I went down the rabbit hole this week on keyboard cases. I actually love the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for the most part. Feature wise, it checked off a lot of boxes that I was sorely missing in the first two generations with the Apple Smart Keyboard Cover:
1) Back protection that is super easy to remove if needed
2) Sleek and light
3) I love how it feels in the hand while carrying it around (no more annoying hump!)
4) I love the typing experience.
I know it's been kind of a "love it or hate it" type of accessory, but I'm in the "love it" camp. However, there are two things I still hate about it:
1) I have a set of iStyles decals on the front and back of the Folio because I got sick of wiping off fingerprints and dirt. (The plus side on this is that it will be pristine whenever I sell it, and I've added some decorative stickers to the decals instead of sticking them directly on the Folio.)
2) I use a TomToc 11" sleeve for when I leave the house with it because there is no side protection. I shudder to think of the scuffs and scratches I might have picked up on the sides by now without this sleeve.
Those two things on my dislike list had my eye wandering to some third party options recently just to see if the grass was greener somewhere else. Last generation when I tried this experiment, I ended up being pleasantly surprised by the Zagg Rugged Messenger, which ended up being my favorite iPad case of all time.
Unfortunately, this time around, I'm finding that third party options are getting worse probably at about the same rate that Apple's options are getting better. I just can't find one that dethrones the Smart Keyboard Folio in my mind, even with the compromises. Here's what I prefer in a case:
1) As much protection as possible. (Apple's case is still a failure here as far as the sides.)
2) Stellar build quality. (Apple needs to copy Logitech's silicon material from their current folio case.)
3) Multiple modes of use that are actually convenient. I need to be able to comfortably use the iPad as a tablet AND a laptop/desktop computer.
4) If there is additional Pencil storage, make it so that I don't have to force the Pencil under/out of some kind of hard plastic clip.
5) When the case is shut, there shouldn't be excessive sliding around between the two halves. It should feel at least as solid as a closed hardback book.
6) There shouldn't be any moving parts that can potentially damage the iPad.
So what's your criteria? The Logitech Slim Folio Pro came close to dethroning the Apple keyboard for me, but failed on several of the above items and I just couldn't live with it. All the rest I'm not even going to bother trying because I already know they won't cut it.
1) Back protection that is super easy to remove if needed
2) Sleek and light
3) I love how it feels in the hand while carrying it around (no more annoying hump!)
4) I love the typing experience.
I know it's been kind of a "love it or hate it" type of accessory, but I'm in the "love it" camp. However, there are two things I still hate about it:
1) I have a set of iStyles decals on the front and back of the Folio because I got sick of wiping off fingerprints and dirt. (The plus side on this is that it will be pristine whenever I sell it, and I've added some decorative stickers to the decals instead of sticking them directly on the Folio.)
2) I use a TomToc 11" sleeve for when I leave the house with it because there is no side protection. I shudder to think of the scuffs and scratches I might have picked up on the sides by now without this sleeve.
Those two things on my dislike list had my eye wandering to some third party options recently just to see if the grass was greener somewhere else. Last generation when I tried this experiment, I ended up being pleasantly surprised by the Zagg Rugged Messenger, which ended up being my favorite iPad case of all time.
Unfortunately, this time around, I'm finding that third party options are getting worse probably at about the same rate that Apple's options are getting better. I just can't find one that dethrones the Smart Keyboard Folio in my mind, even with the compromises. Here's what I prefer in a case:
1) As much protection as possible. (Apple's case is still a failure here as far as the sides.)
2) Stellar build quality. (Apple needs to copy Logitech's silicon material from their current folio case.)
3) Multiple modes of use that are actually convenient. I need to be able to comfortably use the iPad as a tablet AND a laptop/desktop computer.
4) If there is additional Pencil storage, make it so that I don't have to force the Pencil under/out of some kind of hard plastic clip.
5) When the case is shut, there shouldn't be excessive sliding around between the two halves. It should feel at least as solid as a closed hardback book.
6) There shouldn't be any moving parts that can potentially damage the iPad.
So what's your criteria? The Logitech Slim Folio Pro came close to dethroning the Apple keyboard for me, but failed on several of the above items and I just couldn't live with it. All the rest I'm not even going to bother trying because I already know they won't cut it.
