When Apple introduced a new material for iPhone 15 cases and watchbands at the Apple event on the 12th, they heralded it as a groundbreaking alternative to leather with “subtle luster and a soft, suede-like feel.”

Consumers and reviewers haven’t seen it that way. The fabric, which Apple calls FineWoven, has been panned for being prone to scratches and stains — with an almost-slippery feel that’s off-putting to some.

What began as a high-minded effort to make Apple’s products carbon neutral is now threatening to be one of the company’s biggest misfires of 2023.

Apple describes FineWoven as an all-new textile that’s made from 68% post-consumer recycled material. It’s part of a push to phase out leather throughout its product line, including iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands, in a step toward being carbon neutral across the company’s entire global operations.

But FineWoven has yet to clear its first hurdle: winning over Apple fans and early adopters that snapped up the product before anyone else. Federico Viticci, a blogger and podcaster who runs the MacStories site, is one such user. He posted on Mastodon that he saw a stain on his FineWoven case after going out for dinner. “I honestly think this is one of the worst accessories Apple has produced,” he said. “I may just throw this out now. (Great for the environment!)”

One product review video posted to YouTube by 'MobileReviewsEh' shows how easily the case can retain scratches.

And a blogger at 512 pixels complained that the holes on the case don’t line up with the port on the phone or the speakers. A reviewer for the Verge put it bluntly: “FineWoven is very bad.”

Touching the material in person, FineWoven does take some getting used to. The case feels like a rough pair of tights — weirdly coarse but plush when you press on it. The sides look sleek, but one wrong move and it can scratch instantly.

The product also carries a premium price. A FineWoven iPhone case is $59, $10 more than the plastic and silicone versions that Apple sells — and far more expensive than the options offered by third parties.

There’s some irony in FineWoven being one of the biggest controversies surrounding the launch of the iPhone 15. Source.