Is this FineWovenGate or something else?
It looks like people are pretty happy with the new iPhone 15.
Apparently, it’s the worst case ever made.
Apple’s FineWoven Case.Apple
“The decision to switch from leather could be seen as a double-edged sword.
Apple’s FineWoven cases are the replacement for its now-discontinued leather cases.
They’re mostly made from post-consumer recycled ‘content,’ which presumably means plastic (probably polyester).
Microscopic view of Apple’s FineWoven twill.iFixit
The best aspect of leather is that it gets better as it ages.
nicks, scratches, rubs, and abrasions all fade over time to give the case character.
We might expect its replacement to do the same.
A beaten-up but still fully-functioning five-year-old iPad Pro case.Charlie Sorrel
“Received and returned.
But the FineWoven does not appear to age like tanned animal skin.
WhenThe Vergewriter Allison Johnsongot a FineWoven wallet case for review, it already showed wear on the edges.
A Case for Apple
But is this really so bad?
It’s not like they disappear.
iFixit’s Arthur Shigrabbed a FineWoven caseand checked it under a powerful digital microscope.
Shi found that its threads are just 6 microns thick, or 1/12 the width of a human hair.
In the photo you see here, that black strip across the threads is a hair.
We will, of course, have to wait and see how these cases look over time.
Or perhaps more like denim, another material that is felt to improve as it gets more worn.
Buyers will be much gentler on their cases, and those cases will perhaps wear beautifully.
Not like leather, and not quite like jeans, but handsomely nonetheless.
And Apple does have a proven track record with cases.
They’re never cheap, but they are always strong, lightweight, and long-lasting.
