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iPad How good is the Smart Case for iPad Air 2?

I just ordered this case from Amazon. It looks like a much better design for a fraction of the cost.
iPad Air 2 Case - Fintie SmartShell Case for Apple iPad Air 2 (iPad 6) 2014 Model, Ultra Slim Lightweight Stand with Smart Cover Auto Wake / Sleep Feature, Navy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OH14TJG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_siwuub08TCHT3
 
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I love the Smart Case, but wasn't too thrilled with the light shining through the headphone jack hole. Examining it closely, I realize that if I pushed the lip of the case down just slightly, it moved the hole in the case back just a tiny bit, and the light no longer leaked through.

Expanding on this, I then removed the iPad, cut a small piece of a microfiber cloth, and placed it inside the case right under the headphone jack hole. This was enough to keep that corner of the iPad from setting fully into case, stopping the light from shining through the hole (except a tiny pinprick visible only at a certain angle), and the slight difference in the lip elevation is not perceptible in normal use.

Using a slightly thicker piece of cloth (or in my case, folding it over) eliminates all traces of the light leak.
 

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Wow. I'm very happy with my smart case 2. Out of a ten I'd give it a solid 8.

Compared to the original air, the leather feels softer and the closure much stronger. The triangle fold is way more solid. The original was just a mess.

The combo also still feels substantially thinner over the original air combo.

Very happy with the purchase and closer to being worth the price tag. I think $60 would have been right.
 
Okay, so I've had the smart case for almost two weeks now and I'm going to be returning it this weekend. The quality is excellent but I'm disappointed that Apple haven't made it all it could be in that it doesn't show off the new slimline iPad and has that larger lip around the ipad.
I received a cheap interim case today off eBay and while it clearly isn't as good quality, I'm going to stick with it until I can find a slimmer leather case at a good price.
To put it in perspective, the official case on the left is £65 while the cheap case is £6 delivered and 2mm slimmer. Apologies for the poor quality image but I hope it shows the difference.
 

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I'm sure there are manufacturing differences in batches and so on, but having just got the Smart Case for Air 2, my copy is noticeably thinner than my Air 1 case, and doesn't have any light coming through the headphone hole.

Leather feels nicer too, and no gap at the hinge either. Overall I think it's a significantly better case than the Air 1 version.
 
Loge said:
I'm sure there are manufacturing differences in batches and so on, but having just got the Smart Case for Air 2, my copy is noticeably thinner than my Air 1 case, and doesn't have any light coming through the headphone hole.

Leather feels nicer too, and no gap at the hinge either. Overall I think it's a significantly better case than the Air 1 version.
Click to expand...

Is there a prominent lip around the iPad when in place? What colour did you go for?
 
Loge said:
Midnight Blue. Well there is a lip, as there was with my 1 case, but wouldn't say it was prominent.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I would love to keep the official case if there was any chance of variation meaning I could exchange for one that is slimmer. Will see at the store this weekend. I'm just annoyed because I have one on my retina mini and it sits practically flush with the screen and seems to feel better in the hand for it.
 
Donka said:
I'm disappointed that Apple haven't made it all it could be in that it doesn't show off the new slimline iPad and has that larger lip around the ipad.
Click to expand...

It's a shame that Apple got it wrong.

The iPhone 6 leather case is just about the slimmest on the market, makes the phone look very slim. The iPad A2 leather case is bigger than it should be, makes the tablet look very large.

BJ
 
I'm getting a smart case in the mail tomorrow but think I might pick up a Smart Cover for when I'm at home cause I like using the iPad with no case / cover attached.
 
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I liked my smart case a lot but when the stand kept slipping in typing orientation, I got buyers remorse and returned it. On the hunt for a new, cheaper alternative
 
I'm thinking about if realy Smart Case or Smart Cover is so good? I am thinking of that part that folds to get different angels collect some dirt and crap over time and could end up in turn on the screen page when to take on the case. How nice is it to hold the pad when it has the cover? The only thing that I see the advantage is get to sleep wake & function.

I want some good protection while I had it in the bag on the go.
 
The 'sunken' effect or the 'huge' lip that everybody's on about, isn't to make the cover fit better - it was designed like that to accommodate the Lightning and headphone connector cutouts. If they had made the case without the protruding lip, say 1.2mm thinner, then the material on the top edge of the cutout would be wafer thin or non-existent!

Regarding the problem of the cover flap not closing flat on many Air version 1 Smartcases, I can see that the 'hinge' on the version 2 case has a much sharper crease, making it close much flatter against the screen.
 
Pat too said:
The 'sunken' effect or the 'huge' lip that everybody's on about, isn't to make the cover fit better - it was designed like that to accommodate the Lightning and headphone connector cutouts. If they had made the case without the protruding lip, say 1.2mm thinner, then the material on the top edge of the cutout would be wafer thin or non-existent!

Regarding the problem of the cover flap not closing flat on many Air version 1 Smartcases, I can see that the 'hinge' on the version 2 case has a much sharper crease, making it close much flatter against the screen.
Click to expand...

its both the headphone outlet being too close to the edge with the new thinness and the enlargement of the lightning area to accommodate docks and such. Its a shame really that design teams of both didn't work together.
 
Pat too said:
The 'sunken' effect or the 'huge' lip that everybody's on about, isn't to make the cover fit better - it was designed like that to accommodate the Lightning and headphone connector cutouts. If they had made the case without the protruding lip, say 1.2mm thinner, then the material on the top edge of the cutout would be wafer thin or non-existent!
Click to expand...

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This is exactly why Apple shouldn't make a case.

The Smart Cover on a hard back shell is the way to go. Allows the cut outs to be what they need to be without gaining extra bulk and lip thickness unnecessarily.

BJ
 
That is a much better design. After returning my smart case I picked up the smart cover and a Kayscase rear shell and it is perfect. It is so much less bulky. I really like this combination.
 
My summary of the smart case.

Pros
-leather feels nicer
-cover almost flat now when closed
-when cover is put to the back the bottom part doesn't bend outwards anymore (where cover is attached to case) causing the bezel to become exposed.
-stand mode feels sturdier
-magnets holding the cover closed feel stronger

Cons
-price
-headphone jack gap that people mentioned
 
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questionmark32 said:
I also have this case. It adds no bulk to the iPad and the magnets work well. Plus the cover is very sturdy
Click to expand...
I bought this and to me it adds a significant amount of weight to the Air 2. Sturdy though, but won't be using it much if at all.
 
How good is the Smart Case for iPad Air 2?

questionmark32 said:
I also have this case. It adds no bulk to the iPad and the magnets work well. Plus the cover is very sturdy
Click to expand...


I stopped using this case and switched to a Apple Smart Cover and Kayscase back shell which I like much better - its much slimmer and the magnets hold the cover well on the back. I did not like the magnets in the Fintie case as they did not hold the cover well on the back of the iPad. I also ordered an Invellop case which worked great on my rMini and is a better design then the Fintie.
 
Anyone know the approximate thickness of the Apple Smart Case with the Air 2 in it? Thanks!
 
TJone said:
I stopped using this case and switched to a Apple Smart Cover and Kayscase back shell which I like much better - its much slimmer and the magnets hold the cover well on the back. I did not like the magnets in the Fintie case as they did not hold the cover well on the back of the iPad. I also ordered an Invellop case which worked great on my rMini and is a better design then the Fintie.
Click to expand...

This is what I did as well. Much happier with this setup than the smart case. Did not like how sunken in the air 2 is in the smart case.
 
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