The iPhone 17 could get these leaked TechWoven cases, but Apple fans still miss its old leather cases

• Apple might launch a new case to replace the discontinued FineWoven
• The new case is reportedly made from textured fabric
• It will come in several colors and might work with a “Crossbody Strap”

When Apple launched the iPhone 15 series, it also revealed a new case dubbed FineWoven that it said was better for the environment than leather alternatives. Yet this case proved to be a disaster, with a flood of complaints over its appearance and a lack of durability. Still, that apparently hasn’t put Apple off from finding a replacement, with a new leak seemingly revealing the protective case that the company could launch alongside the iPhone 17 later this year.

In a post on their website, leaker Majin Bu has published what they claim are photos of an upcoming FineWoven successor called TechWoven. This shows the full range of colors that the case will apparently come in, including green, orange, black, navy blue, and purple. As with FineWoven – which was made from a “microtwill” fabric – Bu says TechWoven “remains a fabric cover, but the material has been redesigned for greater durability and more practical daily use.”

Bu says this takes the form of a “slightly textured weave,” and their photos show a dimpled effect when viewed up close. Crucially, the leaker alleges that the case surface “maintains a consistent appearance even after weeks of use.” If true, that might address one of the key criticisms of FineWoven, which often seemed to deteriorate in appearance after a period of sustained usage.

The cases will also feature metallic buttons, cutouts for lanyard bands, MagSafe compatibility, and an integrated Camera Control cover, the post contends. There will supposedly be options for every model in the iPhone 17 range, including the iPhone 17 Air.

The FineWoven follow-up

This is not Majin Bu’s first TechWoven revelation. Just two days ago, the leaker posted images of what they claimed was packaging for the TechWoven case. Before that, they uploaded an image of a single TechWoven case on X, although they noted that it was a clone rather than one made by Apple, suggesting that the cases in Bu’s latest post might also be clones.

Interestingly, the packaging recently revealed by Majin Bu contained the phrase “Compatible with Crossbody Strap.” Apple does not sell any products under that name, but iPhone accessory maker OtterBox does. With the TechWoven case supposedly including lanyard cutouts, that could indicate that Apple has made it compatible with OtterBox’s accessory. Alternatively, Apple might be planning to sell its own product called Crossbody Strap, perhaps as a security feature to thwart snatching thieves.

Reactions to the TechWoven case rumors have so far been mixed. On Reddit, the top comment on a post linking to coverage of the TechWoven case was a succinct “that’s a no from me”, with many of the complaints citing Apple's traditionally high prices for its own-brand accessories. Many also noted missing the quality of Apple's early leather cases around the time of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X.

However, the responses under Majin Bu’s latest X post were more positive, so it remains to be seen if TechWoven can succeed where FineWoven failed.

There’s no doubt that the FineWoven debacle was a stumble for Apple, and while there were still plenty of people who liked the cases, the overwhelming sentiment was one of negativity. That means Apple is under pressure to do better this time around. With just a few weeks until the iPhone 17 launch date, we should soon find out if these rumored TechWoven cases can put things right.

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