Review: Moshi’s VersaCover Origami for iPad mini is versatile and elegant

Many folio-style cases for the iPad mini add quite a bit of bulk to the device—even if those cases are touted as “slim” or “skinny.” But not Moshi’s $50 VersaCover Mini Origami for the iPad mini: This lightweight case is slim, elegant, and deceptively simple looking, considering it offers excellent protection and has a built-in stand to boot.

Although the VersaCover is technically a folio-style case—it does, after all, have a hard backing and a folio-style cover—it’s more like a rigid shell combined with a Smart Cover. The shell part of the case is made of a single molded piece of translucent plastic, which snaps easily onto your iPad mini and allows access to all ports. There’s a hole for the back camera, as well as one for the microphone. The plastic shell offers decent protection from drops and scratches, though it doesn’t feel like it will protect your device from serious falls onto hard surfaces.

The VersaCover’s front cover is made of velvety-soft suede-like material, and comes in four colors: Velvet Gray, Denim Blue, Sakura Pink, and Aloe Green). The cover is compatible with the mini’s magnetic sleep/wake function, so it will wake up your iPad mini when you flip it open, and put it back to sleep when closed.

The cover is scored with five lines—three that criss-cross across the cover to form the shape of an asterisk, and two on the top and bottom edges—and can be folded along these lines. The cover looks much more foldable than it is—you can really only fold it two different ways—but it’s still versatile. With the two different folding styles, you can get the iPad mini to stand up at three different angles in landscape orientation and one angle in portrait orientation. The cover also folds flush against the back of the case and attaches magnetically to a small metal Moshi logo.

Bottom line

Moshi’s VersaCover for iPad mini is an excellent case: it adds practically zero bulk to the device, it’s versatile, and it looks fantastic. I’m also a huge fan of Moshi’s little touches, such as the hole for the mini’s microphone and the metal logo that helps keep the cover in place and out of the way. If you’ve got $50 to spend, the VersaCover offers protection without compromising style.