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iPad Is the smartcase worth $80?

With the new iPad intro imminent, retailers are clearing out the old accessories.

Staples has the Smart Case for half off this week, and cases from other brands are discounted as well.

Given its flaws, I don't think it's worth $79, but at $39.50, I took a chance.
 
My mini and air leather smart cases have lasted a year of continuous use and have held up more or less perfectly. Count me in on the next gen leather smart cases.
 
the new ipad air 2 is so light and thin that in the $80 apple smart case, it is unstable and will fall over if you sneeze on it. Anyone else seeing that the smartcase is not stable at all with the new ipad air 2?
 
TheIntruder said:
With the new iPad intro imminent, retailers are clearing out the old accessories.

Staples has the Smart Case for half off this week, and cases from other brands are discounted as well.

Given its flaws, I don't think it's worth $79, but at $39.50, I took a chance.
Click to expand...

Thank you for pointing this out! I'm not sure about in stores, but at least online only a few colors are half off, but so are several colors of the smart cover. I ordered a brown smart case and a red smart cover. I found a coupon on Staples' site for an additional $10 my order for ordering more than $40 worth of mobile accessories, so after tax my order came to $53.41.

The same order with Apple would have cost me $128.62 after tax. And in fact Apple seems to only be offering the black smart case on their website for the original Air right now, so I couldn't have ordered the brown case through Apple's website if I wanted to (although I know that they still have the smart cases in stores).
 
Staples has had certain colors (presumably the less popular ones like red, brown, etc.) of the Smart Case (~$51) and Cover (~$20) on clearance since late August.

The week I made that post, they cut 50% off every color as part of the weekly advertised sale.

Now, the "popular" colors have gone back to full price, while the unpopular ones that were on clearance have had their prices remain cut to the 50% level.

The iPhone 5/5S cases are also on clearance, but I think they include every color.

At least at my store, nobody even looks at the Apple accessories aisle. All the stuff is covered in dust.
 
Apparently the store I selected for in-store pickup doesn't have the smart cover in stock, so they canceled the item off my order, but I got to keep the coupon discount even though my total was under $40 with just the smart case.
 
HiRisk said:
No. Pick up the Devicewear Ridge and call it a day.
Click to expand...
The Ridge does in fact have a ridge in back which makes it much thicker than need be. Looks nice but I won't use those cases that double the thickness of the iPad.
 
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DarwinOSX said:
That looks bulky and loose fitting.
Click to expand...

I've used the Yoobao cases in the past for my iPads. They are lightweight and good quality for the price but do add to the size of the iPad. I much prefer the quality of the Apple leather case which fits perfectly and adds very little weight or bulk to the device. For me it is worth the price.
 
DarwinOSX said:
That looks bulky and loose fitting.
Click to expand...

It did add some additional bulk to my iPad 2, but not bad. The fit was snug, as well. Not loose at all.

That said, I'm currently using Apple's leather smart case on my iPad Air, and I got my wife the same case for her iPad Air 2. For complete coverage with minimal bulk and good looks, the original Apple cases are hard to beat.
 
Its money wasted on a poorly fitting case in my opinion. I hated the lip surrounding the iPad.

This is a much better design, it fits well and has strong magnets.
iPad Air 2 Case - INVELLOP Black [Premium] Leatherette Case Cover for iPad Air 2 (Will fit ONLY 2014 Apple iPad Air 2)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009RXX5EO/

I switch back and forth from this case to a Kayscase clear back cover + SmartCover. Both options work great but the Kayscase and SmartCover is the thinner option.
 
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I recently swapped my Lifeproof case for a leather Apple Smart Case on my iPad Mini 2.

I'm very impressed with it. No it doesn't offer the protection that the Lifeproof did but it's a lot slimmer, classier looking and fits brilliantly.

It offers protection of all the important parts and would withstand a a drop. Although I do out the whole thing in a cheap neoprene pouch when it's in a bag.

It's not cheap but it does feel like a quality product and fits very well. How it holds up over time remains to be seen of course.

Is it worth the money? Well depends if you're prepared to spend that amount on a case. Of course you're a premium for the Apple brand but the quality is there in my opinion. :)
 
Ok well here's a few pics, hopefully it will give an idea of the way the case fits and looks...

1_zps94ec0cf3.jpg


3_zpsebb14e56.jpg


2_zpsd4d20d9e.jpg


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Not the best light I'm afraid but I'm very pleased with it. I can't comment on it against other leather smart cases but all I know is that it's made well, looks and feels good too.

I was keen enough to buy one for my Mini and one for my girlfriend's Air 2. :)
 
I ordered a Red Smart Cover for pickup at my local Best Buy. I went after work to pick it up and get in the car to put it on and realize they gave me a Smart Case instead. I brought it back into the store to let them know but they didn't have the Smart Cover in stock. They let me keep it! So I got a Smart Case for the price of a Smart Cover.

I didn't elect for the Smart Case at first because I read it adds an uncomfortable amount of bulk in your hand. Having used it for about a week now, I am glad I got it, and would purchase one at the full price if I needed to replace it.
 
I generally use a smart cover, but also have a smart case and like it a lot. Fits really well and the leather is very nice. Usually, I'll use the smart case when I'm traveling with my iPad.
 
MJF1977 said:
the new ipad air 2 is so light and thin that in the $80 apple smart case, it is unstable and will fall over if you sneeze on it. Anyone else seeing that the smartcase is not stable at all with the new ipad air 2?
Click to expand...

For me, this is simply untrue. My Air 2 does not fall over ever in the new Smart Case. It is extremely stable.

Very happy with the Smart Case.
 
The SmartCase is absolutely the cleanest, most elegant case you will find. I have literally hundreds of clients using iPads and I see any variety of cases and covers in use. Unless you need to wrap your sleek and slim iPad in a huge brick like an OtterBox or Lifeproof for extreme durability, there is nothing that matches the design of the SC. There are some fairly nice cheaper alternatives out there, but the case that is designed by the same company that designed the iPad obviously knows best how the device should look and offer realistic protection. It is a great balance. the leather and design is very classy and looks great in professional environments. So many other cases look so much like a toy that it undercuts the design of the iPad while others just don't get it right by calling so much attention to the gimmicky looks and 'features' of the case itself. I've been through so many third party cases myself, I can vouch for this.

It's a little expensive, yes. But if you want a very nice, well designed case that will be taken seriously then you won't beat the SmartCase.
 
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