I had the red leather cover for me ipad 2 and 3, got a leather black with the 4th gen and now I decided to get the black for the Air.
I definitely didn't look forward to the Poly covers, but the quality is much better than in previous generations. It seems thicker and more rigid, overall. The tri-fold vs the quad-fold design is taking me some getting used to, but it's not really a nuisance. I've always liked to fold it in a triangle for easy 1-hand handed hold, kind of like a handle, but with the size/shape difference in the triangle, I'm just trying to adjust.
I'm finding that I like the non-metal hinges more than I did the metal. It doesn't look as nice, but it feels better to me, while holding it. I also like that when the smart cover is flipped behind the iPad itself, it's not really overlapping the edges of the iPad. Again, this makes it easier to hold.
All in all, I'm happy with the new Smart Cover.
I'm probably going to go with a Phantomskinz carbon fiber vinyl for the back. I never liked the added bulk of a full case.
I definitely didn't look forward to the Poly covers, but the quality is much better than in previous generations. It seems thicker and more rigid, overall. The tri-fold vs the quad-fold design is taking me some getting used to, but it's not really a nuisance. I've always liked to fold it in a triangle for easy 1-hand handed hold, kind of like a handle, but with the size/shape difference in the triangle, I'm just trying to adjust.
I'm finding that I like the non-metal hinges more than I did the metal. It doesn't look as nice, but it feels better to me, while holding it. I also like that when the smart cover is flipped behind the iPad itself, it's not really overlapping the edges of the iPad. Again, this makes it easier to hold.
All in all, I'm happy with the new Smart Cover.
I'm probably going to go with a Phantomskinz carbon fiber vinyl for the back. I never liked the added bulk of a full case.