All posts

Apple Finally Got It Right — Tech Woven iPhone 17 Case Review

5:53 video

It’s been about two months since the iPhone 17 series and Apple’s new TechWoven case came out, and this might be my favorite Apple case ever.

TechWoven sits in Apple’s premium tier with silicone and clear, replacing the leather cases from a few years ago. Two years ago Apple added FineWoven, which turned out to be a hot pile of garbage. Apple got a redo, and TechWoven is so much better.

Materials and feel

Look closely and you’ll see multiple colored yarns woven together for a dimensional texture. Apple says it’s 100% recycled polyester. I haven’t seen this texture anywhere else, and I like rubbing my fingernails across it during the day because it feels good and kind of sounds good. The sides are lightly coated, textured TPU that feels a little plasticky, and inside is the woven material plus the MagSafe ring.

It comes in sienna, blue, green, purple, and black. I’ve mostly been using the green. The buttons are aluminum, very tactile, not wobbly, and do exactly what you expect.

Protection

It has full coverage at the bottom. I know some people prefer a cutout for swiping, but I like the protection. The lip around the camera plateau keeps the phone from rocking on a table, and a small lip around the screen lets me set it face down, which I do all the time.

Durability

I have dry skin and use a lot of lotions and creams, and none of it has transferred to the woven material. Apple must have some coating against spills and oils. After two months of mostly constant use: no scratches, no marks, no stains. I haven’t dropped it yet, but I think it’ll protect about as well as most cases.

Apple extras

Apple cases get a pop-up animation showing the connected case color. And in iOS 26 you can tint your home screen icons to match the case. In my opinion that doesn’t look great with my background, but it’s a cool little feature other cases can’t get.

Price and availability

It’s $59 from Apple, though Amazon has had them $10 off; I got one for $49.99. The one problem is that they’re back-ordered. I waited about five weeks for the blue one. On Amazon you can order even while they’re out of stock. I’ve seen some reports of bubbling or other defects, but when you make a million of something, some have issues, and those should be covered under warranty.

They feel good, the buttons are great, I like the design and the feel, and everything just works the way I want. If you love leather, this might not be for you. But for a nice case that fits the iPhone perfectly, it’s a good option. If you’re getting a new iPhone in the next couple of months, order your case sooner, just in case it’s delayed.

In this video

  • 00:00 Introduction to the Tech Woven Case
  • 00:07 Why This Might Be My Favorite Apple Case
  • 00:10 Where Tech Woven Fits in Apple’s Case Lineup
  • 00:18 The FineWoven FAIL Revisited
  • 00:28 A Closer Look at the New Tech Woven Design
  • 00:46 Side and Interior Materials
  • 01:07 Color Options & Favorites
  • 01:17 Premium Aluminum Buttons
  • 01:28 Full Bottom Protection
  • 01:49 Camera and Screen Protection
  • 02:06 Durability Over 2 Months
  • 02:22 Apple’s Spill-Resistant Coating
  • 02:58 Case Interactivity & Customization Features
  • 03:39 Price, Availability, and Delivery Issues
  • 04:50 Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. See my ethics statement.

Watch on YouTube

Keep reading

Related posts