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Review of Three Cases for the Apple iPad

Review of Three Cases for the Apple iPad

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Apple iPad Case Reviews


  • Apple iPad Case
  • Marware Eco-Flip & Eco-View
  • Melkco Jacka-Type Leather Case for the iPad

Reviewed by Ron Risman -- June 2010

I have been an iPhone owner since it debuted a few years ago, so when the iPad became available I made sure I purchased one on the day it launched. Like the iPhone, the iPad will change the way we use and view what a computer should be.

Now that I have had a few months with the iPad I can tell you that I use it each and every day - around the house and whenever I travel. What do I use it for? Well, pretty much everything. I sit it on my desk next to me while working to listen to music or podcasts, stay in touch with the latest tweets or Facebook updates, log into my servers to update or to run maintenance tasks, or to take a glance of the latest weather radar. After work I use it to watch movies on Netflix, edit some photos before uploading them to Facebook, read the news, check the sunrise/sunset times and position for upcoming photo & film shoots, listen to music, do some shopping, or to play a game every now and then. With all the use I give it I know that if not properly cared for it will end up with scratches and scuff marks all over the backside. As someone who often sells his gear to upgrade to the latest model I find it very important to keep what I use in great condition - that's why I walked out of the Apple store with both an iPad AND the Apple case for the iPad.

When it comes to the iPad I am definitely torn between carrying it around 'naked' or inside a case. The iPad is definitely sexier without a case, but it's also pretty easy to lose your grip on it. The other issue I have is that the naked iPad wasn't designed with a stand built-in, so if you want to use it hands-free you'll need something to keep it propped up. What better way to keep it protected AND hands-free than with a case?

In this review I take a look at three different cases: the official iPad case from Apple; the Marware Eco-Flip; and the Melkco Jacka Style Leather case. There are literally hundreds of different cases available for the iPad so I realize that this review barely scratches the surface. I think by the time you reach the end of this review you'll know what features you want in a case. This, in turn, will make it easier to find one that suits you the best.

One of the first things I want to mention before getting into the individual reviews is that you should not purchase the iPad dock if you plan on using a case. When I initially purchased the iPad, I also purchased the iPad dock and Apple's iPad case. Unfortunately, the iPad dock doesn't provide enough room for a case, even their own ultra-thin one. I immediately returned the iPad dock and haven't missed it one bit.

Apple's iPad Case

This case was the one that I purchased on day one. As soon as I walked out of the Apple store I sat on a bench in the mall, took the iPad out of its box, and slid it into the case. Despite what some have said about the Apple case, I personally love it. It has most of the features one would want in a case without adding much bulk.


The case opens like a notebook and has a grippy rubbery texture to it. It's tight fit means your iPad won't slip out of it, but sliding it in or out isn't too difficult as you grab the middle flap when sliding it in or the right hand edge when sliding it out.

The exterior features reinforced panels on the top cover and back side. The cover also features a bendable crease about 3/4 of the way in, which is used to prop up the iPad when typing or as a horizontal stand when watching videos.


The exterior of the iPad case has a rubbery feel to it. It's stiff, yet bendable, and provides a nice non-slip grip. If there's one downfall is that it's somewhat prone to showing fingerprint or dust. I personally haven't had too many problems with the case picking up dust or fingerprints, though I did feel the need to wipe it down with a slightly dampened soft cloth after about a month of heavy use. I guess if you'll be using the iPad in a dusty environment or think you'll be sliding it under the seat of your car when heading into the mall, this case may not be the best choice.


The inside of the case, and more specifically the area that surrounds the iPad, is made of soft micro fiber. This soft interior helps to insure that your iPad won't get scratched inadvertently as you slide it in and out of the case.


In use the cover folds completely flat behind the case making it easy to use the iPad without the case interfering. Another nice touch is the built-in tilt available when you flip the cover back and tuck it inside the integrated rear slot/tab. This tilt keeps the iPad propped up at a 13-degree angle, an ideal position for typing or for keeping an eye on the screen when sitting on a desk or table.


The tilt of the case can also be used as a horizontal table stand. Just flip around the back cover and slide it into the reinforced tab. Flip the iPad over and sit it horizontally on a flat, solid surface.

