FineWoven is Fine
FineWoven is fine.
I'm here to be a wet blanket to the FineWoven drama that erupted across the internet with the launch of the iPhone 15. I don't care for it as much as I did Apple's leather cases, but I also don't think it deserved the full force of the vitriol it received. Here's my argument for why the FineWoven case is fine.
When Apple announced the iPhone 15, it also announced that they are removing leather from its product line. The leather case tier was replaced with a new FineWoven option, which Apple described as a "durable micro-twill" with a "soft, suede-like feel." The case immediately failed to win over Apple's faithful. I adored Apple's leather cases, so the idea of Apple 1) removing them outright and 2) replacing them with twill was not well received. Many felt the case had an unpleasant texture, and for $59 (the same price as a leather case), the case fell short of what people expected as Apple's premium offering. Then, the outrage began.
Apple outrage over the years has followed a predictable pattern:
Discovery: Identification of an issue is shared by an individual/small number of people.
Fever: The issue rapidly reaches a fever-pitched outrage. Strong & catastrophic views promulgate the internet as people join in on the pile-on.
Crickets: Within a short period, the issue appears almost immediately to fall out of the global consciousness.
Discovery
Early reports and forum comments quickly flooded the internet reporting after the FineWoven release, generally expressing the sentiment that the new FineWoven cases were 'Categorically Terrible.' It became apparent early in the first impressions for these cases that the material would permanently show scratches if a fingernail or object slid against it. Shortly afterwards, reports that the cases would stain also began to surface. Not great. Apple's new premium cases were seen as far less durable and far less premium feeling than its now unavailable leather offerings.
Fever
An example of a Scratches on the FineWoven case at my nearest Apple Store in late September.
Outrage about FineWoven cases reached a fever pitch in late September. Reports of scratched cases on the floor being replaced daily by Apple employees to return rates, misaligned ports, and permanent scratches quickly sullied the reputation of these cases in the eyes of many Apple followers in the tech community. The noise surrounding these cases got so loud that I wondered if "it did more harm for Apple to release this case rather than release the silicone cases alone and continue exploring more durable material options?" From the outside looking in, it felt like a bad look for Apple's most important product to be embroiled in such a controversy because of its optional case.
Crickets
A Google Trends graph from July 07, 2023 through October 13, 2023. The Graph spikes on September 13 (2 days before the Apple event), with prominent spikes on the day of the event (September 15) and September 22.
But here we are, a month since Apple's FineWoven cases first debuted, and honestly, it has been weeks since I have heard about these cases. A Google Trends graph supports this, with FineWoven searches now being down to a tenth of their peak volume in mid-September. We've moved on, some to other cases, others to different topics, but some of us learned that FineWoven wasn't as bad as the outrage made it seem.
FineWoven Review
FineWoven case day one.
This is not intended to be an apologist's review of the FineWoven cases. Still, I've been using mine since getting the iPhone 15 Pro and TL;DR: I have been fine with this case's durability and cosmetic quality. As okay as I am with the FineWoven case, I still prefer a leather option from an aesthetic, tactile, and perceived value standpoint.
I had initially ordered the Pacific Blue & Taupe cases for my iPhone 15 Pro shortly after the Apple Event but ended up returning the Taupe case after the flurry of stories about the durability of these cases scared me into returning. I like the idea of using a first-party case, and I gambled that the Pacific Blue would hold up better out of the two I had purchased. Seeing posts online, I was confident that the darker case would still look like garbage within a week, but I vowed to keep using it until an appealing alternative case caught my eye.
As for the case itself, the micro twill fabric is underlaid with soft foam padding, giving the case the tiniest amount of plush feeling. The sides feel like a slightly compressed polyester, with a slightly smoother texture than the outgoing Leather options. Apple referring to the texture as 'suede-like' is apt; it feels smooth & soft, but unlike a material like silk, the texture can feel a bit fuzzy on the fingers. I don't mind it, but some people have expressed a dislike for the sensation.
I haven't experienced any issues with the port being misaligned or the USB connectors being too thick to fit the rounded cutoff of these cases. I lucked out on that front, but I don't know how widespread the issue of misaligned cutouts is. As for the cutout size, I primarily use Apple's USB cables, but the few third-party cables I've used have worked just fine. There is a limited amount of space to work with, so it doesn't feel like Apple is being hostile with limiting the cutout size, more that some USB-C cables might be too thick given the realistic tolerances and limitations of any case.
I am not denying anything people have experienced online regarding the cases of scratching or staining; I only question how common of an issue this will be. This is undoubtedly a case you need to be mindful of, and it's not one I would recommend for people in environments where dirt and grim proliferate. People working in dirty environments, parents with handsy children, and the chronically unlucky may benefit from more durable and forgiving cases. I work in a hospital office setting, so my environment is generally clean and predictable, and I keep my phone in a separate pocket away from keys and other items. I wouldn't say I baby my phone, but I am careful. I've also stained countless leather and silicone cases with errant pens over the years, so FineWoven is not necessarily more or less durable, just differently durable. I've been to Apple Stores and seen the wall of damaged cases myself, but deliberately scratching and using a case are not equivalent scenarios. Four weeks in, my FineWoven case remains scratch-free, again not because I baby it, but because I don't run into scenarios that scratch the case to the point that it leaves a mark. That day will come, but the gravity of the issue is overblown.
And because this is a case made of polyester, you might be able to wash it and remove and restore some of the case's original look. I've seen a few videos pop up online that show success doing this (Apple also offers a detailed guide).
The area I am beginning to see some wear is surrounding the perimeter of the MagSafe Wallet. A thin, very slight outline is starting to form, perhaps from the pressure of the wallet or the wallet jostling around over the past month. But this is similar to what I've seen on the leather cases in the past.
FineWoven case on October 15, 2023.
In Sum
I contend that this is a less durable and desirable case option for many. I don't know many people who were explicitly seeking twill cases that will be relieved that Apple released this option. It's an alternative in the step away from leather that feels more like a compromise than perhaps was intended. The growing pains for this case have been rough, and the reception online hostile at best.
I'm still determining the long-term durability of this case, but as a longtime lover of waxed canvas, these cases can develop their patina of sorts that may appeal to some. The case is growing on me, and while I still prefer Apple's previous leather cases, the transition to FineWoven was better than some made it seem. It might not be for everyone, but this case will be fine for many of you.
