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Belkin Smart Cover Compatible Snap Shield Case Review

Nope, not three, two.

Sorry, have to disagree. Only two.

I think the original picture makes it hard to see it completely.

Bouda has the one with less on the bottom, like the one currently on the best buy site. the one I have, and the one original poster links to both have full coverage on the side.

First when the Ipad is in the case you really can not see the side fully, but I assure you there is no case made by Belkin that I have seen this far that has a full side on both the right side and the left side. If there was a full side on the left where the smart cover attaches it would have a tough time staying attached. the magnets are not just in the two hindges but run all along that stainless strip. Having a full side with just cutouts might work but I don't think as well.

I'm going to be interested to see how the Smart Feather is going to work with only cutouts, but we know already one has to take the whole case off to remove the cover unlike this one!

Bouda

b2.jpg

best buy site

B1.jpg

link on uk site

b5.jpg

mine purchased at BB

b3.jpg
 
3goldens said:
Sorry, have to disagree. Only two.
Click to expand...

It's true that only two have been actually purchased, the one you bought and the one reported by Bouda. However, if you look closely at the picture on the Best Buy website and the one from the Belkin uk site, the area between the speaker and the dock is not covered, while yours is. This is what people are referring to when they say there is a third model. Nobody is saying that there is a model without a cutout for the Smart Cover.
 
Yes, Three not Two...

Night Spring said:
It's true that only two have been actually purchased, the one you bought and the one reported by Bouda. However, if you look closely at the picture on the Best Buy website and the one from the Belkin uk site, the area between the speaker and the dock is not covered, while yours is. This is what people are referring to when they say there is a third model. Nobody is saying that there is a model without a cutout for the Smart Cover.
Click to expand...

All have cutouts for the smart cover. Mine however has the same cutout on the left side for no reason - you can clearly see that on the first picture. The picture on Best Buy's does not, but it has the same cutout on the bottom as mine, which is different then the full coverage one.

Full coverage - OP's/Golden's case
No left side coverage, and less bottom coverage - My case
Full left side coverage and less bottom coverage - Best Buy site

There are pictures of three separate models in his post...

If you look at the pictures 3Golden posted:
Mine (no left side coverage), best buy's (more open on the bottom like mine, but has left side coverage ), and Golden's- full coverage.
 
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bouda said:
All have cutouts for the smart cover. Mine however has the same cutout on the left side for no reason - you can clearly see that on the first picture. The picture on Best Buy's does not, but it has the same cutout on the bottom as mine, which is different then the full coverage one.

Full coverage - OP's/Golden's case
No left side coverage, and less bottom coverage - My case
Full left side coverage and less bottom coverage - Best Buy site

There are pictures of three separate models in his post...

If you look at the pictures 3Golden posted:
Mine (no left side coverage), best buy's (more open on the bottom like mine, but has left side coverage ), and Golden's- full coverage.
Click to expand...

Well... I've looked at the Best Buy picture several times now and it's kind of hard to tell. It's clearly not on an iPad 2, because it's not that white and you should be able to see the edges/cut outs better. It's possible that the picture is just bad quality and that you can't see the full side cut out on the volume rocker making it the same case as yours.

Either way, I believe only two models have been reported to be found at this point.
 
jedolley said:
Well... I've looked at the Best Buy picture several times now and it's kind of hard to tell. It's clearly not on an iPad 2, because it's not that white and you should be able to see the edges/cut outs better. It's possible that the picture is just bad quality and that you can't see the full side cut out on the volume rocker making it the same case as yours.

Either way, I believe only two models have been reported to be found at this point.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I think it is clear that the best buy picture shows a cut out around the volume buttons. But, yes there have only been 2 reported as being bought.
 
jedolley said:
Well... I've looked at the Best Buy picture several times now and it's kind of hard to tell. It's clearly not on an iPad 2, because it's not that white and you should be able to see the edges/cut outs better. It's possible that the picture is just bad quality and that you can't see the full side cut out on the volume rocker making it the same case as yours.

Either way, I believe only two models have been reported to be found at this point.
Click to expand...

Agreed. When you look at a picture of them without an Ipad in the case it can be deceiving. I think its a moot point till someone posts pictures of the alleged third one, until one it doesn't exist.

