Apple's FineWoven Cases for iPhone 15 Continue to Be Heavily Criticized

Apple's new FineWoven cases for iPhone 15 models have been heavily criticized since they were released earlier this month, with some customers and media outlets complaining about the fabric exterior being prone to scratches and stains. We recapped some of the negative feedback last week, and complaints have continued to surface.

iPhone 15 Pro FineWoven
In a 512 Pixels blog post on Sunday, Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett shared a photo of his FineWoven case with a misaligned USB-C port cutout, resulting in the pentalobe screw on the right side of the USB-C port being partially exposed.

"It's one thing for these cases to be a letdown in terms of material, but this is a level of sloppiness that genuinely surprises me from Apple," he wrote. "I know not every example out there is as bad as mine, but the vibes around this case aren't good."

FineWoven USB C Cutout

Photo: Stephen Hackett

On social media, some users claimed that the USB-C cutout only appears to be misaligned because of the angle that the photo was taken at, but other users responded with straight-on photos of the FineWoven case with the same issue. Not all of the cases have this issue, but multiple customers appear to be affected.

In addition, Parker Ortolani and MacRumors editor Hartley Charlton shared photos of FineWoven cases with visible damage on display at Apple Stores. An anonymous, alleged Apple Store employee mentioned likewise in a post on X, formerly Twitter.


Apple describes FineWoven as a "durable micro-twill" material made from 68% post-consumer recycled polyester, and said the material has a significantly lower carbon footprint than leather. Earlier this month, Apple announced that it would no longer use leather in any new products or accessories, as part of its environmental responsibility efforts.

It's hard to measure exactly how much negative feedback there is for the new FineWoven cases, but the material certainly appears to be proving quite unpopular so far. We've reached out to Apple for comment, and we'll update this story if we hear back.

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Top Rated Comments

outlawarth Avatar
18 months ago
This must be the biggest piece of hot garbage that Apple has yet released. I would be really interested in knowing what the thought process was here.
Score: 66 Votes (Like | Disagree)
faythebest Avatar
18 months ago
I am loving mine
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
18 months ago
Did their product development team not just grab one of the test units and scratch it with a fingernail or set of keys?
Score: 50 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spercharged69 Avatar
18 months ago
FineWoven is le epic fail.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bookcase Avatar
18 months ago
Of course they show damage on those cases -- they have people running their fingernails up and down them. That is not normal usage. Perhaps my opinion is unpopular, but I have had the case since Friday and haven't had any issues, and my cutout is spot on. This is the second article talking about how many people hate the cases, with no mention of positive feedback.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmantn Avatar
18 months ago
This guy has been featured in the past I believe on MacRumors and he’s independent and not sponsored.

His review of Fine Woven like many of his reviews really shows you if something is worth the price.



Edit: This guy has been around for over ten years and frequently does drop tests in different cases to show real world results.

I don’t always go with his top picks but I do always stay away from the bad products he identifies.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)