Slim iPad Leather Case Review (Same design as official Apple case)

Hi all,

Wanted to drop by and write up a review about the new iPad Leather case from Dealextreme. So, a little background before I go into the review. Been on the hunt for a case similar to the Official Apple case for awhile. The objective was to find a case that offered the same functionality as the official case, but without the dust magnet-like material.

I decided to settle for the Yoobao leather case, and was quite surprised at its quality overall. However, it was certainly much more bulkier with the added padding and thick leather. Also, the leather on the side extended too close to the edges of the touchscreen which made hitting the space bar when typing somewhat difficult.

About a week back I saw this iPad case on Dealextreme. Was quite surprised that it was almost an exact clone of the official Apple case, except it was made with PU Leather. Since it was new on the site, and didn't have any reviews, I decided to take the chance and hope for the best. Here are my impressions:

• First of all, this isn't real leather, but the quality is good and the stitching is pretty well done
• The soft material that lines the inside doesn't shed like other cases.
• The cut outs on the sides of the case line up perfectly with the ipad. So far no issues connecting the charger cable, getting to the headphone jack, power button and volume button.
• The entire case is quite thin and wraps tightly around the ipad.
• Overall fit is good except for the sides around the screen which are raised somewhat due to the tight fit. I assume this will even out over time.
• The overall design is almost identical to the official case except for a couple things:
  - There is no additional flap like the official case that closes up the opening where you insert the ipad.
  - It seems the reason is due to the connector cut outs being on the opposite side. As a result, the flap would have covered the volume and lock buttons.
• The case is quite sturdy in both upright and typing positions.
• The cover doesn't quite rest flat over the screen, but apparently this issue is the same on the Apple case.
• The smooth edges where the materials meet are a welcome change compared to the sharp hardened edges on the Apple case.

Overall, I like this case alot, fit and finish wise, its not quite there compared to the high end cases, but for the price ($24 + free shipping) and the fact that its slim, light and functional like the Apple case without the dust attracting rubber material, its a win for me.

The case is available from DealExtreme here: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.37805#open%20full%20view

I hope the review helps, and I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Below are a couple pictures I took of it:

itzcoolz said:

1) how would you compare it with the yoobao? which do you think you'll use for the most part after a few weeks?

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Functionally, it works great from both standing positions like the yoobao. However, I feel the yoobao is slightly sturdier in the landscape upright position due to the thicker cover. I much prefer the cleaner look and less bulky weight so I'll stick with this one for now, but will keep my yoobao in case I find any nagging issues that crop up.

2) does it insert from the left (or the middle, when opened?) how snug is the iPad? does it have anything to keep it from falling out when the folio is open?

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Below is a picture to show that the ipad is inserted from the middle. It's a pretty tight fit into the case, so there's no wiggle room. As a result, it doesn't fall out when in the upright landscape position. I feel there's no need for a flap.

Macdicted said:

As far as lying flat , the cover doesn't lie flat when closed ?

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The cover is slightly raised because of its two piece design. Originally when I first bought it, it was flat, but that was because the cover had not been folded back to stand upright.

ScoobyDooLondon said:

It looks like there's no cut for the sound port - is that right? If so, doesn't the sound get muffled?

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Theres 5 small holes for the sound port. Originally I thought they would muffle the sound because they were off to the side, but I've had no problems with the sound getting out.

Any idea what the thickness of the case is with the iPad inserted?

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The total thickness I got when measuring it with the cover closed is 18 mm. So with the iPad being 13.4 mm, the added thickness is 4.6 mm. Hope that helps

zub3qin said:

How do those measurements compare with the official iPad case from Apple- Is it much thicker?

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Sorry, as I don't own the official Apple case, I can't compare their measurements.

iFerd said:

The OP's images don't show this, but look at the one from the DealExtreme site. It looks like there are bubbles in the cover, which would worry me about quality control standards.

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My case didn't have any bubbles, but yeah, I'd be wary about the quality control standards too. Though, I've dealt with DealExtreme's customer service before, and they've been pretty good about sending replacements if you're not completely satisfied.

paulpaul said:

Can you easily take the ipad in and out of the case on a daily basis? I use a stand at home that doesn't accommodate the case (joule stand) and only use the case when I go out.

Removing the ipad from the official apple case is difficult because of the material; I'm hoping this case will work out for me.

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Its a rather tight fit, but the insides are lined with microfiber material, so it shouldn't be too hard to take out. But I would caution against taking it in and out daily, as you might stretch out the case.