For the bargain hunter in you, here’s an offer quite hard to turn down: the professionally designed iPad folio case from Acase which was originally $80, can be bought now for less than $20 on Amazon. If you always wanted a leather folio case for your iPad but never got one, it’s time to take a look at what Acase has to offer:
Professionally designed, the case fits the iPad snugly, preventing it from sliding out
The case doubles as an adjustable stand for typing or watching videos on your iPad
The side snap closure adds even more protection
The high-quality leather cover allows reading in portrait mode
Acase iPad case - adjustable viewing angle
We found this iPad leather folio case to be an excellent and inexpensive Christmas gift, therefore we considered including it on our under $20 iPad-related gift list. You can find it here.
We’ve chosen to review the HardShell iPad case today because it comes with a novelty that we found very useful: two hidden feet that fold out offering support for an optimal typing angle. Although this is a really cool feature, it’s not the only one that made us recommend this iPad case.
We also appreciated the sleek and minimalist design, the snap-on lid and the perfect compatibility with other iPad accessories such as the Apple iPad Dock. Docking the iPad with the case on was a challenge for the first generation of iPad cases, the official one from Apple included.
HardShell iPad case with Apple Dock
Lately, most important manufacturers started to take this into consideration, therefore one can find several good choices at reasonable prices. Just browse through our other iPad cases reviews if you’re interested and see what other options you have.
The soft touch texture and the beautiful bright colors are two more reasons to take a closer look at this protective cover that would fit your iPad so well. If you enjoy taking your iPad with you everywhere you go, the Hard Shell from Hard Candy Cases will be your friend. This cover is lightweight, ergonomic and functional, it looks youthful and fun, and most important of all, it’s going to protect your iPad effectively.
Hard Shell iPad Case - ergonomic angle for typing and viewing
The only thing to keep in mind is that the foldable feet need to be handled with care, otherwise you risk to break them.
You can see all available colors and buy your HardShell case from the eBags website.
Update: ZAGGmate is now available for iPad 2; slimmer, sexier, and still the best case on the market for your iPad. You should get yours from ZAGG while stocks last.
Why would I buy a keyboard for my iPad? This is a question more than a few iPad owners have asked themselves. The answer can be anything from “I wouldn’t!” to “I need it for faster and error-free typing”. While most heavy iPad users acknowledge a physical keyboard is better than the built in virtual one, they also agree that carrying an external keyboard around with them is completely impractical.
Since so many people buy an iPad case anyway to keep their expensive device protected, ZAGG have spotted this opportunity and created the ZAGGmate, an iPad case with built-in keyboard. On the outside, the ZAGGmate looks and feels just like an original Apple gadget, thanks to its aircraft-grade aluminum with a bead-blasted, anodized finish. Slim and sleek, it is the perfect matching case for your iPad, it’s also the thinnest hard cover available. But wait! The ZAGG mate is way more than a case. Open it, set the inner hinge in any one of the preset positions, and you’ve got an iPad stand with variable angles, perfect for both landscape and portrait orientation. If this is all you need from your iPad stand/case, you can buy the ZAGGmate without keyboard. You’ll get a beautiful case and adjustable stand for only $69.
ZAGGgmate with keyboard - iPad landscape orientation
However, for an extra $30 you can have the ZAGGmate with keyboard, which will provide the benefit of faster typing, and the comfort of feeling real keys under your fingers. We give this two thumbs up The ZAGGmate with keyboard only adds about ¼ inch to the iPad thickness, so most people won’t even know there’s a keyboard inside your slim aluminum case.
The keyboard is wirelessly connected to your iPad via Bluetooth. Before you can use your iPad with the ZAGGmate keyboard you need to pair them. This is easy, it’s the standard procedure of pairing two Bluetooth devices. It only has to be done once, and then the iPad and the ZAGGmate will “recognize” each other by default after that.
