FineWoven - Wear/Tear/Aging

[EclecticGent]

I returned my Pacific Blue FineWoven case, but now I am wondering what it will look like as it ages and wears in from new. My curiosity is really making me consider picking up another on launch day.

I have seen the video reviews, and I have read the threads on this forum with positive/negative first impressions. However, I realize we are still very early with our impressions and haven’t put the product to the test of daily wear and tear to see it age.

I figured I would make this thread and ask those who are keeping the FineWoven case to share their experiences through pictures and comments about the progression of the product in use.

Who has decided to keep their FineWoven products?

Can you share your case(s) now and along the way to help us better understand how it ages from daily usage?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Video reviews at this point are meaningless. The case comes with a warranty. Give it a shot.

 

[EclecticGent]

Video reviews at this point are meaningless. The case comes with a warranty. Give it a shot.

I have decided to give it a shot.

 

[GeneticBloom]

I have the pacific blue also and I will be keeping it and using it as my daily case once my phone arrives.

 

[gatorknight904]

Video reviews at this point are meaningless. The case comes with a warranty. Give it a shot.

I took my iPhone 14 Pro Max Leather case into the apple store because it developed a weird crack near volume buttons. Never been dropped and phone rarely removed. The case looks new other than the crack. I was well within the one year warranty and they would not replace it. It is the last Apple case I will ever buy. Fine woven just looks like a disaster from what I have seen and touched in store. Silicone cases usually end up peeling.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I took my iPhone 14 Pro Max Leather case into the apple store because it developed a weird crack near volume buttons. Never been dropped and phone rarely removed. The case look new other than the crack. I was well within the one year warranty and they would not replace it. It is the last Apple case I will ever buy. Fine woven just looks like a disaster from what I have seen and touched in store.

That Apple Store should have honored the warranty. As to the FW, that may be the case. I am going to reserve judgement until I use it.

 

[Tofupunch]

I received the case, opened it, and was very disappointed. If I didn't know that it replaced the premium leather case, I would've thought it sat below the silicone case in terms of price. Felt very cheap, it came with bits of lint on it, and overall was very underwhelming. Is leather really that terrible for the planet?

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Returned mine instantly, such a trash case.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Is leather really that terrible for the planet?

No, it is very sustainable actually and likely better for the planet than whatever material was used in this.

But I reviewed this case independent of it replacing leather anyway. It is garbage no matter what it replaced.

 

[Theozz]

I think Apple screwed up when introducing FW cases. They talked about not going with leather anymore and then introduced FW.

IMHO, they should have switched the order in which they introduced the no-more leather policy and FW. Because there is no way FW is meant to replace leather 😂

 

[Lex404]

I was really looking forward to it until I saw the reviews...

probably if we visit an apple store a week later, after everyone touches this new case, we'll know better how it resists.. (unless the store folks changes them daily so they'll look like new)

 

[MrENGLISH]

I'm giving it a try but I do think it is overpriced for what it is. I don't see me spending $60 again even if this one lasts until my next iPhone.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I’m seeing a lot of reviews calling these cases trash but I think it’s all premature. The build quality may just feel different because of an all new material combination. I haven’t held one personally but from what I gather it’s a weight thing mostly.

Some people hate the texture and some seem to really like it and that’s always going to be the case. You can’t please ‘em all.

Finewoven, to me, implies the stitching of this fabric is very tight so it won’t be picking up random grit and stains from everyday use. In the end, I think it’s very possible that you’ll see a patina similar to that of what you’d get on leather.

Again, I don’t own one and haven’t even laid hands on but I’m hopeful these receive better reception once we start to see how they age. And another again, what you see in store on display is not a good indicator of personal use.

 

[MrENGLISH]

I’m seeing a lot of reviews calling these cases trash but I think it’s all premature. The build quality may just feel different because of an all new material combination. I haven’t held one personally but from what I gather it’s a weight thing mostly.

Some people hate the texture and some seem to really like it and that’s always going to be the case. You can’t please ‘em all.

Finewoven, to me, implies the stitching of this fabric is very tight so it won’t be picking up random grit and stains from everyday use. In the end, I think it’s very possible that you’ll see a patina similar to that of what you’d get on leather.

