Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPad Pro 9.7 new smart cover is bad, really bad

I bought the smartcover/case today...

It's pretty well made, although I noticed the Apple genius' cover had already worn through the silicone on an edge.

But the weight is ridiculous. Ruins my experience of the IPP 9.7. Feels like a brick picking it up.

I'll be returning it and hoping to find better out there soon.
 
I have it on with a clear back and don't find the overlap that bad unless I push it over from the hinge side. I am having trouble getting used to the low angle (other cases seem higher) and needing to put in my bag carefully or it flips open enough that the iPad comes on.
 
photoj2754 said:
Sorry, don't have a way to take any but if you scroll all the way down to the comments after opening the link some pictures were posted by other users.
Click to expand...

I want to see if the flap overlaps the case. Those pictures don't reveal that.
 
lyngo said:
I want to see if the flap overlaps the case. Those pictures don't reveal that.
Click to expand...
It does overlap. When the cover is behind and you are using the device, it is about one eighth of an inch, if that, beyond the case. And when it is closed it's about the same, but to my eyes, it's even a tinier amount. So to me it's a non-issue.
 
I've rocked every iPad since my first one (2nd gen) with the Smart Cover and no back case. At first the overlap on the 9.7" Smart Cover bothered me, until I realized that it finally fixed two very crucial design flaws in the Smart Cover, and the overhang is very much intentional. I don't believe it was designed this way to make it flush with the back case. I believe the overhang fixes two problems:

1 - The Smart Cover FINALLY firmly attaches to the back of the iPad rather than making a half hearted effort. This has bugged me since the first one, and I think the slight bit of overhang makes the magnets line up better for a firmer snap. This works both ways, too. The cover now attaches to the front more firmly than it did in previous iterations. Which leads me to my second point.

2 - The Smart Cover is now much easier to open. I used to have to slide the cover across the screen and bunch it up in order to open it, or get a fingernail under it. Now the bit of overhang allows me to easily open the cover every time.

All in all, while it's aesthetically less pleasing, I believe these trade offs were made for very good reasons that go beyond form and address function.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9646829 and eagleglen
blasto2236 said:
I don't believe it was designed this way to make it flush with the back case. I believe the overhang fixes two problems:
Click to expand...

I think it was absolutely designed to work with the back cover. They are designed to work together. Apple wants you to buy both ideally. When both the cover and case are used, it is essentially the same as the smart case from the previous generation.. The reason they made it 2 piece is to allow the cover to be swapped for the Smart Keyboard and bring it in line with the 12.9 Pro.

The fact that it has stronger magnets has nothing to do with the edge overlap. The fact that you like the overlap without the back cover is simply subjective as other people don't like the overlap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bob24 and tgara
So, has anyone found a good 3rd party Smart Cover alternative now that the 9.7 iPP has been out for a few months? I got a good deal on a used one on Swappa and it will be here tomorrow. I've always been a Smart Cover only person when it comes to iPads. I've never wanted a keyboard case because the moment I find myself wanting a keyboard, I'd rather just use my laptop. I've also always found the back casing to be pretty durable and don't want to add weight with a back case. Really, all I want is just what the Smart Cover offers: screen protection that can be easily removed and also used as a stand.

I'm really hesitant to buy Apple's case given the bad fit and the rather egregious price hike over the Air version. I guess I could just buy it and return if I don't like it. But I wanted to check and see if anyone has found a 3rd party alternative that fits better and is (hopefully) cheaper.
 
MacDevil7334 said:
So, has anyone found a good 3rd party Smart Cover alternative now that the 9.7 iPP has been out for a few months? I got a good deal on a used one on Swappa and it will be here tomorrow. I've always been a Smart Cover only person when it comes to iPads. I've never wanted a keyboard case because the moment I find myself wanting a keyboard, I'd rather just use my laptop. I've also always found the back casing to be pretty durable and don't want to add weight with a back case. Really, all I want is just what the Smart Cover offers: screen protection that can be easily removed and also used as a stand.

