As we all know, the new iPad's smart cover is sensitive to magnet polarity, making some cases incompatible.
So, I had a third party smart cover from eBay that no longer worked, and as it isn't an actual smart cover, apple obviously doesn't replace it. So, I decided to fix it myself. I took an X-Acto knife, and cut open a slot on the microfiber side where the I thought the magnet was. When I opened a little slot in the side, I could see the magnet, but it was embedded in the panel of plastic running down the entire length of the cover, so I opened the cover from the side, using the X-Acto knife, about 2 inches along the edge where the magnet is. Inside the cover, there is a metal panel and a plastic panel. If you separate the 2, you can get the magnet out from the plastic panel. Flip the magnet around, and it will work with the third generation iPad. Glue everything back together, and you're all set!
*I'm not sure if this same method works on actual smart covers, as I have a third party smart cover.
**I am not responsible for any damage you may cause to your smart cover, try this at your own risk!
The first picture is the slot in the side of my smart cover.
The second is a diagram I made to show you the layers of the smart cover.
The third is from iFixit's teardown, and I highlighted the location of the magnet you want to flip.
So, I had a third party smart cover from eBay that no longer worked, and as it isn't an actual smart cover, apple obviously doesn't replace it. So, I decided to fix it myself. I took an X-Acto knife, and cut open a slot on the microfiber side where the I thought the magnet was. When I opened a little slot in the side, I could see the magnet, but it was embedded in the panel of plastic running down the entire length of the cover, so I opened the cover from the side, using the X-Acto knife, about 2 inches along the edge where the magnet is. Inside the cover, there is a metal panel and a plastic panel. If you separate the 2, you can get the magnet out from the plastic panel. Flip the magnet around, and it will work with the third generation iPad. Glue everything back together, and you're all set!
*I'm not sure if this same method works on actual smart covers, as I have a third party smart cover.
**I am not responsible for any damage you may cause to your smart cover, try this at your own risk!
The first picture is the slot in the side of my smart cover.
The second is a diagram I made to show you the layers of the smart cover.
The third is from iFixit's teardown, and I highlighted the location of the magnet you want to flip.
