Keep your iPad mini protected and
looking good
With every new Apple device - in this case,
the bigger-than-an-iPhone and smaller-than-a-breadbox iPad mini - comes a new
slew of cases to ogle. Whether you're looking for something slick, something
with bells and whistles, or just something a little bit different, this
roundup's got you covered.
Moshi iPad mini iGlaze with VersaCover
Price: $55
Website: www.store.moshi-monde.com
Moshi
iPad mini iGlaze with VersaCover
If you've ever found yourself staring
discontentedly at your iPad mini case, wishing it could just be more like
origami, this case will solve your woes. The Moshi VersaCover, which has
already earned accolades as a slam-dunk fantastic iPad 2, 3, and 4 case, is a
magnetic flip cover that's all kinds of flexible.
Doubling as a stand with a number of
potential setups, the VersaCover ensures that your propped-up iPad mini need
not resemble Eeyore's mopey stick-tent. Seriously, dig up your high school
geometry proofs and go to town - pyramids and gemlike structures are not out of
the question. And between the iGlaze backing and the front cover's microfiber
lining, your mini is safely swaddled from scratches. While the iPad VersaCovers
came in muted neutrals, iPad mini users have a little more variety. The pale
Aloe Green is particularly lovely.
Brando iPad mini Bluetooth Keyboard
Case
Price: $33
Website: www.shop.brando.com
Brando
iPad mini Bluetooth Keyboard Case
I'm on the hunt for a job right now, and if
I've learned anything from the process, it's this: everyone loves a good multi-tasker.
Enter this Brando case. It's slim, lightweight, and packs a lot of junk in the
trunk. By "junk," I mean a Bluetooth keyboard and a rechargeable
lithium battery that lasts 55 hours, which is a godsend if you're a
battery-wasting fool like I am. And by "the trunk," I mean sleek
plastic casing with an anodized finish that makes the cover feel like an
evolved extension of the actual device. Also, though it's not exactly the
case's standout feature, its built-in stand is unexpectedly sturdy, so you can
bid farewell to the slipping and sliding you might encounter with some cloth or
leather cases.
Case-Mate Passport Folio for iPad mini
Price: $45
Website: www.case-mate.com
Case-Mate
Passport Folio for iPad mini
As we say in the fashion world, it's
leather weather. I mean, it's been leather weather since approximately late
August, for trend slaves like myself. Which is to say that I've splurged on a
few too many real leather accoutrements and am now really, really into fake
leather, because, honey, money doesn't grow on trees. And, as usual, Case-Mate
is right on point with a pebble-textured, leather-esque case that conveys
elegance without breaking the bank.
The Passport Folio is pretty simple in
design, featuring a microfiber lining and three panels that fold easily into a
stand. As with most Case-Mate cases, its allure lies in its slim, sophisticated
aesthetic. The Black/Gray and Olympian Blue/Navy cases are unfailingly
professional, though the more daring might venture to try the Candy Pink/Jelly
Bean number on for size.
Hard graft Heritage Tab iPad mini Case
Price: $105
Website: www.hardgraft.com
Hard
graft Heritage Tab iPad mini Case
Okay, you can tell the hard graft Heritage
Tab Case hails from London. Look at it. You can practically hear its British
accent. This is the iPad mini case I imagine uniform-wearing Oxford students
toting as they float through impossibly idyllic academic quads. This subtly
designed smoke-and-tan-colored sleeve conveys intelligence, style, and class.
Thanks to its flexibility and an artfully crafted leather strap, it doubles as
a stand. Vegetable-tanned Italian leather and 100 percent wool felt make for an
unbeatable look and feel, and high-quality materials promise to break in
gracefully. For such a runway look, it's also fairly protective: the wool is
water repellant and shock absorbing. Granted, it's on the pricey side for an
accessory, but if any case could instantly command the respect and admiration
of others, it would be this one - and you can't put a price on that.
Gumdrop Drop Tech Designer Series for
iPad mini
Price: $59.99
Website: www.gumdropcases.com
Gumdrop
Drop Tech Designer Series for iPad mini
True to the brand's name, these
candy-colored cases are pretty sweet. The Drop Tech case is a little more
playful than its more streamlined kin on this list, and, consequently, just a
bit less office-friendly. But if you're cursed with fingers of butter, this is
a cheerful, safe, and not-too-clunky pick. True, the color combos are vivid,
but they're more mood-brightening pops of color than the DayGlo stuff of Lisa
Frank folders. The grooved, shock- absorbent surface is a nice touch, and
rubber bumpers turn potentially iPad-smashing falls into moon-bouncy rebounds.
The case also features screen and port covers, the latter of which really are a
nice perk for those of us who feel goofy putting our gear in sandwich bags at
the beach.
DODOcase Bookback for iPad mini
Price: $19.99
Website: www.dodocase.com
DODOcase
Bookback for iPad mini
There's a welcome element of nostalgia in
all of DODOcase's covers, which use Moroccan book fabric to add an old-school
look to the vaguely alien technology we unquestioningly engage with all day.
This adhesive cover clings to your mini like a sexy wet T-shirt, if sexy wet
T-shirts were to mimic leather grain in feel. It offers little in the way of
shock protection, so chucking your new toy at the wall when you lose a game of
Words With Friends is out of the question. (Sidenote: does anyone play Words
With Friends anymore?) While I generally find obvious logos to be a bit tacky,
the hot foil stamp of DODOcase's logo is actually working for me - it's an
elegant way to reference an equally elegant brand.
