Apple's $59 Fine Woven iPhone 15 case came under fire when it was released last September because the quality of the case was subpar compared to the Apple leather cases it replaced. Now Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern distills the customer outrage by sharing her experience after using the case for five months.
From Stern’s newsletter:
That’s it, folks. I have used the FineWoven case for my iPhone 15 Pro Max for five months. The edges were peeling off, the fabric was scratched like an old CD, and the whole thing was discolored like a rotten banana. I've been waiting for the CDC to come to my house and declare it a biomedical issue.
Some of you are saying, "How disgusting are you, Joanna?" Others, those of you who paid $59 for this case when it launched in September, may be saying, "Yeah, same problem."
Earlier, technology news sites such as The Verge complained about scratches on the fabric. At online retailers, people who gave the case one or two stars all pointed to the same issues - peeling edges, scratches, and easy staining. Many people on BestBuy said they would never buy an iPhone case again, it was the worst product Apple ever made, and the reviews on Amazon said the same.
Ironically, an Apple spokesperson said the company's cases are designed to the highest standards for iPhone protection, and that the FineWoven case's durable microweave will protect your iPhone for years to come.
An Apple support document provides recommendations for cleaning FineWoven cases, but the small print in that section acknowledges that "over time, fibers are compressed with normal use, so the material may vary and show wear, and some texture may be lost over time."
In response to Stern's five-month track review, Daring Fireball's John Gruber launched the same poll on multiple social media platforms, asking FineWoven case users for their opinions, and respondents seemed to overwhelmingly agree that "this is garbage."
Despite the negative press nearly half a year since its launch, Apple still seems unwilling to admit that its leather alternative materials have been disappointing. But in the court of public opinion, all evidence points to an open case: FineWoven just isn't good.