPhone covers (Like hermes bands for the Apple Watch).

 

[TheMountainLife]

Alright, so we put our iPhones in protective cases... and then baby the heck out of the case! Because, you know, that case might get a scratch on its protective surface!

I mean I'd hate to gift this to someone only for it to last less than a year or it looks gross due to stains of everyday use. Then you've got professionals that may sit their phone down on a desk, conference room table or restaurant.

 

[Unity451]

iFixit says the microtwill material that Apple is using is not too far off from high-end jackets from companies like Patagonia and Arc'teryx.

So it's not a case... it's a jacket. Got it.

 

[dannyyankou]

Worst Apple accessory since iPod Socks.

 

[dannyyankou]

Alright, so we put our iPhones in protective cases... and then baby the heck out of the case! Because, you know, that case might get a scratch on its protective surface!

Look at what they’re replacing though. Lots of people, including myself, liked the leather cases because they were high quality and elegant. I’m actually going case-less now because all of the options at the Apple Store would cheapen my phone. Maybe I’ll get a good quality third party leather case at some point.

 

[Johnny907]

This would all be fine if not for the premium price. Make them the same as the silicon cases and people wouldn’t be nearly as disappointed.
Of course there will still be those who prefer leather, and thankfully there are plenty of third party options, but I feel the majority of complaints would die off if Apple priced these things at a point that reflected what they truly are.

 

[GLS]

Worst Apple accessory since iPod Socks.

Yet those were available from Apple for 8 years.

I'm guessing FineWoven won't make it that long.

 

[nutmac]

I got the new Wallet and I neither love nor hate it. It's... fine, just as it's fabric name implies.

 

[blazerunner]

All this coverage over a phone case.....

If it didn't have Apple's logo on it, none of you would care.

 

[vegetassj4]

Alright, so we put our iPhones in protective cases... and then baby the heck out of the case! Because, you know, that case might get a scratch on its protective surface!

Maybe we need a case protector.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Alright, so we put our iPhones in protective cases... and then baby the heck out of the case! Because, you know, that case might get a scratch on its protective surface!

Yep. I buy cheap cases. If it breaks, I buy another. I have 7 cases for my iPhone 13 Pro, and all of them combined cost less than one FineWoven case. Including two leather cases. Even then, I go caseless maybe 1/4 the time.

 

[testcard]

Add a GORE-TEX layer and the cases would be waterproof, windproof and breathable.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

How's it's durability compared to the silicone and leather cases?

 

[cocky jeremy]

So cheap. Yet they charge leather prices. Weird.

 

[klasma]

So it's not a case... it's a jacket. Got it.

Well… with plastic sheets and MagSafe hardware in it.

 

[greenbreadmmm]

Just left the my store and the wall of FineWoven cases and wallets were already completely destroyed with scratch tests, like 30 scratches on each one. They are definitely going to have to replace the whole wall of display units on a daily basis. Crazy. Apple needs to reverse course on these. Imagine how they will look after a month!

now THATS how you go green!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Maybe we need a case protector.

I think a lot of people in the tech world (especially here) need to stop making this more than it really is and start treating the case for what it is, instead of a priceless work of art.

 

[klasma]

This would all be fine if not for the premium price. Make them the same as the silicon cases and people wouldn’t be nearly as disappointed.
Of course there will still be those who prefer leather, and thankfully there are plenty of third party options, but I feel the majority of complaints would die off if Apple priced these things at a point that reflected what they truly are.

Yeah, this should be a $10 case.