The only downside to using the case as a stand is that it's a bit wobbly. This is only an issue if you press hard against the screen when tapping, pinching, swiping or pressing the home button. You can also use the case as a vertical stand as well. I am not 100% sure whether the case was designed with this vertical orientation in mind, but it works fine when on a solid flat surface - again, make sure to press lightly against the screen, unless supporting it with the other hand.


Overall, I really like the Apple iPad case. It's not leather, it's not rich looking, and it nobody will confuse it with a normal bound portfolio, which is either good or bad depending on the look you're after. The cover of the case also features an Apple logo, which is great for those that love to flaunt their gadgets and not so great for those a bit more protective of their gear.

The edges of the case have a protruding seam that looks a bit out of place and ultimately will show the most wear as the edges tend to bend over time. All ports are easily accessible when the iPad is in the case, though the protruding seam makes it a bit more challenging to reach the screen orientation lock.

Marware Eco-Flip Leather Case

After listening to Leo Laporte extolling the virtues of the Marware Eco-Flip iPad case on his weekly podcasts I wrote to the company to see if they would send a sample for me to test and include in this review. They were very responsive and the case was on my doorstep within a few days.

Despite the love that Mr. Laporte was giving to this case on air, I kept wondering why anyone would want such a thick case for such a thin gadget. I love how thin the iPad is, and one of the things I love about the Apple case is that it does a great job at keeping things thin. So I knew that the Marware case would be climbing an uphill battle, at least with me. Fortunately, the case had the legs to make the climb, because in the end , the Eco-Flip has become my favorite iPad case to date. Read on to find out how and why.

The Marware Eco-Flip is made of true eco-leather and has a very rich feel to it. The eco-friendly tanning process uses less toxins compared to traditional leather tanning. This minimizes toxic runoff into the ground and water tables. No chlorine, sulfuric acid, or petroleum/chemical based dyes are used in the process. Real leather while reducing the negative impact on the environment.


The case features a sewn in elastic strap that keeps the case closed (or open), a low-angle table top stand that props up the iPad to a 13-degree angle - the ideal height for typing or table-top viewing of the screen, and a vertical hand strap designed to allow the user to securely grip the device with one hand. For most purposes the hand-strap seemed unnecessary, though if I were holding the iPad for any length of time in the vertical position I would definitely use it as it provides a secure way of holding the iPad without having to grip it.


Unlike Apple's case, the Eco-Flip is a specifically designed for vertical orientation. Marware also makes a version called the Eco-View, which is similar to the portfolio-like design of the Apple case, where the top cover opens sideways and flips around to become a horizontal stand. I suspect that most users would prefer the horizontally designed Eco-View over the Eco-Flip that I am reviewing here, but they each have their advantages.

The vertical stand position of the Eco-Flip is ideal reading books, news articles, PDF files, word documents, and web pages, while the horizontal orientation of the Eco-View is best suited for viewing spreadsheets or watching video clips and movies.


Despite the favored vertical orientation of the Eco-Flip, you can still use the cover as a stand for horizontal viewing (see photo on left), however when used in this position the screen will be completely vertical with no viewing tilt. The opposite holds true of the Eco-View - which provides a tiltable stand for horizontal viewing and non-tilting support for vertical viewing.

The entire inside of the case has a very soft suede feel to it and will protect the iPad from scratches and scuffs. The leather trim is accented by sewn stitching, adding to the elegant hand-crafted look of these cases.

Another nice touch is that the flip-out typing stand has a very small built-in magnet that keeps it inside and flush to the inside cover when not in use.


With the Eco-Flip, the iPad slides in easily from the top. A narrow 3" leather flap then tucks in around and behind the iPad to keep it from sliding out. As with all of these cases, all external buttons are accessible while the iPad is in the case.

As far as cases go, the Marware Eco-Flip has become my favorite iPad case, despite the fact that it adds quite a bit of thickness and weight, and makes the entire package feel more substantial. Overall it's the richness of the leather, the extra protection that it provides, and the fact that others won't instantly know that I am carrying an iPad that are the reasons I have continued using this case over the Apple case. I admit that when I am first showing the iPad to someone for the first time, I usually take it out of the case so that they can feel how thin the iPad actually is.