ZAGGmate features:
ZAGGmate - iPad cover made from aircraft grade aluminum
Slim, lightweight and durable, thanks to the aircraft-grade aluminum
Perfect match for the iPad, thanks to the anodized finish
Excellent drop protection provided by the military grade high-density padding
Ten viewing angles, suitable for both portrait and landscape mode
Flat, large base, excellent for use on uneven or soft surfaces (such as a bed or a couch)
Built-in wireless Bluetooth physical keyboard
Special function keys for music control, volume control, home, search, slideshow, keyboard language and more
Here are the technical specifications and the box content, as published on the ZAGG website:
Size and Weight:
Height: 9.75 inches (248 mm)
Width: 7.625 inches (194 mm)
Depth: .4 inches (10.2 mm)
Depth w/keyboard: .54 inches (13.7 mm)
Weight: 7 ounces (.2 kg)
Weight w/keyboard: 12.8 ounces (.37 kg)
Box content:
ZAGGmate
MicroUSB cable for charging
Quickstart guide
Four rubber feet (optional)
Battery: ZAGGmate with keyboard uses a 510 mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery that will last for several weeks of normal use without charging. It comes already installed and it probably can’t be replaced by the user (at least we haven’t found a way to access it yet).
ZAGGmate for iPad - keyboard and stand
We believe the ZAGGmate with keyboard is one of those must-have iPad accessories, definitely one of our picks for the best of 2010. It provides three items in one: a beautiful, military-grade protective hard case, an adjustable stand and a Bluetooth keyboard. All this fits into such a thin profile that it leaves the portability of your iPad unspoiled.
The ZAGGmate is available for pre-order on ZAGG’s website. We couldn’t find any information on how many of these ZAGG will be able to ship before Christmas, so if you think this could make the perfect gift for someone you know, it might be a good idea to get your order in early. Get it now from ZAGG.
Did I hear you say Drop-Proof ??? Well it almost is, in the words of the designer, David Adams:
“We modeled the Squish Skin after a Wii remote case. Your iPad still isn’t drop-proof, but it’s close”
And the entire team here couldn’t agree more; after I personally put my Pad into this case it felt almost indestructable. Short of intentionally throwing my iPad on the floor to test if this were true, I am happy to say that with the Squish Skin on the iPad, it certainly feels like it would withstand a drop from table height.
So on to the details of this case. To start with it’s soft, and I mean really soft, at risk of sounding a little kinky I have to say it feels good to hold. Apparently it’s constructed with squishy, air filled chambers in the sides. It feels pleasantly soft, tactile and I can comfortably use my iPad all day in this case.
The Squish Skin also comes in 6 delicious shades of colored rubber (click to enlarge):
6 Delicious Colors
Hard Candy Cases, the creators of the Squish Skin, describe it as follows:
More protective than bubble wrap and way more fun, the Squish Skin delivers noticeably outstanding and unique protection for your iPad. The snug, form-fitting silicone skin resists impacts by utilizing air-filled chambers just below the surface of the case.
iPad Squish Skin - Teal Blue
We think this case is super-cool, super-functional and super-value for money, retailing at around the $40 mark. It’s an awesome, protective, rubberized iPad case with air pockets in 6 delicious colors, The Squish Skin from Hard Candy Cases If you want a great, all-round protective iPad case that has real design flair and doesn’t cost the earth, then this is it. 5 big stars from us.
The best price we found for the Squish Skin was at eBags.
Comfort, protection and style are only three attributes of the MacCase Leather iPad Flight Jacket. If you’re after iPad cases or bags with pockets for accessories and small personal items, this case might be exactly what you want. Sleek, compact and very well organized, this premium leather iPad case enables easy access to anything inside. The main compartment is designed to accommodate the iPad exclusively. It’s padded, lined and custom designed for the iPad, therefore it offers excellent protection. The two interior pockets are placed just in front of the main compartment and they are perfect for a mobile phone and for a small, flat accessory. The front pouch is a bit wider, allowing the storage of something a bit bulkier such as a charger or an external battery. The really cool thing about this pouch is that it’s removable. Finally, the small zippered pocket on the top flap and the rear flat pocket are perfect for keeping cards or small documents you may need quick access to.
iPad Flight Jacket - vintage leather
This iPad case can be carried as a handbag using the top handle or as a shoulder bag by using the detachable shoulder strap. For a few extra dollars you can buy the case with removable backpack straps. We found it convenient that MacCase decided to make this feature a separate option, because in case it’s useless to you, you don’t have to pay for the straps, then find a place to store them before finally deciding you’d better throw them away.
