Stock of Apple’s FineWoven faux leather iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands is at an all-time low, suggesting the controversial product line may be discontinued as soon as a year after launch.
That is according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurmanwho says low stock of FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands means Apple plans to either discontinue the accessories or refresh the line with new colors and support for new devices.
Apple’s next big event, titled “It’s Glowtime,” is scheduled for September 9, and we expect to hear news about the iPhone 16 family, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Intelligence during the showcase in Cupertino. If Apple keeps FineWoven going, the company is likely gearing up for a case refresh alongside these new hardware products.
Apple launched its line of FineWoven iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and AirTag mounts in September 2023 alongside the iPhone 15 series.
FineWoven was introduced to replace leather in Apple accessories as part of the company’s mission to make every product carbon neutral by 2030. The material is made from Applebut the company hasn’t released any details about what exactly the stuff is made of.
Still, customer response to FineWoven has been generally lackluster since Apple began using the fabric for accessories a year ago.
In our review of the FineWoven iPhone 15 Pro case, we called the product “a disaster,” while The Edge FineWoven called “categorically appalling” and CNET said it “cannot applaud” the cases while respecting Apple’s decision to move away from leather.
It would be an unprecedented move if Apple stopped upcycling curtains on FineWoven, as the company typically maintains features and product lines for several years, even if bad reviews surface.
The unreliable Butterfly keyboard introduced on MacBooks in 2015 remains one of the most infamous examples, with Apple even launching a repair program before eventually ditching the keyboard on the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro.
As for FineWoven, we’ve only heard rumors so far. It’s up to Apple to decide whether FineWoven will be a rare exception to the rule.
Gurman adds that there are also stock shortages for the third-generation iPhone SE, the iPad mini, AirPods and several Apple Watch models, suggesting that updates for those products may also be on the way.