Earlier today I wrote about my experiences with the Nexus 5 cases we have on offer, and now it’s time for the Apple side of the aisle, as I look at some of the best covers to match the new iPad Air!
iPad Air first-hand impressions
Before I get into the accessories themselves, I’d like to share some of my impressions of the Air itself. I had heard mixed views on the new design from colleagues and friends – some thought that it remained too heavy and large to justify the ‘Air’ moniker, while others felt it a fitting upgrade to the iPad.
Personally, I find myself in the latter camp – the iPad Air is now light enough to be held up one-handed, which is quite nice for reading and watching movies. The thin bezel can make positioning your hand a bit difficult, but once you’ve got a good position it’s easy to keep. The aspect ratio of the screen is still too tall for my liking – I prefer 16:9 tablets that actually fit TV/movie aspect ratios better – but for non-media apps it works well.
The Air is a must-have upgrade for anyone with the iPad 3 or earlier – but if you’re on the iPad 4, then it might be worth waiting a year for the obvious inclusion of the TouchID fingerprint sensor and another CPU upgrade. We might also see an iPad Pro, just as we currently have MacBook Air and Pro laptops.
iPad Air cover recommendations
So I had four iPad Air accessories to look through, all fairly similar in form factor: folio cases. Here’s what I thought of them!
Cygnett Cache Folio Case
The first case I had a look at was the Cygnett Cache Folio Case. Now this case has a quite nice design, with a very flat and relatively untextured frosted canvas. Inside, there are a pair of business / credit card holders, with soft microfibre elsewhere. A bend in the cover allows it to be used as a slightly adjustable stand. All in all, a fine case particularly if you like the look.
Incipio Watson Wallet Folio
Next up was the Incipio Watson Wallet, which has a genuine leather cover and a ‘Plextonium’ shell – it sounds like a glowing element that would harm a superhero, but it just means a rather rugged plastic. The elastic strap is a nice way of securing the case closed, without the non-uniform look of a dedicated clasp. The texture of the case feels great inside and out. If you’re looking for a protective iPad Air case, this is a good shout.
STM Cape Case
The STM Cape Case was out. This one is available in some less common colours than most iPad cases – blue and red on top of the standard black. I like the look of the yellow/gold writing on the blue backing, but the overly flattened texture and inner lining didn’t sit as well with me. The slide-through clasp also seemed a bit outdated.
Cygnett Archive Folio Case
I ended on a high note, with the Archive Folio from Cygnett. The case has a nice two-texture look, with a flat texture on the folded third of the folio, and a holy texture on the remainder. Inside I was impressed by the soft touch microfibre lining, as well as the gently ridged inner cover that allows for considerable adjustment of the angle of the tablet. A nice case that adds quite a bit of bulk and weight, but provides a commensurate amount of protection.
Conclusion
Thanks for checking out my impressions! Be sure to visit our iPad Air accessory page or the individual product pages in question if you like what you’ve seen here today. Have a good weekend!