Course if anyone wants to they can call Belkin as I said before to ask them directly, I doubt seriously if they would deny this if one asked for technical support and requested clarification on exactly which model will be sold here in the states.
 
3goldens said:
I think its a moot point till someone posts pictures of the alleged third one, until one it doesn't exist.
Click to expand...

I agree with this 100%. But if you click on the best buy picture which enlarges it, it is very clear that the volume buttons have the case wrapped around it making this a picture of a third case - not saying it ever went to production or will be sold...
 
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I ordered my Belkin snap case from the best buy store a few days ago and it arrived today. Turns out I got the first version with coverage all around. I'm extremely satisfied with my new iPad 2, grey smart cover, icarbons on the back, and the Belkin case. It works perfectly together. :apple:

Happy cinco de drinko apple heads!
 
cole01 said:
I ordered my Belkin snap case from the best buy store a few days ago and it arrived today. Turns out I got the first version with coverage all around. I'm extremely satisfied with my new iPad 2, grey smart cover, icarbons on the back, and the Belkin case. It works perfectly together. :apple:

Happy cinco de drinko apple heads!
Click to expand...

This could be good news. A poster earlier had the theory that the less coverage Belkin came out before all buttons and ports were confirmed. Maybe this is the case. Why they would go from full coverage to some coverage does not make since. Why almost all of the smart cover compatible cases do not have full coverage also does not make since though. Still a little strange to me that they would produce two cases though, especially since they just came out and the iPad 2 has been out for a few months now.
 
cole01 said:
I ordered my Belkin snap case from the best buy store a few days ago and it arrived today. Turns out I got the first version with coverage all around. I'm extremely satisfied with my new iPad 2, grey smart cover, icarbons on the back, and the Belkin case. It works perfectly together. :apple:

Happy cinco de drinko apple heads!
Click to expand...

Why the skin AND the snap case?
 
clyde2801 said:
Not a bad review, pretty even handed and balanced.

As for his minus points:
1. "It's a plastic shield, so it won't protect it as a TPU cover if it's dropped." Not sure if it would do any better or worse than a TPU, and I'm unwilling to drop my ipad on the ground to try. Every design has pros and cons, and this case, like the tpu's, are for people who value slimness and weight over maximum protection and bulk.

2. "Bottom covers up all but the port itself, can't put some 3rd party accessories on it and he has trouble putting in the dock connector." Again, pros and cons. If it had a bigger opening on the bottom, some people would complain about the lack of protection. And it comes out of the case very easily, so a monster car charger/fm transmitter could be accommodated. As for problems with the dock connector, I haven't had a single problem getting it in through this case.

3. "Harder to open up smart cover with case installed, you have to insert your finger nail in the case's cut out for the volume rocker." Possibly so in that it may be a touch tougher to open than without the case, but the difference is so slight that I don't see that as an issue.

4. "The price is really, really high." Okay, can't argue with that one. I think anything officially licensed by apple is high (unlike the bootleg TPU cases on ebay) because apple wants a cut in addition to the manufacturer making a profit. Possibly subjective, considering the people who would buy this case have presumably spent $40 to $70 on smart covers. This is the criticism I most agree with.

5. "The case is very hard to take off." Couldn't disagree more. Maybe it's due to the fact that my pad is ghost armored up, but mine is extremely easy to remove without it coming off accidentally. Put a little pressure on the two tabs furthest away from the smart cover hinge, and it's off in under two seconds. I don't know, maybe the reviewer has 2 finger nails.

I don't think the Belkin is perfection, don't get me wrong. But my niggles, but one, are different than his. But for maximum slimness, acceptable protection and full smart cover compatibility, it's the best I've come across...so far.
Click to expand...

Yeah I have no trouble taking my case off at all, and I don't have much trouble opening my smart cover either
 
clyde2801 said:
It's for what I like to like call modular protection. The Belkin attaches and removes easily. You can use it without the case and just a smart cover and skin at home. Snap on the Belkin for light travel. Throw it all together in a sleeve for greater protection and less visibility.
Click to expand...

