Last calendar month an X ( formerly Twitter ) leaker posted the striking title that Apple wouldnot release a leather casefor its upcoming iPhone 15 handsets . Little further contingent was offered to either support or excuse this theory , but most commentator assumed the decision was an environmental one , follow the company ’s assurance to becarbon - neutral by 2030 . Numerous car makers have already ditch leather in their products citing honourable concerns , and it made perfect sense for Apple , which deal so much on its frequently left - adjacent values and brand image , to follow suit .
But with one workweek until theiPhone 15 launch event , there ’s now a more hearty feel to that rumour . The technical school author and leaker Sonny Dickson today post avideoand a number of still images of what come out to be iPhone 15 and 15 Pro prototypes or dummies , and the respected Bloomberg leaker - newsman Mark Gurman promptlycorroboratedthat the video show “ a sample distribution / replica of the new leather - free iPhone 15 case . ”
It would be tolerant to say that commenters are divide on the aesthetics and practicality of the case . One aver it looks “ kind of amazing ” and another posted simply “ Finally . ” But most are critical of the coming into court , bulkiness or cost of the fount , with another accuse Apple of being “ a bit hypocritical . ” Par for the course for the always - argumentative social meshwork , we imagine , but it does see like ditching leather will not be the straightforward and uncontroversial atomic number 59 win Apple might be hoping for . Welcome to the next hot spot in the eternal culture state of war .
Interestingly , Gurman does n’t stop at the leather - free iPhone 15 case . He break on to add that he is “ have a bun in the oven Apple to begin moving off from leather on its Apple Watch bands as well . ” And if that sounds like arrant speculation , a latertweetfleshed outthattheory too : “ I ’m tell that Apple last month started offering employees its Hermes leather accessories ( and leather link bands ) at up to 90 % off . clear some inventory glade run short on . ”
Leather might just be on the path out at Apple Park . But is Apple really attached to the case ?
As I discussedat some lengthin an article from a few years back , Apple has alwaysfeltlike the kind of company that would be environmentally friendly : the hippy founders , the cheery , pro - immigration CEO , the utopian Californian HQ , the socially handsome adverts , the stereotype of the affluent , Democrat - vote hipster customer . Yet until relatively latterly it plainly has n’t been specially responsive to the green lobby , and has indeed been responsible ( along with other , less headline - well-disposed tech party ) for a large raft of environmental price .
The Apple we see today , which publishes reports about its environmental efforts and pledges to be carbon - neutral , is late - stage Apple , an Apple that has heal its shipway and turn things around . It ’s debatable , of line , to what extent this modification of heart is motivated by any kind of ethical stance . One might cynically speculate that on a corporate level Apple has not changed its views on the competing grandness of the environment vs earnings ; it ’s just that the political window has moved in such a way that caring about the environment ( and other traditional leftwing concern such as beast well-being ) is now more profitable .
We ’ll get more definite information about the animal- and environs - favorable elements of Apple ’s fresh intersection stock - up at theWonderlust upshot on September 12 . Keep up with the latest news and rumors with our regularly updatediPhone 15 superguide .
