By Apple standards, the FineWoven was a total catastrophe. It started to wear and fade, and FineWoven became FineMess. In a bid to put that into the recesses of memory, a new leak suggests Apple will introduce a new phone case for its upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, including what many are calling the iPhone 17 Pro leather case replacement.
Two sources, leaker Majin Bu and tech news site 9to5Mac, are reporting that Apple plans to introduce a new phone case made from “synthetic fabric.” This new case it seems will be toeing the same line as FineWoven, as Apple continues to pull away from using leather in any of its products.
FineWoven was released alongside iPhone 15 back in 2023. Apple heralded the launch as a replacement for leather, and FineWoven a perfect material. It made its way into other Apple products like the Apple Tags and Apple Watch bands. It didn’t pan out well for it though as iPhone users began reporting its quick disintegration . Apple stopped production, and here we are with its attempt at another phone case made from materials other than leather.
The “synthetic fabric” of the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup
It would seem apple is trying to address concerns that stem from the FineWoven saga. The new “synthetic fabric” material of the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, according to Majin Bu, will have a “visible textile texture” and “matte colors” of “green, orange, blue, and purple.” Cue possible colors of the iPhone 17 lineup? It will come sturdy, with “enhanced resistance” to counter scratches and daily wear. And of course, be eco-friendly. Which is Apple’s motivation for ditching leather in the first place, as it seeks to move users from the traditional iPhone 17 Pro leather case to new synthetic options.
Here’s a picture of the iPhone 17 Pro in “synthetic fabric” shared by Majin Bu. It’s in orange, a possible new color for the iPhone 17. If you look closely, right in the middle is the Apple logo symbol, peaking just sneakily.
Another image below shared by Majin Bu shows the four earlier mentioned colorways of the iPhone 17 lineup: green, orange, purple, and blue.
What other accessories could launch with the new iPhone 17 Pro leather case alternative?
Everything else Apple might be releasing alongside the iPhone includes an integrated lanyard loop. Majin Bu rates this as confirmed. We can only wait and see. It’s the way these things are until they become official. The lanyard loops though aren’t as novel as the synthetic fabric cases. They are already used in the AirPods Pro 2 cases that allow you to swing them about.
Apple could also launch “Liquid Glass” cases. What’s with all the Liquid, Apple? iOS 26 is already an OS mimicking glass, and now we have a case for that name too? September is just around the corner, and we will see if these things pan out or if they are just that, rumors, including the expected iPhone 17 Pro leather case replacement.
