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case roundup

There are definitely better bang-for-buck cases out there, but none of them are going to be real leather. At $50 it's a way better deal than a smart case or any other real on leather case I've seen. Apart from the smart case, much slimmer and more lightweight too. Sure, it has flaws, but I wouldn't say it's a disappointment.

Yeah dead cow hide doesn't really attract me. You are right about actual reviews of the product being more accurate than any distant impressions such as mine. As someone who never tried this case, I'm not impressed by the sloppy cut outs and fit and finish described here.

At the same time, it's a crying shame that Apple sells a flap for nearly the same price as the Kavaj.

After much anguish, and buying various cases and covers which I will never use now, I'm finally settling on the Apple Smart Cover + i-Blason clear TPU for the back:

http://www.i-blason.com/smart-cover-compatible-tpu-back-cover-for-ipad-air.html


I'm ashamed and humiliated to be paying Apple prices for the flap, but in the end I feel this gives me the best compromise -- protection to the back as well as a handy cover/stand for the front.

All of it is soft material which will never damage the iPad itself and all of it is as light as can be, so it will have minimal impact on the weight and feel of the device. Doesn't hide the beauty of the device itself, completely unbranded, and also easily removable.
 
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After much anguish, and buying various cases and covers which I will never use now, I'm finally settling on the Apple Smart Cover + i-Blason clear TPU for the back:

I'm curious if you considered the Switcheasy Coverbuddy over the i-Blason clear TPU? More expensive, although I don't know what the difference is besides the price.

http://www.switcheasy.com/product/CoverBuddy_ThenewiPad/color/Cream

EDIT: now I see that the i-blason is soft and flexible and the switcheasy is hard polycarbonate.
 
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Good luck with TPU back. No problem if you get black or a dark color. But anything light will pick up oils from your hands and no way to clean it. I had the best lightweight white and light colored TPU iPhone cases. They were just the best and felt great in the hand. But after using for a few weeks they started looking dirty on the edges and nothing, I mean nothing would clean the case. Come to find out the physical properties of TPU allow it to absorb oils and grime but don't allow to release it. My husband likes the clear TPU cases for his phone and they would yellow in no time - had to keep replacing them.
 
Invisible shield>

Ill probably go this route. How durable are these shields over time? Theyre definitely not cheap
 
Is there not ANY non Smart Cover snap on shell cases without that stupid cutout? It's ridiculous the Air has been out for sometime. Not everybody wants a Smart Cover. I just want a slim shell case that covers the entire back, that too much to ask for?
 
Good luck with TPU back. No problem if you get black or a dark color. But anything light will pick up oils from your hands and no way to clean it. I had the best lightweight white and light colored TPU iPhone cases. They were just the best and felt great in the hand. But after using for a few weeks they started looking dirty on the edges and nothing, I mean nothing would clean the case. Come to find out the physical properties of TPU allow it to absorb oils and grime but don't allow to release it. My husband likes the clear TPU cases for his phone and they would yellow in no time - had to keep replacing them.

Haven't had that problem. Different body chemistry perhaps?

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Is there not ANY non Smart Cover snap on shell cases without that stupid cutout? It's ridiculous the Air has been out for sometime. Not everybody wants a Smart Cover. I just want a slim shell case that covers the entire back, that too much to ask for?

These are a dime a dozen on eBay.
 
Haven't had that problem. Different body chemistry perhaps?

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These are a dime a dozen on eBay.
I have seen nothing but rubber/silicone junk on eBay. I want a slim/feather like shell care to link me to anything?
 
Some of those look solid thanks for posting. It's too bad their product images look like photoshop jobs though and not the actual air inside of the case.
 
Plastic cases are a mistake. Scratch central.
TPU

Actually I've had great luck with thin polycarbonate cases that have a bit of a texture to them. I have very thin poly cases in multiple colors for my iPhone and they are in and out of my purse and get pushed around on surfaces all the time. They have held up well with minimal scratching. Can I intentionally scratch them with a fingernail - of course. I really like the feel of the TPU but hate the yellowing and how quickly they look dirty without the ability to clean them.
 
Please help me out guys. Finally decided to pay up for the Smart Case.

Now I have to decide on which decide on which colour to choose for the white iPad Air; brown, blue or red?
 
Please help me out guys. Finally decided to pay up for the Smart Case.

Now I have to decide on which decide on which colour to choose for the white iPad Air; brown, blue or red?

I've got a black air but think a red case would look nice on white.
 
Maroo cases seemed fairly popular here for awhile. Has anyone tried one for the air?

I had a Maroo case for my iPad 2. It's thicker than many cases, but offers good protection. The bumpers used to hold the iPad are good. What I didn't like was that the cover moved around a lot when closed, so that when carrying the iPad, you kept hearing it go on and off a lot. The case did have elastic straps to keep the cover closed, but placing them on and off every time you picked up the iPad was a pain. I checked their website, and the current line of iPad Air cases do not have the sleep/awake magnets. Still, if you can live with the limitations, they are very nice cases.
 
I bought a i-Blason iFolio in black last week from Amazon UK,
it feels very well built for it's price and the cut outs for both mice are spot on.

http://www.i-blason.com/i-folio-smart-cover-smart-case-for-ipad-air.html

Only complaints are that it does add a bit of weight compared to a thin shell and smart cover but I think this is amplified as the Air is so light on its own and the speaker grills are totally exposed but that is minor as some cheap cases the cutouts don't line up.

Here are some pics

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11139138915_3cf7141763_o.jpg

11139131025_a74037f3a8_o.jpg
 
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