iPad Pro w/Smart Keyboard case

[The_Joker13]

So, I have 1st gen 12.9 with Smart Keyboard. I love it, it’s perfect for my use. I’m looking to upgrade, but the new Smart Keyboard appears to restrict having a case on the ipad when taken from the keyboard. The old design allows me to have a protective case when I’m using it just as a tablet. I’ve dropped it many times over the years when away from the keyboard so this is a major concern for me, am I alone on this? It’s pretty much a deal breaker at this point which is very disappointing.

 

[Mabus51]

Wait for 3rd parties to release a keyboard/case combo. Logitech will have something for sure. There will be others. Or take better care of your stuff and don’t drop it.

 

[The_Joker13]

Wait for 3rd parties to release a keyboard/case combo. Logitech will have something for sure. There will be others. Or take better care of your stuff and don’t drop it.

Accidents happen dude, thanks for the advice tho(eye roll).

 

[zhenya]

It’s actually a serious comment to take care of your stuff. My 3 kids have used an iPad 4 since before they could hold the thing, going on 6 years now, never with a case, and not one of them has dropped it, ever. I have gone years with my iPhones with only the most minimal bumper, or mostly no case at all. Never broken a phone. Going without one reinforces the fact that these devices are fragile, expensive, and to be taken care of.

Yes, accidents happen, but most drops are not really accidents IMO.

 

[840quadra]

I think 3rd party options will best fit what you are after. I too miss the old style (10.5) as I purchased a 3rd party case that I added magnets (to hold it up on computer racks). Really bummed with the relocation of the connector and how it’s now harder to mix and match cases with my iPad and keyboard.

 

[The_Joker13]

It’s actually a serious comment to take care of your stuff. My 3 kids have used an iPad 4 since before they could hold the thing, going on 6 years now, never with a case, and not one of them has dropped it, ever. I have gone years with my iPhones with only the most minimal bumper, or mostly no case at all. Never broken a phone. Going without one reinforces the fact that these devices are fragile, expensive, and to be taken care of.

Yes, accidents happen, but most drops are not really accidents IMO.

3 kids and not one drop? Lol, sure.

 

[Porterhouse]

AppleCare? At least until the third party options are available.

 

[The_Joker13]

AppleCare? At least until the third party options are available.

I always get Apple care, but they don’t repair for free. I’m mostly just pissed Apple came up with a worse design imo. Really considering googles latest tablet, and once I go down that path I’ll likely slowly leave the Apple ecosystem behind.

 

[Treebark]

I don't think I understand what you mean by the new ASK "restrict having a case on the ipad when taken from the keyboard" since if you remove the ASK you can put another case on it. The magnets allow for removing the ASK quickly, so going from keyboard mode to full tablet only mode is fast.

If you just need a way to protect the iPad with the ASK attached, some sort of sleeve to keep the pair in while you lug it around would work. I'm sure there are fancier ones out there, but I used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016Z3EFL0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 on my 2015 version 12.9 + smart cover, and it still works great for my 2018 12.9 + ASK. It sits in my day bag and the ipad slides in and out easily, or I can take the sleeve bag out only and go a bit lighter weight.

 

[LibbyLA]

Mine slipped out of the ASK today (accidentally loosened the back cover) and fell a couple or three feet onto a ceramic tile floor onto a corner. Got a tiny ding in the finish on that corner. That’s why I like protective silicone covers.

I’m used to being able to flip the screen forward to close it but that movement pops the iPad out of the back cover. Ugh.

 

[akash.nu]

I always get Apple care, but they don’t repair for free. I’m mostly just pissed Apple came up with a worse design imo. Really considering googles latest tablet, and once I go down that path I’ll likely slowly leave the Apple ecosystem behind.

Don’t even think about it. Android on tablets are just a lost cause. There’s no comparison against iPad.

 

[Boil]

If I were buying right now, I would get the ASK; but since I am not buying right now, I am excited to see what third-party vendors can come up with...

