Smart cover: ESR Trifold case

This gorgeous, elegant case comes in a bunch of awesome colors, features a cover that folds into a kickstand, and it has automatic sleep and wake functionality, just like Apple’s own Smart Cover. Only difference is ESR’s costs a fraction of what Apple’s does.


Super slim keyboard: Logitech Slim Folio

If you’re looking to create a mini powerhouse laptop, then Logitech’s Slim Folio keyboard case is an awesome choice. It features a tough bumper case to protect your iPad, a great keyboard, and boasts a 4-year battery life (2 hours of typing per day). It’s expensive, but worth it for power users.

Fun designs: Fintie keyboard case

Fintie’s budget keyboard option also comes with lots of stylistic flair. Sure, you can get simple solid colors, but there are also awesome designs, like Van Gogh’s Starry Night, cherry blossoms, an old notebook design, and more.



Heavy duty: Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro

Supcase makes excellent rugged cases for phones and tablets alike, and this one has a hard plastic shell, a flexible rubber inner bumper, a built-in kickstand, and an integrated screen protector. It also comes in vibrant colors and leaves all your ports accessible all the time. This one’s perfect for folks who take their iPad everywhere.

Full zip cover: Twelve South Rutledge BookBook

Want to make your iPad look like a super old novel? The BookBook has a full zipper closure to protect your iPad from the elements, with a microfiber lining, a slot for your Apple Pencil, and leather inner bumper to hold onto and protect your iPad even further. There are also two kickstand options for drawing or hands-free viewing.

Simple and elegant: Speck BalanceFolio

Speck’s folio case is simplistic and minimalist, offering a slim, sleek design that won’t bulk up your iPad too much but will still protect it from scratches and wear and tear in your bag. The cover folds into a kickstand, has a magnet for sleep/wake functions, and raised edges to protect your screen.


From Apple: iPad Smart Cover

Apple’s own Smart Cover comes in five colors and has magnets in the cover for sleep/wake functions. This case is thin, and a magnet is what connects the case to your iPad along a hinge, making a sure fit every time. The inner microfiber is color-matched to the outside, creating a consistent aesthetic throughout.

Convertible laptop: Yekbee 360 keyboard case

This is the coolest case on this list. It’s a keyboard case with a hinge that allows the cover to fold all the way around, and it has a swivel connection in the center, letting you spin your iPad a full 360 degrees. There are seven backlight colors for the keyboard, and the overall package is thin and fairly lightweight for a keyboard case.


More design options: MoKo Case Fit

MoKo’s cases are inexpensive, and there are tons of colors and designs to choose from. If you need a bit of pizzazz in your iPad case, this one’s for you. There are 6 solid color options and 19 graphic designs to choose from. For $13, grab a few and switch it up!

Folio with pocket: Fintie folio cover

This Fintie case is a thicker folio design with a pocket in the front cover for money, cards, small documents, and more. This one’s made of faux leather and comes in 36 color and design options.



Shockproof: Walle Shop Defender

If you’re not in the market for a folio case, this one should be up your alley. It’s a dual-layer case with a hard polycarbonate shell and a flexible TPU inner bumper, offering shock absorption with extra protection in the corners. This one’s perfect for families with young ones who use the iPad.

Rugged with kickstand: Zugu Case Prodigy X

This folio-style case has a magnetic kickstand with seven viewing angles, a pocket for your Apple Pencil, and a heavy duty exterior. So it’s maximum protection with maximum functionality in a relatively thin package. There are four colors to choose from, and the cover offers sleep/wake capability.

Luxury pick: Pad & Quill Oxford Leather Case

If you like fine leather goods, then Pad & Quill is the place to go, with its Oxford Leather Case being perhaps the finest leather case for iPads, period. It comes in either chestnut or whiskey brown and features a slot for your Apple Pencil, an inner pocket for documents or peripherals, and an elastic band closure. This is as elegant as it gets.

Leather for less: DTTO PU Leather Folio Cover

If you love leather but don’t want to pay a premium, consider DTTO’s synthetic leather folio, which has a PU leather exterior, but is actually a TPU rubber bumper case underneath. This is the perfect blend of sophistication and protection, and it has an outer pocket for cards and documents, as well as a magnetic cover for sleep/wake functionality. Comes in eight color options.


Trusted brand: ProCase Ultras Slim Stand Case

ProCase has always made excellent cases for Apple products, and this one has a frosted, translucent hard plastic back cover, and a cover that folds back into a kickstand. It has auto-sleep/wake thanks to the magnetic cover, and its lightweight, offer great protection without the bulk. There are 15 gorgeous colors to choose from at an excellent price.

All dressed up: Ztotop Business Folio

Whether you like leather or that thatched fabric look, this case is like a business suit for your iPad. It comes in a variety of colors, with leather accents or leather and fabric, like a blazer with elbow patches. This one has an outer pocket, a loop for your Apple Pencil, a magnetic closure, and the cover folds into a kickstand.


So. Damn. Pretty.: Thankscase Rotating Smart Cover

As the name implies, this case has a front cover that lets your iPad rotate, so you can have it as a kickstand in portrait or landscape mode. Thankscase has the absolute prettiest options on this list, with tons of options with gorgeous, swirly patterns and fabulous color options. The magnetic cover does the sleep/wake thing, and some versions even have a handle on the inside over, so you can hold onto your iPad more firmly while in use.

Extra protection: Youmaker Heavy Duty Protective Case

For extra protection in a slimmer, great-looking package, Youmaker’s case is perfect. It has a built-in kickstand on the hard plastic back cover, and its rubber inner shell provides shock absorption and helps prevent scratches. There’s a screen protector built in, and this case meets the military standard for drop protection. It also comes in some dynamite colors that you don’t often see in rugged cases.
The 9.7-inch iPad is gorgeous, but if you take yours everywhere with you, then it’s only prudent to get a quality case for it. Whether you’re looking for full-on protection, a blend of protection and function, or an ultra-slim option, the above list has you covered.
My favorite case is the Yekbee 360, since I prefer to type on a keyboard rather than the iPad screen, and that backlit keyboard is gorgeous.
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