If you’re wondering how good Apple’s new FineWoven iPhone cases are, iFixit’s new review goes into great detail about it. iFixit put one of the new cases under a microscope to test how well it resists stains like hot sauce and coffee, taking it apart and taking plenty of photos throughout the process.
These photos include incredibly zoomed-in shots of the fabric. For example, in a post on X, iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens shared a photo of a human hair that looks like a black line on the fabric. Another photo shows how the fibers are affected when the fabric is cut with a knife.
Apple's new FineWoven case material is getting some flack, but not from us. It's really neat! But you have to put it under 500x magnification to find out. https://t.co/Yr3AIxawV8 pic.twitter.com/newZOJbZCO
— Kyle Wiens (@kwiens) September 22, 2023
In addition, iFixit also subjected the new cases to a spot test. A drop of coffee disappears “without leaving much of a trace.” But a greasy thumb leaves a stain, even after iFixit applies some detergent to the spot.
As for removing the case, iFixit cut the case in half and tore it. According to iFixit, the case has multiple layers: “FineWoven fabric, gray foam, hard plastic layer, MagSafe hardware/white foam, another hard plastic layer, and finally an inner layer of FineWoven fabric.” iFixit also found that the side strips feature a “FineWoven weave,” which is more durable than the fabric on the back.
According to iFixit’s review, it seems that Apple’s new FineWoven cases may not offer very long-term use. However, its impressive colors may be a reason to choose the product even if it cannot be used for many years.