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

I don't think I understand what you mean by the new ASK "restrict having a case on the ipad when taken from the keyboard" since if you remove the ASK you can put another case on it. The magnets allow for removing the ASK quickly, so going from keyboard mode to full tablet only mode is fast.

If you just need a way to protect the iPad with the ASK attached, some sort of sleeve to keep the pair in while you lug it around would work. I'm sure there are fancier ones out there, but I used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016Z3EFL0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 on my 2015 version 12.9 + smart cover, and it still works great for my 2018 12.9 + ASK. It sits in my day bag and the ipad slides in and out easily, or I can take the sleeve bag out only and go a bit lighter weight.

The point is with the new IPP, the keyboard Folio is a combination back case cover AND a keyboard. The old keyboard was just a folding keyboard that doubled as a FRONT cover when not in use, or could be folded back behind the iPad when using it in tablet-only mode. But many users, myself included, bought a separate “back cover” that still had one side cut away to attach the apple keyboard/front cover combo. That way, you could remove the keyboard entirely if you wanted, or fold it back, but the tablet itself remained protected in it’s own back cover.

With the new keyboard folio...you can fold the keyboard back, but if you want to use the tablet by itself, then you basically have to pull the tablet out of the folio cover (it attaches via 3 magnets) and then insert it inside it’s own protective 3rd party case. Then reverse process when you want to use the keyboard again, since it won’t fit back into the folio unless naked.

It’s actually a downgrade from Apple for those who don’t want to always use the device with keyboard attached.

OP, I think we are stuck with this bad design decision until/unless third parties come out with their own keyboard/back case combo’s. I’m equally missing the built-in pencil holder I had on my old back case. This magnetic attachment works great for charging, but it’s not strong enough to hold the pencil during everyday use. It’s become detached (accidentally) multiple times now, ending up on the floor.

 

[Treebark]

That way, you could remove the keyboard entirely if you wanted, or fold it back, but the tablet itself remained protected in it’s own back cover..

Realisticly, protected against what? Probably mostly scratches since any breakage protection the front of the iPad would be getting hammered with a hard back. For that, I’d wonder if https://www.gelaskins.com/ would work with the new keyboard case? I’ve used those on a few iPads because I like their feel (a bit grippy, and not cold when you pick up the the iPad in the winter).

I am actually using a keyboard case now because Apple eliminated the Smart Cover...I figured if I had to have a case that goes all the way around now I might as well try the keyboard. I’m glad I did, but I do agree that the old attachment method (on the side of the iPad vs the back) allowed for more versatility.

 

[LibbyLA]

Realisticly, protected against what? Probably mostly scratches since any breakage protection the front of the iPad would be getting hammered with a hard back. For that, I’d wonder if https://www.gelaskins.com/ would work with the new keyboard case? I’ve used those on a few iPads because I like their feel (a bit grippy, and not cold when you pick up the the iPad in the winter).

I am actually using a keyboard case now because Apple eliminated the Smart Cover...I figured if I had to have a case that goes all the way around now I might as well try the keyboard. I’m glad I did, but I do agree that the old attachment method (on the side of the iPad vs the back) allowed for more versatility.

Protected against what? An accidental drop, especially on a corner. I had that happen to me last night when the iPP was dislodged from the back cover and fell on my ceramic tile floor. Just got a little ding but the drop wasn’t but a couple or three feet. I’m a klutz, I like the silicone back cover as protection.

There are things that I like about the folio cover, but the back comes loose from the iPP too easily for my tastes.

 

[sracer]

So, I have 1st gen 12.9 with Smart Keyboard. I love it, it’s perfect for my use. I’m looking to upgrade, but the new Smart Keyboard appears to restrict having a case on the ipad when taken from the keyboard. The old design allows me to have a protective case when I’m using it just as a tablet. I’ve dropped it many times over the years when away from the keyboard so this is a major concern for me, am I alone on this? It’s pretty much a deal breaker at this point which is very disappointing.

