Apple Puts Woven Fabric on iPad mini Folio for $79

Apple's new TechWoven Smart Folio for the iPad mini is a notable shift in accessory strategy. The cover brings woven fabric to an iPad case for the first time, replacing the polyurethane design Apple has used for years. According to the report, no polyurethane alternative has been announced, which would make this iPad mini the first since the original 2010 model to launch without an Apple polyurethane cover option. The material itself is not new to Apple, which introduced it with the iPad 2 Smart Cover in 2011. The redesign also includes a two-panel construction, magnetic attachment and adjustable viewing angles, which Apple says offer greater versatility. At $79 in the U.S., the Smart Folio costs $20 more than its predecessor, a reminder that accessory pricing is part of the product story. For designers, product managers and anyone tracking hardware ecosystems, small choices like material and pricing shape how customers perceive a device. Pre-orders begin October 28.