Reviewing an iPad stand, by virtue of its
simplicity, is actually a pretty difficult thing to do. Like any iPad stand,
all you can really comment on with this model from Icy Box is what it looks
like and how well it's built. It's a bit like writing a review of a door
handle. Does it look okay, does it open the door and will it not break off in
use? If so, then there's not much else you can ask for.
Back to this stand, though, and in terms of
looks, its grey aluminium design is perfectly inoffensive and the black rubber
trim does an adequate job of preventing the metal from scratching your iPad. Of
course, most of the time you'll only be seeing the bottom part, where the Icy
Box logo is located. The only thing notable about that is the small cut-out in
the rubber, which allows access to the iPad's front button when placed in the
stand in a portrait orientation.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it's a
functional piece of kit. It allows for both portrait and landscape and there
are two angles: a high position of around 70° and a lower one of around 30°. It
would have been nice if it was adjustable to any angle, especially considering
it costs nearly $40.
Icy
Box iPad Stand
Unfortunately, though, the price is a bit
of a sticking point, because even though it's not the most expensive stand on
the market, it's still simply not worth it. Its construction is acceptable, but
it's not particularly impressive, and the low-angle legs feel loose and
somewhat fragile. Also, on our review model, the rubber trimming at the front
kept coming off.
Considering the very basic job this piece
of kit has to do, it's not surprising that there are cheaper alternatives. For
example, Play, com has a two-angle stand that costs just $12.5 and you can also
use it for laptops.
If Icy Box's product was the same price, it
would be easy to recommend. Sadly, it isn't, so it's not.
Details
Price: $38
Manufacturer: Icy Box
Required spec: iPad
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