I'm really hesitant to buy Apple's case given the bad fit and the rather egregious price hike over the Air version. I guess I could just buy it and return if I don't like it. But I wanted to check and see if anyone has found a 3rd party alternative that fits better and is (hopefully) cheaper.
Click to expand...


See my post above. I haven't messed with any other 3rd party alternatives, but like you have always been a Smart Cover only type user. I found after a week or so that I was willing to accept the overhang in trade for the actual improvements that have been made. YMMV, of course, but I'd imagine you could figure that out for yourself within the 14 day return window.
 
Ok so I decided to go ahead and try out the Apple Smart Cover, figuring I could return it if it really was that bad. I find myself pretty much in agreement with what blasto2236 posted in #184. Here are my thoughts:
  • The overhang is real and definitely noticeable when using the Smart Cover without a back cover. However, to say this is a bad fit is not really accurate. If you look at the portion of the cover that is actually in physical contact with the screen, the fit is perfect. This was clearly a deliberate decision to make the Smart Cover work well with the back cover as part of Apple's "let's split up the protection so we can make more money off of the accessories" strategy. It's a crappy move aesthetically and economically, but it does not diminish the screen protection at all.
  • Following up on the last point, the fold over on the left side of the iPad where the cover attaches definitely has more material than the Air version of the cover. However, the cover also attaches more toward the back of the Pro than on the Air. The result is that the cover still fits snugly over the screen when closed. It's a different story when it's open and folded back though. Since the hinge has more material, it does feel more loose if folded back without a back case on. It's not a huge deal though since the magnets still cause it to stick to the back of the iPad. Just something to keep in mind.
  • Speaking of magnets, they're noticeably stronger than on the old Air version of the cover. The Pro version closes more securely, requiring more of a conscious effort to open. It also takes more of an effort to remove the cover completely from the iPad. Both of these things are good and give me more confidence the screen will be protected when I throw the iPad in a bag.
  • The cover is also noticeably thicker and heavier than the Air version. While this undoubtedly provides added impact resistance for the screen, I'm not wild about the added weight. It makes holding the iPad with the cover folded back less pleasant, though this is not something I do often.
  • Finally, putting the cover in keyboard and stand modes seems about the same as the Air version. The angles are slightly different. But you'd never notice unless you have the two side by side. The strength of the stand seems a bit better thanks to the stronger magnets.
So, from an aesthetic point of view, this cover is definitely a step backward from the iPad Air covers. However, the changes do not appear to affect the effectiveness and functionality of the cover, which is actually improved thanks to the stronger magnets. I do feel that Apple's decision not to sell a smart case for the Pro and instead wring more money out of its customers by selling front and back protection separately was a really crappy thing to do, especially since it led to design compromises in the Smart Cover that would not have been necessary otherwise. But, at the end of the day, the cover still works great for what I need and I'll be keeping mine. Hope this helps everyone else make up their minds!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Night Spring
MacDevil7334 said:
So, has anyone found a good 3rd party Smart Cover alternative now that the 9.7 iPP has been out for a few months?
Click to expand...

Same question here.
I won't accept this ridiculous overlap on the original smart cover, no matter the positive effects it supposedly has. Actually I'm hesitating to buy the iPad Pro just because of this smart cover problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
Smart cover works fine for me. The little overhang needs to be there, or you all would be bitching that it fits wrong when using the back case. I actually use the iPad Pro for what is intended and don't sit there and fiddle and stare at the cover to find flaws.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HiItsMe, Ladyc0524 and Night Spring
RadioGaGa1984 said:
Smart cover works fine for me. The little overhang needs to be there, or you all would be bitching that it fits wrong when using the back case. I actually use the iPad Pro for what is intended and don't sit there and fiddle and stare at the cover to find flaws.
Click to expand...

That's the problem. To accommodate the rear case they've now ruined the design of the Smart Cover when used on it's own. I think we all use the iPad Pro for what it's intended for, but many were used to the Smart Cover functioning in a specific way, mainly screen protection and carrying the iPad, of which it annoyingly bunches up and slides around more than it previously did.

