No leather? No problem! At least that’s what Otterbox has said in response to Apple’s decision to eliminate all leather accessories from its line-up. They’ve come up with a viable alternative and it’s debuting at CES 2024. Apple made the decision to align with its goal towards sustainability and Otterbox respects that, so the popular cell phone accessories brand is cleverly marrying the elegant look and feel of leather with an eco-friendly design. How? Through a new line of cases made from cactus “leather.”
The Otterbox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather cases
The Otterbox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather cases, debuting at CES 2024, are made using proteins and fibres harvested from the mature pads of the nopal cactus, commonly known as the prickly pear. This means the plant itself is left alive and well. It will continue to absorb CO2, which in turn helps reduce the carbon footprint of the product. Plus, the production of cactus, says Otterbox, requires less land, water, and resources. Overall, this means the cases are a more ethical and sustainable alternative to traditional leather.
Otterbox says these cases are soft to the touch while also having the same durable properties as traditional leather. They meet DROP+ standards, which Otterbox says is three times that of traditional military standards. Each case has built-in magnets for connecting easily to MagSafe chargers and other accessories.
The rigid design includes reinforced corners for added shock absorption. Raised edges around the camera protect the lenses and a screen lip protects the display. Overall, the cases are resistant to wear, scuffs, and stains. Tactile buttons make it easy to use the phone while it’s housed inside as well. Stay tuned for our hands-on with these cases at the show.
They will be available by some point in Spring 2024, and the cases will be sized for the latest iPhones. This includes the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. New Otterbox colours will include Noir Ash, Cactus Grove, Plum Lux, and Rich Adobe.
The new Otterbox cases will be complemented with an Apple Watch band made of the same material along with a MagSafe compatible wallet to add to the case. You can find Otterbox at Best Buy right now, and stay tuned for more details from CES 2024.
