Top 5 Cases For Apple iPad
An iPad is a piece of expensive hardware that’s susceptible to accidental damage. Fortunately, cases can protect against everything from an unsightly scuff to a costly crack in the middle of the screen.
Many cases also double as covers that securely snap shut, triggering the sleep/wake feature and conserving battery life. Some even include slots for the Apple Pencil.
BookBook by Twelve South
A premium leather accessory for Apple’s iPad, BookBook by Twelve South is the perfect way to dress up your tablet. It features a front folio section that folds into a stand for FaceTime calls or watching movies. The case’s interior support frame also holds your iPad securely and protects the Retina display when open.
The case’s most prominent feature is its classic book design that makes it look like an old, leather-bound tome. This design camouflages your device and helps it blend in with a well-stocked bookshelf, making it harder for thieves to spot and steal the iPad.
The leather is hand-distressed and the spine is rigid for added protection. The case also has a built-in typing stand to keep your wrist comfortable during long sessions of work. In addition, BookBook’s incorporated display stand makes it Case for Apple iPad easy to show off your latest work or photos to friends and family.
Twelve South also has a version of its BookBook case that’s MagSafe compatible for the newer iPhone 12 models with improved wireless charging. This version adds a magnetic closure and a pocket for the Apple Card, which is a great feature for people who travel a lot.
Smart Cover by Apple
The Smart Cover is a slim polyurethane cover that protects the front of the iPad and attaches magnetically. It is designed to add very little thickness to the tablet and folds into different positions to create a stand for reading, viewing, typing, or FaceTime calls. It also has a convenient nook for holding the Apple Pencil.
The thin, minimal design is a nice complement to the aluminum back of the iPad. The cover also protects the screen from scratches by keeping it in place when closed.
Its main downside is that it doesn’t have any way to keep the iPad from wobbling if placed on a shaky surface. It can also be difficult to get it off if a hand gets stuck under the flap, which is frustrating if you’re trying to use it in landscape mode.
The hinge that supports the cover’s three folds has caused some problems for some users, but Apple says it is working on a fix. Using the Smart Cover with a pencil can cause the magnets to misalign, which prevents the iPad from going into sleep when it is closed. Despite this issue, the Smart Cover is still one of the best options for protecting an iPad. It’s important to clean the Smart Cover periodically to remove dirt and grime from the surface.
Fintie SlimShell Case
If you’re in the market for a simple case for your iPad mini, this one from Fintie might be just what you need. It’s not as protective as some of the others on this list, but it’s lightweight and offers a lot of customization options (including solid colors, patterns, and graphics). We particularly like Case for Apple iPad the Composition Book design that gives your tablet an old-school look that would fit right in on a bookshelf.
The cover has a magnetic closure that puts your device to sleep or wakes it up, and it’s compatible with wireless charging even when the case is on. The case also comes with a pen holder, and it’s available in 10 different colors and patterns.
We’re not sure why Apple doesn’t make a similar cover for the iPad mini, but this one from Fintie is an excellent alternative that has all the essentials: a magnetic closure that shuts to put your device to sleep and opens to awaken it, a kickstand that folds back to transform the case into a stand for hands-free reading, and a stylus holder to keep your pencil 2nd gen handy. It also has a built-in magnet to hold the screen in place when it’s closed and a soft interior to protect your tablet from scratches.
We didn’t find that the magnet held the screen in place very well, and it can be difficult to press the volume * buttons on the side because the cover tends to shift when you move the tablet, but it still works better than the generic flap-style flip cases. And at less than $20, this case is a great choice for those who prefer a lightweight and simple case.
OtterBox Defender Series
The OtterBox Defender Series is one of the most rugged cases available. It is a dual-layer case that is easy to put on and locks into place. It features a synthetic rubber interior layer that snaps into a hard plastic protective outer shell. The front cover includes a small stand that holds the iPad in several positions. It can be used in portrait mode for reading, or in landscape mode to view movies or use with an external keyboard. The front cover has cutouts for the Apple logo and the rear camera. It also has a cutout for the lightning connector to prevent tangled wires.
The buttons on the phone are covered by molded rubber flaps, but they remain responsive and easy to push. The flaps can be lifted to access the on/off switch and volume controls. It does leave the bottom speaker somewhat exposed but it is still functional if you pump up the music. It has a flap that lifts for charging, and a port covers that open to provide access for headphones.
The case is a little thick, but that is necessary to protect the device. OtterBox does offer a thinner case line called the Core Series. They are slimmer but they don’t have the same level of protection as the Defender Series. Other slim lines include the Figura and Aneu Series which are both offered for iPhone with MagSafe.
