iFixit Puts Apple’s FineWoven Case Under the Microscope

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Originally published at: iFixit Puts Apple’s FineWoven Case Under the Microscope - TidBITS

Curious about Apple’s FineWoven fabric? iFixit looks at the FineWoven iPhone case under a high-powered microscope before and after subjecting it to scratches, liquids, and more.

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I knew I was going to look at the FineWoven case when I went to my local Apple Store to collect my 15 Pro Max earlier today. I wasn’t really expecting to actually buy but was curious. Figured I might end up going for Apple’s clear acrylic case again (same as I had on the 12 Pro I’ve just retired). Or maybe the similar Otterbox case, which they also had in store So it was a bit of a surprise when I ended up going home with the FineWoven case (or the Weavey case as a friend has dubbed it).

If this was a leather case, I think plenty of people would say that a few scuffs and scratches would add character to it. (Okay, maybe not so much oil or vinegar stains…)

Am I regretting having gone with the Weavey case yet? No so far - and I’ve been handling it off and on for six or seven hours now. I think I would definitely have preferred a similar leather case to the Apple one I had on, mmm, I think it must have been on my X, but this is okay so far.

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Smartish cases.

Indestructible, reasonably elegant, still inexpensive (though not as much so as in the past couple of iterations) and super protective, even have a somewhat customizable version on Amazon.

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I ordered my 15 Pro so I wouldn’t have to fight the crowds. Also ordered both the “Weaver” case and the silicone one. I wanted a case that would offer the maximum resistance to slipping out of my shirt pocket when I lean down to pick up something on the floor. Ended up with the silicone. Read the iFixit article with interest, and my reaction is that the FineWoven case doesn’t suffer any more problems than a leather one would.

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I suppose Apple is switching from leather to this fine woven fabric for environmental reasons? If I understand correctly, the fabric is synthetic, meaning it will produce micro-plastic particles with wear. This makes me wonder if it is actually more environmentally friendly than leather? Perhaps the carbon footprint is lower, but what about other impacts on the environment?

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Was skimming iPhone news sites and … oh, 9-5 mac isn’t happy about Finewoven!
(edit…I typed Fineweave…)

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Savings could also be an important issue; leather tends to be a very lot more expensive than fabric. And the bad press about the fabric that Adam quoted is rapidly expanding.

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Sure sounds like there was another motivation. Microplastics is certainly an environmental issue, while throwing away the hides of cows slaughtered for meat doesn’t reduce meat consumption or GHG either.