I'm quite convinced that people who don't carry their iPhones in a case are a completely different species than me. While I don't make a habit of dropping my case, I don't think there's been a year where I haven't dropped it or slammed it into something at least once.
For me, an iPhone case is more of a necessity than a luxury, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the luxurious look and feel…
Apple's Decision to Abandon Leather
Apple has had a large selection of leather products for years, including iPhone cases and iPad and MacBook cases. For many of us, myself included, a leather case was an automatic addition when buying a new iPhone.
It was last year that the company announced its decision to stop using leather.
To further reduce its impact on the planet, Apple is phasing out leather across its entire product line, including iPhone accessories and Apple Watch bands.
Apple has been looking to replace leather with FineWoven.
The company will replace leather with a new textile called FineWoven, a sleek and durable twill made from 68 percent post-consumer recycled materials. FineWoven offers a subtle sheen and a soft, suede-like texture in a fabric that’s available on iPhone MagSafe cases and wallets, as well as the Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle bands for Apple Watch.
And we all know how that turned out.
- Apple warns that MagSafe will leave “light marks” on FineWoven iPhone cases
- Apple has messed up its own mess with the terrible FineWoven iPhone 15 case
- FineWoven cases are trash, say 53% of owners; only 21% are happy with them [U]
- Poll: Should Apple abandon FineWoven cases for iPhone 15?
- Apple is discontinuing FineWoven iPhone cases without a direct replacement
Perhaps Apple should have talked to WaveCase — I tried one of the company's cases made from wheat straw, and I have to say it did a pretty good job of mimicking leather and showed no signs of wear after about a month of use.
But with both leather and FineWoven now a thing of the past, Apple's only remaining iPhone cases are silicone. Beats' cases are made of polycarbonate. The company also sells OtterBox cases, which don't even list the material used, but appear to be made of some kind of plastic.
The Decision May Be Right, But Not For Me
Leather has been around for about 7,000 years, and for good reason. It provides great protection, looks good, feels good, and ages well. It’s one of the few materials where scuffs and scratches aren’t a problem. Most leather fans love the patina that develops over time, but if you don’t like the visible marks, they’re often fairly easy to polish out.
Best comment by cubbuc
Heat-dissipating cases, I’ll never go back to them again. Check them out.
I definitely feel like the case generates a lot more heat, but I can only assume they’re better for stability and battery life.
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Apple devices and leather have long seemed like perfect partners these days. Both are luxury products aimed at a demographic willing to pay a premium for something that combines good looks with durability and functionality.
Apple may be right about this. Maybe leather will go the way of fur over time. But a year later, I have to say it still feels “bold.” I have a feeling a lot of Apple fans will be sticking with leather cases for a long time to come, myself included.
If you’ve used Apple’s leather iPhone cases in the past, which ones are you using now? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.
Image: 9to5Mac collages of Otterbox and Alexander Gray images on Unsplash
