iPad Cases and Sleeves in Review – Part 3

Link: Manufacturer's information

"Pink Pearl – stylish portfolio" can be read in the manufacturer's title. Fittingly. The pink colored case clearly stands out in the Stilgut range. Apparently artificial leather is used as the material. It has a special structure on its exterior that gives it a satin gloss shine depending on the light. A big magnet catch keeps the folder securely closed. Nevertheless, it can be opened easily. On the inside we find a pocket in the lid that can accommodate single slips of paper. The iPad is kept in place by a pair of leather holders and a pair of rubber straps. Inserting and removing the tablet works perfectly. Moreover, the device sits surprisingly tight despite the use of loops. We found it a bit annoying that the headphone socket was partly either covered by a rubber strap or by a leather holder no matter how we inserted the iPad into the case. They had to be forced aside when the socket was needed. Regrettably, this case doesn't bid an option of placing it in certain angles.
This case positions itself on a high workmanship standard. However, after a few weeks of testing minor abrasions were evident on the front's corners.

Link: Manufacturer's information

You won't accept anything but genuine leather? Then you might find what you're looking for in Stilgut's SlimCase. It combines a robust plastic shell with the haptical qualities of a leather portfolio. You need a bit of force to insert the iPad into the case. Plastic edges claw themselves around the iPad and hold it tight. We painfully experienced how tight as we wanted to free our tablet PC again. Bent and broken fingernails will be the order of the day without the use of various tools.
We especially liked the possibility of placing the iPad in two different angles. It partly made typing easier, or allowed watching a video in a relaxed position. The SlimCase is in the upper league in terms of workmanship. Genuine, heavy-duty cowhide paired with clean seams doesn't leave room for complaints. But – what do we find in the area of the plastic claws? A palpable ridge. This really wouldn't have had to be necessary in view of the good overall impression.

Link: Manufacturer's information

One thing first: The "Scarsela" doesn't really air more or less luxury than the other cases by Stilgut, which the price confirms. Take a guess – Right! 59 euro. You can indulge in the smell of leather here too. The Scarsela combines the Folio's iPad fixture-type with the stand mechanism of the Slimcase. This results in yet another elegant portfolio by Stilgut that includes a whole range of application fields. The tablet is kept in position better because there are no rubber straps. The Scarsela also looks overall slimmer than the Folio. A possible reason for complaint might be that the leather edges always enclose the iPad. That all ports and buttons are well accessible is a matter of course.
In opposition to the Slimcase, this casing alternative omits a clasp for closing. Instead it relies on two little magnets to keep the lid in a closed state. We rate their force as very minor. However, setting up its stand function is faster than the Slimcase's solution because the lid only has to be inserted into the protruding slot.

Link: Manufacturer's information

Dicota offers the PadBook matching the PadCover. It wants to stand out from the solutions of other labels with a similar material design. The PadBook's textile front cover is made of wool and acrylic and is adorned by a herringbone structure. The rear and inside isn't made of blue nylon like the PadCover's. It is also made of a black synthetic material. There is nothing to reproach in terms of workmanship. However, the lid doesn't fit tight enough for our taste and the magnetic catch only has a weak force.
The iPad is inserted into a pocket on the bottom and held with a rubber band on the top. It has a small hole for the brightness sensor, which likes to slip underneath the surrounding material because of the elastic rubber straps, and is therefore nevertheless covered. Dicota integrates two stand functions in the PadBook. Two stands can be folded out from the back (held magnetically) and the iPad can be placed on the table in two positions.

Link: Manufacturer's information

The accessories supplier Artwizz also has an appropriate product for leather fans in its program. The SeaJacket Leather is made of genuine leather and underlines this with the according scent. The surfaces have a velvety soft and high-end feel. Nevertheless, a feeling of glee generally doesn't want to turn up. The case looks unshapely and doesn't really want to accommodate our iPad. Partly protruding leather edges around the display and a not completely closing lid contribute their part.
The lid is also the stand at the same time and can, alike the Slimcase solution from Stilgut, keep the iPad in two different positions. The home button's cover wasn't convincing. It has to be pressed in quite a bit before it responds. Neither did the deep position of the on/off button.

Link: Manufacturer's information

Cool Bananas also has a range of products with and without a stand function in the category portfolios. A brown artificial leather case starts it off. It primarily differs from most other alternatives by a lid that doesn't fold over the entire breadth. The material of choice is artificial leather and a kind of nylon mesh. Various stand functions are also omitted, just like a pocket for small things, such as business cards.
The iPad is inserted in the case's top, whereby there is no feature for holding the tablet. Nevertheless, the cover fits tight and the iPad didn't tend to slip out, at least in the first days of use. All interfaces and buttons are well accessible. However the on/off button can only be pressed when the case is open, which isn't impairing for use. Headphones can be connected in a closed state, but they have to be removed when opened. This could prove to be a bit more annoying. The lid is kept closed by two small magnets.

Link: Manufacturer's information

"TheBook" accurately describes most representatives of the iPad portfolio category. Alike many colleagues, TheBook uses a dignified leather appearance for looking as high-end as possible, even if only artificial leather is used. Nevertheless, we would rate the feel as appealing. The seams don't give reason for complaint, either. Inserting the iPad proved to be a bit tricky because the correlating straps are very tight. In return, the iPad sits tight in the case.
The casing has a pocket for slips of paper and a loop for holding a pencil or pen on the lid's inside. We disliked the fact that either the headphone socket or the on/off button, depending on the direction the iPad is inserted, is covered by the leather strap on the right. Additionally, it's not possible to stow the opening latch, which uncontrollably stands up in an opened state and is thus a bit annoying.

Link: Manufacturer's information

Even if the name sounds a bit hard, the surface's soft, artificial leather feels pleasantly velvet-like. Unfortunately, the leather-like cover tends to wrinkle, which dims the overall quality impression. At first glance, the built-in stand function is almost invisible due to the foldable lid. It is held on the rear with the closure latch and the iPad can be set up in two different angles.
Alike all comparable case models, TheRamp struggles with an irregularly overlying rim on the display. This can be seen clearly on the top, where the rim only loosely lies on the iPad and partly has a gap of several millimeters. Two rubber straps underneath hold the tablet in place.