Apple could ditch its FineWoven accessory line after only a year

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Apple’s FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands are at an all-time low stock in Apple Stores, indicating that the Cupertino firm may discontinue this particular product line, introduced only a year ago. 

Apple launched its FineWoven iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and AirTag holders in September 2023, alongside the iPhone 15 series. 

The company’s goal was to make every product carbon-neutral by 2030. Hence, FineWoven material replaced Apple’s leather accessories, which, according to Apple, are made of 68% post-consumer recycled content. 

While Apple reached its goal early, the consumer reaction to the new FineWoven material was extremely poor. 

According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, it seems the company is preparing to discontinue the line. 

There’s no guarantee, but the assumption is that FineWoven is on its way out

According to Gurman’s report, Apple Stores are low on stock of FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. Hence, the company either plans to discontinue the accessories or refresh the line with new colors and support for other devices. 

Apple’s next major hardware event, “It’s Glowtime,” is approaching. The event is scheduled for September 9, and we expect the company to launch the new iPhone 16 line, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 3, new AirPods, and, of course, Apple Intelligence. 

While a refresh of the FineWoven accessory line is possible, discontinuation is more probable, especially after a slew of poor consumer reactions. 

The Verge called FineWoven “categorically terrible,” CNET said it “can’t applaud” the cases while respecting Apple’s move away from leather.

Either way, Apple’s decision to discontinue the FineWoven line would be unprecedented. The company usually continues its product lines for years, no matter how terrible they are. 

The best example is the Butterfly keyboard, which was introduced on MacBooks in 2015. The company even launched a repair scheme before finally discontinuing it in 2019.  

And regarding FineWoven, we have only heard rumors, so we can only speculate. The ultimate decision is up to Apple. 

Gurman also stated that multiple Apple Watch models, iPhone SE 3, iPad Mini, and AirPods stocks are also running, suggesting updates for them.

Do you want Apple to bring back its classic leather accessories? Or would you instead want a different material? Let’s talk below in the comments, or on our Twitter or Facebook.