The MacCase Leather iPad Flight Jacket is available in brown vintage or black full grain leather, both showing the same top notch quality and attention to detail. One almost feels like buying one of each, then match them with various outfits. If we think that the iBook case launched by MacCase in their earlier years is now a collectible, we see that we can’t go wrong when buying best quality accessories, be it for the iPad or for anything else.
The Premium Leather iPad Flight Jacket comes with free shipping and a lifetime warranty. You can find it here.
In our opinion the Speck CandyShell is one of the best iPad cases in terms of protection against shocks, bumps or accidental drops. That’s because it’s constructed with two layers: a hard polycarbonate shell on the exterior, coupled with an interior soft rubber lining which provides excellent shock-absorbing properties. This soft rubbery lining extends as a raised bezel around the iPad screen, protecting it against contact with flat surfaces, and possible scratches, should you put your iPad face down. We thought this feature was nice, although we still think an iPad screen protector is essential for scratch protection. The lining of the CandyShell case has a honeycomb pattern which helps reduce the weight of the case without compromising its protectiveness.
Speck CandyShell - docking panel
The CandyShell also has a cool feature: a small flip-back panel which makes it possible to use the iPad with the Apple dock or keyboard dock without removing the case. The panel has a purely protective role and it should not be used as a stand for the iPad. The case has openings to allow access to the headphone jack and to the screen rotation lock.
Available colors: BatWing Black, GoGo White, NightShade Purple, IndiWhoa Blue and LoveHate Pink.
Because of its high-quality materials, classy design, effective impact protection and innovative features, we recommend the CandyShell from Speck as one of the best iPad cases in the mid-price range.
The beautiful MacCase Vintage Leather iPad Sleeve is made from premium weathered leather which makes it look and feel vintage. It seems to have been designed this way intentionally for people who want to protect their iPad in style, while still maintaining a wintage wor look. The stitching is very nicely done and overall the case is beautifully constructed, we also thought the “Dual Texture” design was very elegant, as can be see pictured. The MacCase logo is discreetly embossed just below the top flap, on the thin vertical strap.
The sleeve is fully padded and lined with a super soft interior for maximum protection against bumps and scratches. We liked this very much because leather cases padded as nicely as the MacCase Leather Vertical iPad sleeve are rare.
Another cool feature of this iPad cover is the hidden dual magnetic closure, silent and easy opening. The sleeve fits the iPad either naked or in a thin shell case. This makes it easy to have your iPad protected 100% of the time, while you use it or while you commute.
MacCase has been designing cases and other accessories for Apple products for more than 10 years. Their experience shows in this latest creations in terms of both style and functionality. Another great product.
MacCase Vertical Leather iPad sleeve specs and features:
Sleeve size: 11″ x 8.5″ x 0.5″.
Weight: 12 oz.
Material: premium weathered leather (vintage brown) or full grain (black)
Premium leather hides
Complete padding for maximum protection
Top flap with hidden magnetic closure
MacCase iPad sleeve - brown weathered leather
MacCase iPad sleeve - full grain black leather
Although our team preferred the vintage case with its beautifully aged brown leather, the MacCase Leather iPad sleeve is also available in a full grain black leather version. If you hurry you can catch the currently ongoing sale: 20% off plus free shipping. This means you can have one of these premium leather iPad cases for only $111.99, including a lifetime warranty against workmanship or defects in material.