There is sure to be 3rd party options for a back-only case. But you'll be stuck without a keyboard cover option. The new design of these 3rd gen iPPs make a smartcover a virtual impossibility. The camera bump is prominent (1st gen 12.9 Pro has no such bump. ) and pretty much requires a back cover to eliminate the effects of the bump... in addition, these iPPs are so thin that it will be near impossible for a naked iPP to keep the Pencil attached when it is laid down on a table. I believe these are the reasons why Apple did not produce a smartcover option.

This 3rd gen iPad Pro is going to be a turning point for some people. For me, I'm done with iPad Pros (at least in their current forms and limitations). My primary tablet is the 2018 iPad+Apple Pencil... it's my digital notebook that goes everywhere.

The Google Pixelbook has replaced my 12.9 iPad Pro and 11" MBA for daily mobile use, and with the release of Chrome OS 70, it is on its way to replacing the 2018 iPad for those situations where the larger size doesn't matter. (using cross-platform apps makes it a breeze to switch seamlessly between the 2018 iPad and Pixelbook)

If you're interested in moving to something beyond the iPad Pro, consider Chrome OS tablets like the Pixel Slate (rather than Android tablets)... I'll see you over in the Pixel Slate thread.

 

[The_Joker13]

The point is with the new IPP, the keyboard Folio is a combination back case cover AND a keyboard. The old keyboard was just a folding keyboard that doubled as a FRONT cover when not in use, or could be folded back behind the iPad when using it in tablet-only mode. But many users, myself included, bought a separate “back cover” that still had one side cut away to attach the apple keyboard/front cover combo. That way, you could remove the keyboard entirely if you wanted, or fold it back, but the tablet itself remained protected in it’s own back cover.

With the new keyboard folio...you can fold the keyboard back, but if you want to use the tablet by itself, then you basically have to pull the tablet out of the folio cover (it attaches via 3 magnets) and then insert it inside it’s own protective 3rd party case. Then reverse process when you want to use the keyboard again, since it won’t fit back into the folio unless naked.

It’s actually a downgrade from Apple for those who don’t want to always use the device with keyboard attached.

OP, I think we are stuck with this bad design decision until/unless third parties come out with their own keyboard/back case combo’s. I’m equally missing the built-in pencil holder I had on my old back case. This magnetic attachment works great for charging, but it’s not strong enough to hold the pencil during everyday use. It’s become detached (accidentally) multiple times now, ending up on the floor.

^This guy gets it. Very frustrated with Apple atm. I find myself looking at the pixel line of mobile devices more and more.

 

[/macuser]

You don’t think the Pixelbook and Chrome os are limited? It is a browser based operating system. It sucks

 

[sracer]

You don’t think the Pixelbook and Chrome os are limited? It is a browser based operating system. It sucks

No, I don't think that the Pixelbook is limited... not any more limited than something like the iPad. If you think that Chrome OS is a "browser-based" OS then I'd say that your knowledge on the topic is quite a it dated.

 

[Tapiture]

I really don’t like what they did with the Smart Keyboard. It’s dumb that the keyboard is exposed on the back when you have it flipped back. It’s also way too expensive. If I were to buy this new iPad I wouldn’t get the Smart Keyboard. Hoping there will be some good third party options.

 

[/macuser]

Chrome OS is an operating system designed by Google that is based on the Linux kernel and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its principal user interface. As a result, Chrome OS primarily supports web applications.[7]

If you want to run phone apps on a browser it also does android apps

 

[sracer]

Chrome OS is an operating system designed by Google that is based on the Linux kernel and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its principal user interface. As a result, Chrome OS primarily supports web applications.[7]

If you want to run phone apps on a browser it also does android apps

Using a browser as the UI framework is quite different than the OS itself being browser-based.

You dislike Chrome OS, that's fine. I don't want to try to convince you otherwise, but for those who want a bit more flexibility in a mobile device than what iOS offers, it is a viable option.