iPhone 17 Cases Feature Tiny Holes – What’s the Purpose?

With only 9 days left until the Awe Dropping keynote, the leaks surrounding the iPhone 17 are not only increasing but now include accessories as well. A few days ago, the leaker Majin Bu had his moment by revealing a new line of cases called TechWoven. Since then, he has continued to regularly post supposed photos of these cases.

A Myriad of Tiny Holes

The photo shared on X displays several cases stacked on top of each other, purportedly designed for the iPhone 17. The image reveals the textile finish previously seen in other photos, but most notably, seven (SEVEN?!) aligned openings on the lower part: a USB-C port, speaker grills… and two additional holes in the corners. According to Majin Bu, these unusual cutouts could be for a brand new accessory.

For those lost in the rumors, following the failure of the FineWoven cases, Apple is betting on a new textile material named TechWoven to go along with its iPhone 17 line.

According to today’s shared images, the new TechWoven cases would sport a more understated textile design, available in black, blue, green, purple, and orange. These models would replace the FineWoven, introduced in 2023 and quickly discontinued the following year with the iPhone 16, due to their lack of durability and tendency to stain.

The fabric of the TechWoven has been completely redesigned for better durability, according to Majin Bu. Apple is thus aiming to meet its ecological sustainability goals by offering a leather alternative while enhancing user experience.

And Here’s the Brand-New Accessory!

These mysterious holes had already been spotted in a previous leak on August 20th, which mentioned compatibility with a Crossbody Strap – in other words, a strap that allows you to wear your iPhone across your body.

On August 28th, Majin Bu posted another photo of the famous nylon strap with magnetic ends, supposedly illustrating this new accessory. However, this version doesn’t quite match the design of the case, with the holes appearing more suited for a traditional cord than for accommodating a magnetic system.

The discussion is heating up over coffee: Is Apple preparing a modular accessory that can be either a wrist strap or a crossbody strap? Or are these merely third-party prototypes conveniently acquired by accessory makers before the official launch?

[i]How credible is this rumor? Majin Bu is one of the most reliable leakers currently. He previously revealed the exact name ‘Desert Titanium’ for the iPhone 16 Pro well ahead of its release, as well as the chassis of the iPhone 16 and various details about the accessories. He also predicted the menu bar under iPadOS 26, although he was wrong about the arrival of Stage Manager on iPhone with iOS 26.

Recently he ventured into the cooling system by vapor chamber on the iPhone 17 Pro, the unique photo block, and the battery of the iPhone 17 Air, the new colors (green and purple) of the iPhone 17, the pale blue color of the iPhone 17 Pro… So, stay tuned…