You don’t have to be a heavy iPad user to realize that the most exposed areas are the corners and the back. After using iPads for several months now, we came to the conclusion that at least a hard-shell case is a must have if you don’t want your iPad to get its back worn very quickly. The iFrogz Luxe Lean snap-on iPad case is a great choice, a hard shell case with a soft feel and with a really low profile, protective and fashionable.
The case is very comfortable thanks to its nice velvety texture that offers an excellent grip. It’s a bit tricky to put on and to remove, because it’s very tight to the iPad. Nonetheless, it’s lightweight and fun, one of the best iPad accessories we’ve tested and reviewed so far. Although the case is a snug fit, it has a soft piece of felt liner on the inside, just to ensure the iPad back can’t be accidentally scratched by the case itself.
The Luxe Lean iPad case allows access to all ports, sensors and buttons. It has a cut out for the volume control and orientation lock switch, both of them being perfectly accessible. The top and bottom edges of the iPad are exposed, therefore all sensors and ports are free. This is one of those iPad covers that you put on, then completely forget about, because it doesn’t interfere with your experience in any way.
Luxe Lean color samples
The iFrogz Luxe Lean iPad case is available in seven eye catching metallic colors: black, blue, iron, orange, pink, red and teal.
Temple bags are not like any other bags. They are bags with a story, bags manufactured with love, bags that are “prepared for whatever may come when attached to a life filled with passion and adventure”, as their creator says. Indeed, these are bags with a purpose, and we are going to show you one of these bags which has the purpose of protecting your beautiful and not-so-cheap iPad: the Temple All Leather iPad case. Keep in mind this is a beautiful and finely crafted product that currently retails for $189. We think it’s worth every penny, however if you are after something in leather for a more modest budget then check out all our leather iPad case reviews.
The Temple All Leather iPad case is made from oiled leather and canvas, materials which age beautifully, just like wine. We found it great that the leather looks already aged. It gives the bag that special and very appealing feel of aged leather from day one.
Bag features:
internal pocket sized to snugly accommodate the iPad
padded shoulder strap with adjustable length
free access to all iPad ports and commands when open
portrait and landscape viewing options when used as stand
secure closing system with four leather straps and metal stubs
Like all other Temple bags, the All Leather iPad case is thoughtfully crafted in Los Angeles, California. We were impressed not only by the quality of this bag, but also by the passion behind all Temple bags. You can read their story and get your All Leather iPad case on the Temple website.
Speck Pixekskin is a soft iPad case made from a high-quality textured silicone. The “pixel” texture of this case is a clever way to improve protection without adding a lot of bulk. Yet, one needs to keep in mind that it’s not exactly “invisible”. It also adds a “cool” factor which makes this case more appealing than plain silicone ones. The high-quality material snugly embraces the iPad while offering a firm grip to the user. Our team found it really nice and comfortable to hold the iPad while inside the Pixelskin case. One of our fears was that it would attract a lot of dust and dirt because of the pixel pattern. We didn’t find it such a big issue, because it’s really easy to take off the case and wash it. In order to get it ready fast, you can dry it with a hair dryer set on “cold”. Maybe it also works with hot air, but we didn’t want to risk spoiling the case.
With the Pixelskin case, the back of the iPad is fully protected, as well as the sides. Since the case comes without any screen protection, it wouldn’t be bad to get one yourself. One of our top recommendations is the InvisibleSHIELD from ZAGG. Unlike other iPad cases, this one covers the black bezel around the iPad screen. It doesn’t have a cut out for the Home button, but its place is clearly marked on the case, so you can’t miss it and you can press it through the case. The Power button and the volume rocker are also covered, which is not a bad thing at all, especially if you use your iPad in dusty areas.
Speck Pixelskin iPad Case - nice cutouts for all ports
Even though the case has openings for all ports including the docking one, it can’t be used with the Apple dock. Nonetheless, its easy to take on and off, and it’s still good that it allows charging and syncing the iPad without removing it from the case.
The ZAGGmate with keyboard only adds about ¼ inch to the iPad thickness, so most people won’t even know there’s a keyboard inside your slim aluminum case.
