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Burned by the extremely unpopular FineWoven case line that it unveiled just last year, Apple has decided to shake its official case lineup a bit for the iPhone 16 series. The changes are in the leather case department, but there is also a big one involving the new Camera Control button that will make third-party iPhone 16 case makers rather disadvantaged.
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The FineWoven Wallet is still $59 | Image credit – Apple
With the iPhone 15, Apple decided to go the environmentally conscious round and ditch leather as a case material. Instead, it provided a new fabric called FineWoven that was supposed to replicate the feel of suede in the hand and in the eye of the beholder.
Unfortunately, the choice of the FineWoven fabric turned out rather poor, as it didn't stand the test of time. By time, we mean the first few months, which brought scuffed, stained and generally worse looking FineWoven cases than anything that Apple has concocted in the field until then.
Apple has taken the hint, and has discontinued the FineWoven line of cases on the hush-hush. For those who actually didn't mind the material, it now simply offers a FineWoven wallet attachment and that's that, albeit for the same hefty $59 price.
New iPhone 16 Silicone case with covered Camera Control button
The new iPhone 16 Silicone Case covers the Camera Control button. | Image credit – Apple
Just as we predicted, only Apple's official cases and perhaps some third-party licensees like Spigen will get to offer wrappers that completely cover the new Camera Control key instead of just offering a cutout around it. Unlike what we thought, however, the pricey iPhone 16 case speculation didn't materialize.
The new iPhone 16 Silicone line of cases, for instance, all come with "a sapphire crystal, coupled to a conductive layer to communicate finger movements to the Camera Control" at the same $49 price.
The case is manufactured with 55% recycled material for a soft-touch finish on the outside and a microfiber lining on the inside, and aligns magically for MagSafe charging duties.
iPhone 16 Clear case with covered Camera Control button
The new iPhone 16 Clear case also wraps the new Camera Control button. | Image credit – Apple
That's right, the Camera Control key is now covered by both Apple's new Silicone and Clear cases. According to Apple, the transparent Clear case is a "blend of optically clear polycarbonate and flexible materials."
It, too, wraps around all the buttons and "works seamlessly with Camera Control" via the aforementioned sapphire crystal and conductive layer that relays the sliding zoom gestures over to the capacitive Camera Control key." Just as the Silicone one, the $49 Clear case supports the faster 25W MagSafe charging, and has a scratch-resistant coating that resists yellowing.
iPhone 16 Beats case
The new iPhone 16 Beats case hides the Camera Control key as well. | Image credit – Apple
For the first time, Beats makes a case for the iPhone 16 series, and, you guessed, it, it also provides touchless communication with the Camera Control button without an ugly cutout.
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What's so Beats about it, though? Made with hardshell polycarbonate but flexible sidewalls to optimize shock absorption, it sits right between the tougher Otterbox and the silicone cases for the iPhone 16, for instance.
The case is thinner, lighter, and easier to grip than the rugged Otterbox cases, but still provides extra protection compared to the Silicone or Clear cases for the new iPhone 16 series, and costs the same $49 that they cost, too.
All in all, Apple has refreshed all of its cases for the iPhone 16 series, and has even removed the FineWoven line, leaving just a trace of it in the form of an expensive Wallet attachment. It was forced to do it by the introduction of the new Camera Control key, and the patent for cases that interact with the covered button underneath is immediately in play.
Third-party iPhone 16 cases also cover the Camera Control button. | Image credit – Spigen
Spigen, however, now offers absolutely the same covered button functionality with its own Ultra Hybrid T (MagFit + Camera Control) case. There is a conductive layer on the inner side and a gasket that goes around the button underneath for a close fit.
It, however, remains to be seen if third-party cases will be as responsive with the Camera Control key as the official Apple cases.
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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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