Anyway, doesn't bother me as I've been using the Smart Keyboard Cover, which does sit flush when closed. I'm surprised but it's probably one of my favorite purchases in the past few years. On the 9.7 it adds minimal bulk to the original Smart Cover, can be used as a Smart Cover day to day, and then takes not even two seconds to be flipped open and used as a physical keyboard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bob24 and Benjamin Frost
RadioGaGa1984 said:
Smart cover works fine for me. The little overhang needs to be there, or you all would be bitching that it fits wrong when using the back case. I actually use the iPad Pro for what is intended and don't sit there and fiddle and stare at the cover to find flaws.
Click to expand...
Exactly. The slight overhang makes it much easier to open and also now strongly attaches to the back of the iPad when you want to fold it back there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HiItsMe
Well I decided to take the plunge and see what all of the fuss is about. I can see where people are thinking it is a bad fit based on previous versions of the cover but the material is awesome and the fit is purposefully done to work with the back cover if you chose to get one. I don't like back covers and I am still happy with the smart cover. Here are some images to help out those still on the fence





And one with the cover all the way back where it magnetically clips to the edge, similar to when you close it.



Here it sticks out a bit but doesn't bother me at all while holding it or if it is just laying flat on the desk. I tried the cheap alternatives on Ebay and you get what you pay for. This material is awesome and it just works.
 
  • Like
Reactions: calbearz24
killaz05 said:
Well I decided to take the plunge and see what all of the fuss is about. I can see where people are thinking it is a bad fit based on previous versions of the cover but the material is awesome and the fit is purposefully done to work with the back cover if you chose to get one. I don't like back covers and I am still happy with the smart cover. Here are some images to help out those still on the fence





And one with the cover all the way back where it magnetically clips to the edge, similar to when you close it.



Here it sticks out a bit but doesn't bother me at all while holding it or if it is just laying flat on the desk. I tried the cheap alternatives on Ebay and you get what you pay for. This material is awesome and it just works.
Click to expand...

Over time I got used to it. However, the volume button accessibility is still the most annoying part for me. When it's folded on the iPad back (like in your last photo), the buttons aren't easily clickable with your fingers unless you fold away one flap and then stick it back to the iPad again.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: calbearz24, bob24 and Benjamin Frost
I've been using the silicone case and smart cover for about a week now. I have noticed that even using them together there is a slight overlap of the smart cover. It does tend to add some noticeable weight too.

At this point, I'll hang onto it I think. I don't feel that it's bad enough to warrant a return.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benjamin Frost
profets said:
Anyway, doesn't bother me as I've been using the Smart Keyboard Cover, which does sit flush when closed. I'm surprised but it's probably one of my favorite purchases in the past few years. On the 9.7 it adds minimal bulk to the original Smart Cover, can be used as a Smart Cover day to day, and then takes not even two seconds to be flipped open and used as a physical keyboard.
Click to expand...

I just picked up the Smart Keyboard cover today too for my 9.7 pro. The problem that some are referring to on this thread with the Smart Cover making the volume buttons hard to press when the cover is folded back over the iPad (i.e. While reading while handholding for example) exists also with the Smart Keyboard cover. It might fit flush to the back, but the volume buttons are still not accessible unless you "peel" back the cover to get to them (i.e. Same as with the Smart Cover). It doesn't really bother me....just pointing it out. This is my experience anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: calbearz24, bob24 and Benjamin Frost
DSTOFEL said:
I just picked up the Smart Keyboard cover today too for my 9.7 pro. The problem that some are referring to on this thread with the Smart Cover making the volume buttons hard to press when the cover is folded back over the iPad (i.e. While reading while handholding for example) exists also with the Smart Keyboard cover. It might fit flush to the back, but the volume buttons are still not accessible unless you "peel" back the cover to get to them (i.e. Same as with the Smart Cover). It doesn't really bother me....just pointing it out. This is my experience anyway.
Click to expand...

That's true - good point (lol had to just test it out myself as I usually don't fold the smart cover behind when using the iPad, or at least when I am I never reach for the volume controls). Just had a terrible thought - with volume control available in control centre, maybe it's only a matter of time before Apple removes the volume buttons? Lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back