The integrated hand strap of the Eco-Flip is a nice but, but I use differently than intended. Since I find little value in sliding my hand through it for stability, I instead fold up a micro-fiber cleaning cloth and tuck it below the strap. This keeps it readily accessible when I want to wipe the screen of the iPad clean from fingerprints.

If I was purchasing the case I would probably have opted for the Eco-View instead of the Eco-Flip, just because I would have preferred it to work as a horizontal stand rather a vertical stand - but as mentioned in the review they each have their advantages.
The Marware Eco-Flip case retails for $54.99 and is available directly from Marware for $44.99 as of June 9, 2010. It's also available through Amazon

You can also purchase the Eco-View iPad case through Amazon as well. Your purchase from Amazon also helps to support our site. for an even great savings.

Melkco Leather Case - Jacka Type


Melkco was another company that I contacted to get a case or two to review. I had originally inquired about getting portfolio style cases since the intent of this review was to compare a few of these cases from different companies. Instead they sent me one of their Jacka-style leather cases - and in bright PINK. Thanks, nothing like walking around in public with a bright pink leather cover on the iPad. Truthfully, if I were sending out a case to review I might want to get rid of the colors that weren't moving, so it's understandable. (With my luck I'll find out that Pink is their best seller).


The good news is that the Melkco case arrived in a nice black gift box wit the leather case inside accented by a black wrap-around ribbon. The case was also designed to add very little weight or bulk to the iPad, another big plus. The backside of the case, the part that the iPad snaps into, is quite sturdy with stiff side walls that wrap around the edges of the iPad. The top side of the case is also stiff, but it flexes a bit too much and arrived warped in the center. (See photo on right). The inside of the case is a very soft felt and should keep your iPad scratch free. As with all these cases, all iPad buttons and ports are accessible with the case on.


There are two big problems with this particular Melkco case for the iPad. First, the cover of the case won't stay closed. There's a small tab on top of the case (see photo on right) that just won't grab the edge of the iPad. It immediately slipped off no matter how hard I tried to get it to stay in place. I even tried bending the tab, but to no avail

The second problem is that the case was designed upside down, at least in my opinion. When you insert the iPad into the case, the cover closes toward the top. If they had reversed this by making the cover close down over the iPad, you would then be able to fold it back and use it as a vertical iPad stand. Either way, you can still use it to prop up the iPad horizontally, but without a tilt, though the leather hinges feel a bit flimsy for this purpose.

Overall, I was disappointed with this case. The leather feels nice, the gift box and ribbon made for a great first impression, but the warped cover, the hinge that wouldn't keep the cover closed, and the bass-ackwards way the cover opens and closes makes this a case to walk away from. I will say that if the cover closure was corrected I could see this being a very popular case. It feels great in the hand and adds virtually no bulk to the iPad.

Melkco makes this case in Black, Pink, Purple, Red, and Orange. Retail price seems very high at $79. Visit the Melkco.com web site.

Review Summary

Of the three iPad cases that I reviewed so far my favorite is the Marware Eco-Flip. The thick leather feels great and while it adds weight and bulk to the iPad there's just something professional feeling about it. I also like the fact that it disguises the iPad by making it like a normal bound portfolio when walking around. The Eco-Flip also features a built-in kick-stand to keep the iPad propped up at a 13-degree angle for typing (approx. 1.75"), can be used as a tilt stand while viewing the iPad in its vertical orientation, and can even be used to keep it upright while in landscape (Movie watching) view.

The Apple iPad case is a very close second and there are times when I even prefer the iPad case, like when I plan to share the iPad with others in a group setting (family outings, etc. ). The thin design and rubber-like texture make it easy to hold, and the case also doubles as a horizontal viewing stand and a tilted typing stand with a 13-degree tilt-angle. The case is prone to picking up fingerprints, but is also fairly easy to wipe off with a moistened soft cloth. The iPad case offers a tighter fit and with its rubber-like texture sliding the iPad in and out takes a bit more work - but truthfully it's not difficult and you most likely won't be sliding it in and out all that frequently.

The Melkco case is not a case I would recommend. There are things I liked about it, but it's flimsy cover, defective closure mechanism, and backward open/close design make it less usable for anything other than just a protective cover.

Over the next few weeks I plan on testing out a few more iPad cases and have hopes that a new favorite is still around the corner, though I must admit that the Apple case and the Marware cases reviewed here are hard to beat.

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