Again, I don’t own one and haven’t even laid hands on but I’m hopeful these receive better reception once we start to see how they age. And another again, what you see in store on display is not a good indicator of personal use.

My biggest concern with them is how easily they scratch. Even mine came out of the box with a mark along the bottom right corner. IDK if the scratch can go away with water or something similar but they don't seem to go away with just the brush of your hand/fingers. For $60, I would expect better quality than that!

 

[canyonblue737]

The brown FineWoven case on my new natural titanium 15 Pro looks and feels outstanding to my eye, I love it so much more than recent Apple silicone cases as well as recent year's leather versions (where the leather got thin and wouldn't patina well anymore.) As of this moment I'm thrilled but I absolutely admit I may be back here in a week saying it looks horrible and damaged... we shall see. I'm glad I'm giving it a try.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

My biggest concern with them is how easily they scratch. Even mine came out of the box with a mark along the bottom right corner. IDK if the scratch can go away with water or something similar but they don't seem to go away with just the brush of your hand/fingers. For $60, I would expect better quality than that!

How long have you had it? I would imagine it’d be like leather where the oils from usage would kinda hide it over time.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

The brown FineWoven case on my new natural titanium 15 Pro looks and feels outstanding to my eye, I love it so much more than recent Apple silicone cases as well as recent year's leather versions (where the leather got thin and wouldn't patina well anymore.) As of this moment I'm thrilled but I absolutely admit I may be back here in a week saying it looks horrible and damaged... we shall see. I'm glad I'm giving it a try.

Looking forward to seeing your progress. Care to share a photo of it new?

 

[MrENGLISH]

How long have you had it? I would imagine it’d be like leather where the oils from usage would kinda hide it over time.

That is why I'm holding unto mine. I do want to give it a proper chance and not just dismiss it right off the bat. I have low expectations though and hopefully I'll be surprised over time.

 

[canyonblue737]

Looking forward to seeing your progress. Care to share a photo of it new?

it's BRAND new so we shall see what happens from here. I'll get a photo in a bit when the transfer from my 14 Pro -> 15 Pro completes. Check back in a couple hours.

 

[CooKieMoNs7eR]

I'm gonna give it a try, apple has 14 day return policy right? so if I see it getting scratched up easily I'll return it.

 

[humerc]

I used it a few hours now, black case one black iPhone 15 Pro Max. Was out and took it multiple times in and out of my Jeans pocket, laid it on tables and of course, used my phone for calls and so on. No scratches so far, looks like fresh out of the box (in fact: it is).
Used my FW wallet the whole week, and it also looks like new.

 

[ScubaCinci]

Neither the leather nor silicone cases every held up particularly well for me so I expect no different for the fine woven cases which is why I ordered a DBrand case.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

Neither the leather nor silicone cases every held up particularly well for me so I expect no different for the fine woven cases which is why I ordered a DBrand case.

My wife prefers the silicone cases and the one she had from last year was a mess when I replaced it about a week ago. Pretty much every corner had fallen apart but the color was still good. Apple’s leather cases always looked good for me but I’ve seen some that wore really poorly (I have an Ink case for my 14PM).

I have high hopes for the FineWoven but am not upgrading this year so just going to continue to roll with my Ink/Black RL combo along with the DBrand Ghost I’ll have sometime next month.

Is that the one you ordered?

 

[ScubaCinci]

Yep, not arriving until October sometime

 

[canyonblue737]

Looking forward to seeing your progress. Care to share a photo of it new?

Here are the new phones of my wife and I shot by my old iPhone 14 Pro... the purple of her case is fairly accurate but I can't emphasize how much more brown and dark my case is, I have no idea why I couldn't get it to look anything like real life. Also the photo makes the color/texture/lint look more uneven or noticeable than in real life, in real life the texture is very even, lint for now is unnoticeable, and the colors are richer and better looking. All in all we both love the fine woven cases (I nearly have always used silicone and occasionally leather, she uses silicone or a hard plastic "casetify" style case with designs) and its a great change of pace... the only issue (and it may be a huge one) is how they wear and if they look terrible in no time...