I already have a skin and the snap shield (skin on mine and snap shield on my wife's). I was just asking because they both serve the same purpose protecting the back from scratches. I don't really know what extra protection you'll get by attaching the snap shield when you're not at home. If you drop it you're hosed either way.
 
duk said:
I finally picked mine up, first thing I noticed when I got home, it had outside scratches, which I could live with... Then I noticed the inside had these large smudgy fingerprints that are etched into the case, as if someone grabed it during production before the plastic had cooled, looked creepy, unfortunately I didn't take a picture before exchanging the case. The new one appears to be ok. First impressions, does what I'm looking for, but I feel ripped off at this price, I'm convinced the packaging cost the same, if not more to produce than this case. I'll be keeping an eye on best buys sight for a price match, 39.99 can't possibly be the actual retail price, even apple wouldn't charge that much for something like this. We shall see.
Click to expand...

Received a second one today with full coverage. Unfortunately the full coverage one is scratched up, and some of the cuts on the sides are not even. Same sort of production issues I assume. I do agree that $40 is extremely high for this. Even $30 is way to high. It is a great product, good feel, good coverage, but should not be priced so high. This is the best one I have seen in terms of back coverage compatible with the smart cover though.
 
sotie said:
I already have a skin and the snap shield (skin on mine and snap shield on my wife's). I was just asking because they both serve the same purpose protecting the back from scratches. I don't really know what extra protection you'll get by attaching the snap shield when you're not at home. If you drop it you're hosed either way.
Click to expand...

I think the belkin would help a little more against small dents, say if you have the iPad in your hand and you accidentally hit it against a corner of a table or desk. There is always the chance for dirt or other small particles do get inside the belkin and cause scratches.

Just a few thoughts, however I will be using just the belkin, no skin on the back.
 
sotie said:
I already have a skin and the snap shield (skin on mine and snap shield on my wife's). I was just asking because they both serve the same purpose protecting the back from scratches. I don't really know what extra protection you'll get by attaching the snap shield when you're not at home. If you drop it you're hosed either way.
Click to expand...

I didn't say it was an otterbox defender....:D But I think it would provide some more protection than a skin without adding excessive weight or bulk.

Being really anal-retentive (Is there a hyphen in that word? Or is it a dash? Anyway..), I got the ghost armor installed as soon as I got the iPad, when no cases were available at all.
 
I got mine today at BB in Fort Worth, and it's the full coverage model. I got it to replace an Incipio Feather (not the Smart Feather, of course) so that I'd have a case that works well with the Smart Cover. I like it a lot, but I noticed immediately that it's not as grippy as the Feather: the iPad starts a slow slide out of my hand unless I grip it tightly. The Feather was much easier to hold one handed. I'm looking forward to trying the Smart Feather.
 
Pipper99 said:
I got mine today at BB in Fort Worth, and it's the full coverage model. I got it to replace an Incipio Feather (not the Smart Feather, of course) so that I'd have a case that works well with the Smart Cover. I like it a lot, but I noticed immediately that it's not as grippy as the Feather: the iPad starts a slow slide out of my hand unless I grip it tightly. The Feather was much easier to hold one handed. I'm looking forward to trying the Smart Feather.
Click to expand...

Problems I have with the feather while looking at the pictures:
1. It does not have full coverage
2. You can not take the smart cover off without removing the feather
 
I don't know if anyone has better knowledge them myself, but I have both the full coverage and non-full coverage in my possession. They each have a sticker on the back near the barcode:

1311AF - non-full coverage
1311AY - full coverage

Also, The number above the barcodes are the same, however the full coverage one has this in addition: Rev. A00

I assume this is referring to a revision Belkin made after they confirmed the ports and buttons on the iPad 2. If this is the case then going forward I would assume the full coverage one will be then one showing up more in the future.
 
Picked up the one that has full coverage today. The Best Buy I went to had both styles. Like the fact that there is no lip over the glass. Saw that the other style had the clear or etched belkin logo like someone else had mentioned. Wondering if over time the white logo will fade or wear off....

Thanks for all the reviews on it.
 
Does anyone have this case along with the Logitech Keyboard case? If so, wondering if the Ipad 2 fits with the keyboard case??
 
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