In a bid to increase the company’s sustainability efforts, Apple launched FineWoven iPhone cases made of fake-suede material recently. The covers are priced at $59, (Rs 4,910 approximately) according to The Verge. The fake-suede is a replacement of the company’s famous leather cases as Apple is aiming to go carbon neutral by 2030. Leather has a "has a significant carbon footprint at Apple's scale," according to Lisa Jackson, Apple's environmental policy VP.
According to Apple, the FineWoven cases are made with 68% post-consumer recycled content and have a "subtle lustre and a soft, suede-like feel”. The fake suede significantly reduces carbon emissions and also protects the phone. However, Apple enthusiasts and buyers in general were not very impressed with the product.
Several buyers of the FineWoven case took to X (formerly Twitter) and e-commerce websites such as Amazon to criticise the product and also shared some honest reviews. A number of users also complained that the case cut-outs were not aligned properly.
“Back to scolding Apple and their accessories. FineWoven cases are rubbish as their quality is very questionable. How could cutouts not be centred?” a user questioned.
A user wrote, “The Infamous FineWoven case. I prefer the feeling of this case in the hand over Silicone, but not Apple’s leather cases. It doesn't feel cheap, but it doesn't feel 'premium' to justify a $59 price. I'm skeptical this case will age gracefully with time (oils, stains, scratches).”
“Finally received my iPhone 15 Pro Max. Bought three Apple FineWoven cases, Apple silicone case (Clay) and the Otter-box Figura. So far I really love the otter-box and silicone case but have decided to return the FineWoven case because it’s bad…like really bad,” another user commented.
A user remarked, “As seen in this photo from @ismh,the FineWoven case's USB-C cutout isn't even centred. You can see a bit of the pentalobe screw on the right side. ‘This is a level of sloppiness that genuinely surprises me from Apple,’ he said.”
Meanwhile, some customers also shared their reviews about the same on Amazon. ''The Fine Woven has a nice feel to it, but I do not see this holding up for the long term. Running my fingernail across it left a mark, I can't imagine everyday use,” a user wrote.
Another user commented, “This case is terribly cheap. Like others, I have been a long-term leather case user, and as soon as I took this out of the box I could feel how cheap it was and it looked used and faded already. The ‘fine woven’ back feels like they glued a denim patch to the back of a cardboard cutout. It looks and feels like it's going to fall apart very quickly. The sides feel like cheap vinyl flooring.”
The Verge’s Allison Johnson, who reviewed the case for the masses, wrote, “The FineWoven case is ‘categorically terrible.’ If I'm putting one of these cases on my phone, I'm inevitably going to scratch it on accident with a jagged fingernail edge, or it's going to come into contact with my car keys. And when you scratch FineWoven, the results are seemingly permanent."
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