In an effort to be more sustainable, Apple introduced its FineWoven case and watch bands when it launched the iPhone 15 series last year. These eco-friendly alternatives replaced Apple’s leather-based casings. Now it is speculated that Apple has stopped production of its FineWoven accessories and the reason seems to be pretty obvious.
If you’ve tried the FineWoven case, you’ll notice that the case doesn’t hold up that well against the elements. The supposed suede-like surfaces tend to get worn out very quickly and it is super easy to leave scratch marks with just your fingernails. The case can look very old and unappealing with just a few months of use.
FineWoven has gone.
— Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) April 21, 2024
Since its durability were bad.
All the production line was stopped and removed.
Apple would move to another material—Again, not the leather.
So see ya'll in leather hell.
(Recycling Company) pic.twitter.com/KVaBZC6z6S
According to an Apple leakster, Apple has stopped production for these accessories due to poor durability. Apparently, they are now looking at other non-leather alternatives for its accessories. For now, we don’t expect Apple to bring back its leather accessories but we reckon that they should be able to introduce newer eco-friendly options that could last longer.
At the moment, Apple Malaysia is still selling their FineWoven cases on their online store and they are priced at RM279 per piece for the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Obviously, they are not cheap and there are better third-party case options out there in the market that can offer better durability at a lower price.
The product page even has a note to mention that FineWoven material may show wear over time as the fibres get compressed with normal use. It added that some scratches may diminish over time and MagSafe accessories will leave some slight imprints.
If your FineWover case is dirty, Apple has a guide on taking care of the case. It recommends using a mixture of liquid laundry detergent (5ml) and water (250ml), and using a lint-free cloth to dip into the mixture and then rubbing the case gently for one minute.
If you plan to get rid of your old FineWoven case, the environmental impact should be quite minimal. According to Apple, the FineWoven case is made from 68% post-consumer recycled content and it has less carbon emissions compared to leather.
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