Much like the Model T, the iPad may come only in black (well, or white), but that only makes the process of finding a protective case more interesting—you can look for one that gives your tablet a unique personality. Luckily, the supply of new cases is neverending, as this week’s iPad case roundup shows. We’ve got options to fit all budgets and needs.
Booq: The Fiber Collection (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $50 to $60) includes a selection of protective accessories that feature all-natural-fiber construction, such as the Folio, available in black, grey, purple, or sand, and the Booqpad, which comes in black, grey, or sand and includes space for an old-school notepad and a pen or pencil.
Crux: The CruxCase (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $99) combines a hardshell case with a Bluetooth keyboard in a package that gives your iPad the looks—if not necessarily the functionality—of a notebook. Unlike a traditional notebook, however, the CruxCase’s front cover swivels all the way around, allowing you to lay your iPad flat on a surface or angle it for media viewing.
Griffin Technology: The AirStrap Med (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $90) is a hardshell case that covers your entire iPad, incorporates a convenient shoulder strap for easier carrying, and features a handstrap that makes it easier to hold the iPad with one hand—so you can use the other to interact with the tablet’s screen. The case, which was developed with input from physicians and nurses for use in medical settings, can be fully sanitized using industry-standard cleaning solutions and sanitization products.
Kensington: The Folio Trio Mobile (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $80) is a veritable mobile workstation: In addition to your iPad, it can accomodate a notepad and a pen or pencil, and it even features a removable three-ring binder. The tablet holder can be propped up to work as a stand, while numerous pockets provide convenient space for cards and business cards, and a zippered closure keeps everything safe during transport.
Id America: The Hue (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $30) is a soft-grip case designed to provide a thin and light—but sturdy—layer of protection for the back of your tablet. It’s fully compatible with Apple’s Smart Cover, features the appropriate cutouts for the iPad’s cameras and ports, and comes in grey, pink, blue, white, green, or cyan.
Pong: The Pong iPad Case (iPad 3; $120 to $130) is a folio case that features a clever construction designed to safely prop up your iPad at in either landscape or portrait orientation. Its defining characteristic, however, is the materials used to build it, which the company claims can improve Wi-Fi reception by up to nine times and cellular signal by up to a factor of ten—all the while reducing your amount of radio-wave exposure by up to 90 percent.
Seidio: The Expert (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $55) is made of a special synthetic-leather material designed to be both beautiful and environmentally conscious. Rather than locking onto your iPad by mechanical pressure, this case uses a special high-strength adhesive pad that can be removed without leaving residue, resulting in a case that adds just 2.3 millimeters to your tablet. The front flips around, allowing you to prop up the iPad in two landscape-orientation viewing positions. The Expert comes in ebony, regal purple, black, ivory, brown, or espresso.
SwitchEasy: The Exec (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $60), dubbed “the thinnest folio on the market,” is made of durable polyurethane material and provides full coverage for your iPad, protecting it from shocks, bumps, scratches, and dust. It is compatible with the iPad’s magnetic sleep/wake feature, and it can be used to prop up your iPad for viewing in landscape orientation. It comes in black, orange, blue, red, or green.
X-Doria: The Sleeve Stand (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $30) is exactly what it sounds like: a zippered sleeve that can be propped up to work as a stand for your iPad. The soft interior padding keeps your tablet safe during transport, and it even gives you a certain amount of flexibility in the viewing angle when you use the sleeve as a stand. The Sleeve Stand, which comes in black with grey, pink, or green accents, also features a small pocket for carrying say, a USB-to-dock-connector cable.
ZooGue: The Case Genius Zippered Pouch (all iPad models; $15) and the Case Genius Zippered Travel Bag (all iPad models; $25) are designed to work as companions to the company’s Case Genius line of cases. They’re built to be sturdy and lightweight, and ZooGue offers a money-back guarantee, even covering return-shipping costs for some U.S. customers.
iPad (1st generation) Family
iPad (third generation) family