The FineWoven skin replacement isn’t paying much for Apple yet
Users complain about poor quality and susceptibility to damage
However, the iFixit server proves that this is not a bug, but a feature
Smartphone accessories made of leather are among the most popular among users. A certain stamp of exclusivity and luxury cannot be denied to leather, as well as the not-so-favorable ecological impacts. They are also aware of this at Apple, and primarily for this reason they have replaced all leather accessories in their offer with a new material called FineWoven. Although the fabric alternative, at least in the promotional images, does not look bad at all, in reality the company from Cupertino has received quite sharp criticism for this change.
New material, new problems
The shake-up was mainly the relatively low quality, which is a rather fundamental problem for the fabric, which Apple describes as “luxurious and durable microtwill”. That is why the well-known website iFixit decided to take a closer look at the new covers and thoroughly disassembled them from all angles. They examined the fabric itself using a microscope at 52× and 490× magnification, which revealed the fabric’s thin capillaries approximately 6 micrometers thick, significantly thinner than a human hair (which is between 42 and 95 micrometers). Together, however, they form fibers with a thickness of around 150 micrometers and, according to iFixit, they are not significantly different from those used by premium clothing manufacturers such as Patagonia or Arc’teryx.
FineWoven case under the microscope
The most attention was attracted by relatively easy scratching, which is very easily visible with the naked eye. In reality, however, it is not a matter of damage to the fibers, but of a violation of their regularity, due to which they reflect light irregularly. Unfortunately, due to the delicacy of the material, there is an increased chance that objects in your pocket, for example, can cause visible marks. In the same way, incalculable dirt from hot liquids or oils can remain on the material, although according to the iFixit test, the case coped with, for example, coffee.
Don’t overlook
Apple cut leather products, including at partners. You can still get something in the Czech Republic
After cutting the case open, iFixit learned that it consists of several layers of plastic plates that house the MagSafe magnets and are held together by special foam, with FineWoven material on both sides of the case about 0.17 millimeters thick. The sides also boast FineWoven material, but in this case it is covered with a solid resin-like material for greater durability.
Cases made of the new FineWoven material have not yet received many positive reviews
Finally, iFixit gives advice to all owners of new FineWoven cases – if you want it to last in the best possible condition for as long as possible, don’t forget to protect it with, for example, a waterproof spray.
Author of the article
Dominik Vlasak
Editor, traveler, fan of technology, Star Wars and good coffee.
2023-09-25 18:30:00
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