Apple Watch Leather Bands May Be Discontinued for Series 9

Late final month, rumors advised that Apple plans to eradicate leather-based instances for the iPhone 15 lineup, and at the moment we’re listening to that Apple Watch leather-based bands might also quickly be phased out as a part of a recent sustainability push by Apple.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman believes that Apple will “start shifting away from leather-based on its Apple Watch bands as effectively,” which, as he rightly notes, places the way forward for Apple’s partnership with luxurious model Hermès in query.

Including weight to this assumption, Gurman reports that final month Apple started providing staff its Apple Watch Hermès leather-based equipment and leather-based hyperlink bands at closely discounted costs – in some instances as much as 90% off – in a transparent indication that Apple is clearing its stock.

Gurman provides the instance of Apple Hermès bands with a retail worth of $850 – seemingly the Noir Swift Leather Gourmette (Metallic) Double Tour – being provided to employees for $85. The interior deal is claimed to be persevering with regardless that many Hermès bands are formally out of inventory.

Hermès Noir Swift Leather Gourmette (Metallic) Double Tour

“A number of different equipment together with many Solo Loop bands in outgoing colours and the MagSafe charging dock [sic] are additionally on deep low cost to clear inventory,” added the reporter in a Twitter (X) post, suggesting these too are set to get replaced imminently. (Be aware: It is not but clear which MagSafe charger Gurman is referring to right here.)

Final week we reported on rumors suggesting Apple intends to supply leather-alternative iPhone 15 instances with a woven material look, underneath the case moniker “FineWoven.” If that is correct, Apple would presumably promote silicone instances and the brand new “FineWoven” instances, replicas of which have been shared online.

A leather-based various that’s fabric-based would have a smaller carbon footprint than a case produced from conventional cowhide, and it will be extra environmentally pleasant. Certainly, Gurman speculates that sustainability will likely be a “bigger than regular” a part of Apple’s “Wonderlust” September twelfth occasion, the place it’s anticipated to unveil its new iPhone 15 lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and a second-generation Apple Watch Extremely, amongst different potential new merchandise.