Apple FineWoven vs Silicone case
I spent three months with Apple’s FineWoven case and Silicone case on my iPhone 15 Pro models, and now that the outrage over FineWoven has died down, it seemed a good time to talk about them. I have a FineWoven case in Pacific Blue for my iPhone 15 Pro Max and a Guava Silicone case for my iPhone 15 Pro.
Construction
Both are built similarly: a thin plastic shell wrapped in a material. The silicone is the same Apple has used for years. FineWoven is all new: the back is a microtwill that feels soft, almost suede or fuzzy, and under the iPhone’s macro lens you can see the fibers weave in and out. The sides, I believe, are the same material with something on top.
The silicone case has squishy silicone buttons. FineWoven has metal buttons, like Apple’s old leather cases.
The iPhone snaps into both and stays snug, with no worry about it coming out. The lip protecting the camera bump is small but does the job when you lay the phone on a flat surface.
Cutouts
There was controversy at launch about cutouts not lining up on the iPhone 15 cases. Mine line up correctly, including the USB-C port and the drilled holes for the microphones and speaker. I tested a Thunderbolt 4 cable, an Apple USB-C cable and a UGREEN USB-C cable, and all fit both cases fine.
Buttons
The silicone buttons aren’t my favorite, but they work. The metal FineWoven buttons are more tactile, with a nice click. But they also make noise when you’re not pressing them: this is the first Apple case I know of where the buttons flop around. You can hear them rattle when you shake the phone or rub your finger over them. My iPhone 14 Pro leather case has metal buttons that don’t move or make any noise. That’s not cool, and kind of annoying.
Feel and grip
They’re at opposite ends of a spectrum.
Silicone is grippy and rubbery, a texture some people hate. Sliding it out of a pocket has some friction and can pull the lining out, and lint builds up around the sides, but it wipes off. I actually like the grip: the iPhone feels secure in my hand, and I don’t worry about it sliding when I lean it against something to read a recipe or watch a podcast.
FineWoven is smoother and less secure in my hand, and it’s more likely to slide out and fall when propped at a weird angle. I like the soft-touch back, but not the lack of grip, and the sides are even more slippery than the back. It’s not the most slippery case I’ve used, and it would be fine, but I like a bit more grip. Even Apple’s leather cases had more.
Durability
There were concerns about FineWoven in the first weeks. After three months, mine has held up okay. Not perfect: there are lines from my fingernails or from setting it on a desk, little marks in the microfiber. I haven’t dropped it in this case, so no dings or dents on the edges, just a bit on the back. You’ve seen the photos of these looking like crap in Apple Stores, but I haven’t been a jerk to it, and it’s doing its job. It will change over time depending on how you treat it, like leather’s patina, whether you like it or not.
Silicone is usually durable until it isn’t. They last me about 6 to 10 months, then the edges start peeling back. My iPhone 14 Pro one is still in pretty good condition, with some wear from gripping and MagSafe. My wife’s iPhone 13 Pro one is a different story: she dropped it quite a few times, and there’s a big crack and chunks of silicone missing at the bottom.
Both show dust: silicone collects it around the edges and camera bump, and FineWoven catches dust, lint and skin flakes, which usually wipe off. I have dry skin and use lotion, and so far I see no embedding or staining in the FineWoven back.
Price
FineWoven replaces leather at $60, and silicone cases are $50. That’s a lot to spend on a case, and plenty of cheaper options exist.
Verdict
Between these two, I prefer the Silicone case overall. I wish it had metal buttons, because I love that tactile feel, but I prefer its grip. Apple does a really good job designing a case that looks good, fits well, adds minimal bulk and protects well, and for that I think they’re probably worth it, though you may disagree. Which do you prefer?
Links
- Buy Fine Woven case
- Buy the Silicone case
- Matte Glass Screen Protector
- Buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs M1 MacBook Air
- My Charging Partner: Ugreen Amazon store
- https://www.threads.net/@jerryschulzeonyt
- My iPhone Art
- Grovemade Desk Mat and Knife (save 10% JERRY10)
- UNLIMITED Cloud Backup for your Mac with Backblaze
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