The Week in iPad Cases: Helter swelter

07.07.2012
With record temperatures being reported across the continent, it's hard to resist the temptation of sipping a cold drink while you read a book or play a round of Angry Birds by the pool. Alas, dangers for your beloved tablet lurk around every corner: sand, water, dirt, and the occasional pair of sticky hands. Since you can't lather your iPad with sunscreen, we've put together another of our weekly roundups of new iPad protection.

The (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $32) is a form-fitted folio case that combines a sturdy hardshell back and an elegant PU leather front for a unique, classy look. The case, which is compatible with the iPad's magnetic sleep/wake feature, can be used to prop up your iPad for viewing or typing in landscape orientation. It also features a microsuede interior to help keep your screen clean, and it's available in black or white.

The (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $70) is a two-piece protective case made to withstand active use; its three-layer construction ensures maximum protection, with added padding in the corners to keep the weakest points of your tablet extra-safe. A removable covers doubles as a kickstand for viewing, while the front is built so that, even when face down, the screen never touches the surface on which the tablet rests. The Tough Jacket is available in black, red/black, or white/black.

This company's (iPad, iPad 2, and iPad 3; $36) are made of durable sailcloth, designed to be impervious to weather and resistant to dust and water. The secure internal closure helps keep your iPad safe inside an environmentally friendly layer of insulation made from recycled plastic bottles. Despite the sturdiness, FlowFold hasn't skimped on looks, with three striking designs--dubbed Black Pearl, Gridlock, and Sandstorm--available for purchase.

The (iPad 3; $70) combines a snap-on back cover with a removable front plate that doubles as a stand. Rubber feet keep your iPad secure in any of three different positions, while a central hub allows you rotate your device 360 degrees, giving you plenty of viewing and mounting options. It comes in black or white.

The (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $70) is a folio-like case that features a rotating mount and is capable of propping up your tablet for reading or typing in either landscape or portrait orientation. Grooves in the base of the front cover allow you to choose from three different viewing angles. The Book Jacket Revolution is compatible with the iPad's magnetic sleep/wake feature and is available in black.

The (iPad 2; $130) features a folio construction that allows viewing at multiple angles in landscape orientation, as well as a detachable Bluetooth keyboard. This case's defining characterstic, however, is the presence of a built-in security anchor compatible with the company's ClickSafe lock that makes it possible to secure your iPad from theft, thus making the KeyFolio an ideal fit for scenarios in which you need to leave the tablet out of your sight or within reach of potentially sticky hands. The case also includes a loop for a pen or stylus, as well as cutouts for all the tablet's ports and cameras.

The (iPad 3; $50) features a foldable folio design that offers two portrait and three landscape viewing positions. A special mounting system allows the back to be folded away to conveniently reveal the iPad's camera, or detached completely to turn the Incline into a snap-on back cover. The case's soft microsuede helps keep your screen protected and clean, and you can choose from blue, black, green, red, or carbon-fiber black.

The (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $18) is a leatherette case that snaps firmly onto the corners of your tablet and protects it from bumps and scratches. When closed, the front cover, which works with the iPad's magnetic sleep/wake feature, closes snuggly onto the back, helping to keep dust and water away. The closure also features an elastic band that doubles as a hand strap, and the cover can double as a landscape-orientation viewing stand with three different positions.

The (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $30) is designed to be thin and sturdy. Made of strong polycarbonate that's only 1.8 millimiters thick, the case features an exclusive UV- and scratch-resistant glossy coating. It also provides all the appropriate openings for the iPad's ports and cameras, guaranteeing prompt access to everything you need to operate your tablet. The Nude comes in black, white, clear, red, pink, blue, or lime green.

The (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $20) and (iPad 2 and iPad 3; $30) protective films help protect your iPad's screen and can be easily applied with the company's exclusive Defense Grid system--the company's Website, when viewed on the iPad, displays a grid designed to help you align the protective film over the tablet's screen. The Pro version also features a special self-healing technology that causes small scratches and dents to disappear from the screen protector.