Monster iPad Case Test: Folios
Wallet keep my tablet protected?
Product Round-up According to manufacturers, folios are the most popular iPad cases in Europe. With their book-like looks, the ability of many of them to double-up a stands and the extra drop protection they offer - all that extra padding at the corners - it's not hard to see why.
Apple iPad Case
Apple's offering has cover that folds back to stand the iPad upright for video viewing or flat for typing. It's reasonbably solid too, but, thanks to well inset seams around the side, isn't particularly comfortable to hold.
Reg Rating 65%
Price RRP: £30 Online: £30
More Info Apple
Belkin Leather Folio
This case has a flip-over elastic strap to keep it shut, which is nice, but doesn't double-up as a stand, which isn't. I don't like the way the back of the folio is small than the front. Coupled that with the slapdash cutting of the cloth band that runs around the side of the iPad, and the Belkin folio loses its initial sheen.
Reg Rating 65%
Price RRP: £50 Online: £30
More Info Belkin
Next page: Contour Design Nylon Canvas Folio
COMMENTS
Corner and edge protection
One of the main reasons to put the 'pad in a case is to protect it when the inevitable drop happens. A lot of these cases don't protect the corners or edges of the 'pad.
One of the benefits of the Apple case, which I still haven't replaced, is that it does the job of protecting the pad exceedingly well. It's also extremely convenient being thin, relatively unobtrusive and the little stand, whilst primitive, works very well.
What's worrying is that despite the iPad being out for 6 months plus, none of the folio case makers have really bettered the Apple case in terms of core functionality. Aesthetics maybe, but functionally not.
Now...
I know you can't review EVERY folio, but why miss out the Incipio Kickstand? To me, it's one of the front runners - it can be used as a stand, it's got good protection and doesn't block any ports (some of these do) it looks, well, alright, and it's cheap.
Have I picked up a lemon and not noticed?
The Twelve South case
You can synch with the case on if you're only using a cable, and not a dock - the zip flattens just enough, and the bottom corners are far enough from it for the cable to fit without any problems
Point taken, but...
Point taken about the manual brightness control, but the auto brightness definitely uses the ambient light sensor at the top centre of the screen surround, hence the hole in some covers at around this point.
More often, cover are far thinner around the edge and simply do not obscure the sensor at all.
brightness control
The iPad has always had a brightness control, under Settings>Brightness & Wallpaper. iOS 4.2 just places a copy on the multitasking bar.
