Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Offers New $49 Smart Case for iPad
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Not worth it
I have a Joy Factory case for my iPad 2 and it was money very well spent. High quality manufacturing and excellent design.
----------
I bought this case and the idea is good, but the execution was bad.
I have a Joy Factory case for my iPad 2 and it was money very well spent. High quality manufacturing and excellent design.
----------
I bought this case and the idea is good, but the execution was bad.
Now Apple has a solid reason to leak bogus iPad designs to case makers. They have their own cases to sell.
How's this for the 4th-gen iPad scenario:
- Apple gives a prototype to case makers, with this caveat: "final specifications may change."
- Some case makers mass-produce cases that fit the prototype, offer them for sale before 4th-gen iPad is announced.
- 4th-gen iPad is announced with slightly different size or button placements.
- Case makers who jumped the gun lose money on their useless products.
- Apple releases perfectly-fitting (high markup) cases on day 1 of 4th gen iPad availability.
- Greenpeace protests wasteful high-carbon-footprint case makers who jumped the gun.
- Fair Labor Association digs into the workplace conditions at all Chinese case makers, wags European finger at them all.
- Mike Daisey writes another "play" about standing outside the gates of Chinese case makers.
Sounds good to me. Looking forward to it.
How's this for the 4th-gen iPad scenario:
- Apple gives a prototype to case makers, with this caveat: "final specifications may change."
- Some case makers mass-produce cases that fit the prototype, offer them for sale before 4th-gen iPad is announced.
- 4th-gen iPad is announced with slightly different size or button placements.
- Case makers who jumped the gun lose money on their useless products.
- Apple releases perfectly-fitting (high markup) cases on day 1 of 4th gen iPad availability.
- Greenpeace protests wasteful high-carbon-footprint case makers who jumped the gun.
- Fair Labor Association digs into the workplace conditions at all Chinese case makers, wags European finger at them all.
- Mike Daisey writes another "play" about standing outside the gates of Chinese case makers.
Sounds good to me. Looking forward to it.
Does anyone know if these are in the Apple Stores already?
Looking at the pics on Apple site, the hinge looks poly and not something solid(aluminum?) like the smart cover.
That just doesn't look like it will be as nice. But, I have a smart cover I don't use because whenever I carry it the ipad goes on/off from the slightest shifting of the smart cover. If they will let me exchange I might try one of these.
Looking at the pics on Apple site, the hinge looks poly and not something solid(aluminum?) like the smart cover.
That just doesn't look like it will be as nice. But, I have a smart cover I don't use because whenever I carry it the ipad goes on/off from the slightest shifting of the smart cover. If they will let me exchange I might try one of these.
Last edited:
These are in Apple Stores now. I just picked one up for my iPad and love it. No, it doesn't have the aluminum hinge but I like that better because it doesn't scratch the iPad. Overall, it has a great feel and I like it a lot. However, the magnets aren't very strong so if you hold the iPad screen-down the cover opens up. Not a big deal since I don't carry it that way.
Definitely recommend going to an Apple Store to check them out. My local store was selling them really quick.
Thanks, now I want to go see them. I hate that the Apple Store is so far away
.Im not sure I like the idea of the cover opening on its own either, I know the on/off feature is why the magnets are there, but why not make sure it stays closed?
It doesn't look like too different from other third party companies. It looks more like copying their product although those product were made based on Apple smart cover. What do you think of the price? I have seen those cases from online, but I don't know how much those are. Is the price of Apple Smart Case beatable in the market?
You can get something cheaper for sure, but not very often do you find something that beat the quality of something made by Apple.
Rubbish; it's only a case how much 'quality' do you really think Apple can add? I bought a JISONCASE just like this for my iPad 2 last year and it's still going strong and in great condition, looks good and the 'smart cover' functions just the same. Apple simply missed a trick with not designing a back protecting case in the first place.
I agree, there are other cases that are very nice, but there are others that are "rubbish".
two things:
1) i wish they had a red poly smart cover but looks like that will never come since this case came out
2) when you fold back the cover, does it stick to the rear of the case? i have a 3rd party case that does that which is very useful while holding in a vertical orientation (portrait)
1) i wish they had a red poly smart cover but looks like that will never come since this case came out
2) when you fold back the cover, does it stick to the rear of the case? i have a 3rd party case that does that which is very useful while holding in a vertical orientation (portrait)
The magnet on the back is nice, and maybe they will offer a red smart cover in poly now that they have the poly smart case in red?
That's cool. But the coolest thing is that there is an engraving option on the Apple Online Store
Yes, you can engrave at the back of the Smart Case!
This is so awesome for those who don't want to engrave on the iPad! What a brilliant idea Apple!
Yes, you can engrave at the back of the Smart Case!
This is so awesome for those who don't want to engrave on the iPad! What a brilliant idea Apple!
Clearly everyone has an opinion. I bought the original polyurethane black cover for the iPad1, I thought it was goofy ugly but grew to really like it, loved the feel over hard plastic or the native slippery aluminum case.
Then I got the iPad2, hated the front only mag flap concept, a deal breaker for me. No rear protection, and I've seen many folks drop theirs accidently because they held it by the flap, pop, clatter... So I bought a fresh iPad1 case that hadn't been stretched out yet, punched a camera hole and continued the love.
I then bought the iPad3, slipped it into the same case. A HUGE plus is that each time I've rolled my iPads I've gotten top dollar because they have absolutely no marks on them, solely because of the great case protection.
So seeing this new case I have to say, thanks Apple! This is just what I wanted, fully protective, more form fitting, slim, nice tactile surface (don't knock the polyurethane until you've felt it, I really like it). I got dark grey, would have preferred black but can deal with that.
It's nice to have choice.
Then I got the iPad2, hated the front only mag flap concept, a deal breaker for me. No rear protection, and I've seen many folks drop theirs accidently because they held it by the flap, pop, clatter... So I bought a fresh iPad1 case that hadn't been stretched out yet, punched a camera hole and continued the love.
I then bought the iPad3, slipped it into the same case. A HUGE plus is that each time I've rolled my iPads I've gotten top dollar because they have absolutely no marks on them, solely because of the great case protection.
So seeing this new case I have to say, thanks Apple! This is just what I wanted, fully protective, more form fitting, slim, nice tactile surface (don't knock the polyurethane until you've felt it, I really like it). I got dark grey, would have preferred black but can deal with that.
It's nice to have choice.
I think some would look better it they had a different color back and front.
Like a red smart cover with a black back
Thats what I am going to do with my ipad..
Red china smart cover and an icarbons back.. Looks stellar.
Like a red smart cover with a black back
Thats what I am going to do with my ipad..
Red china smart cover and an icarbons back.. Looks stellar.
The grays (dark especially) don't look too bad. I just spent $13 on a Chinese knock-off smart cover on eBay and $8 (+ tax and shipping, so more like $10) on a neoprene case from Monoprice. Totals for less than half of that considering it's slightly more expensive at $55 in Canada. We'll see how my stuff pans out when my iPad gets here but it doesn't seem to be a great value. I'll pass.
I agree, I will keep my Devicewear Bridgeway. It looks a lot better, has the magnetic back, and $14 cheaper. Thanks anyway Apple!
Just got mine today!!!
Picked it up at my local Apple Store
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1384484/
Picked it up at my local Apple Store
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1384484/
I'm not totally happy with my Targus, but at least it has a quality feel to it...That just looks like junk. I'm looking for a new case, but this won't be the one.