The iPad Air is an incredible piece of technology. It's one of the best tablet devices on the market and quite likely the epicentre of your digital life. They’re so powerful and reliable that we use them for everything, from emailing and web browsing to updating our social media and streaming box sets. An iPad Air is a delicate, scratchable, and important device, so it certainly needs protecting. That means you need a case.
We needed a case too, so we trawled the web looking for the best solutions. There was a lot of choice out there from Apple and third-party manufacturers alike. Some are okay, some are bad, but there’s a select few that are brilliant, and we’d like to share them with you. So, if you find yourself wondering “What is the best iPad Air case?” we’ve got the answer for you.
If you’ve decided to go for an iPad Air, it’s likely that you’ve picked that model because you don’t want a bulky tablet. We kept that in mind while we were making our selections, so our picks for the top iPad Air cases are not only great products but also lightweight and low-profile.
Note: These cases are for the 2019 Apple iPad Air model, sometimes referred to as the iPad Air 3.
iPad Air Cases
Best Value
The JETech Smart Case is low-profile and offers 360-degree protection, with a PC plastic shell for the rear of the tablet and a tri-fold front cover. The front cover doubles as a stand, offering two positions for increased viewing comfort. As a Smart case, your iPad will automatically wake and sleep as the cover is opened and closed.
ZtotopCase's offering is a synthetic leather cover offering protection and utility with an executive aesthetic. The front cover offers an auto wake and sleep function and can be folded back to double as a viewing stand when needed. This case also features a front pocket and stylus loop.
The Targus name is synonymous with longevity and reliability, and the VersaVu lives up to the reputation. This case offers up 360 degrees of iPad Air, military specification level protection – though this does make the VersaVu the bulkiest option on our list. The front flap utilises the logo cut out as a pivot point along the flap to be used as a viewing stand in both landscape and portrait orientations. This case also features a stylus loop.
Apple's Smart Cover is a minimalist product, offering a simple tri-fold front cover connected to the device via a magnet. The front cover doubles as a two-position viewing stand and offers an auto sleep and wake function. This case does not offer 360-degree protection, as it is only a cover for the screen. As with everything Apple, this case works flawlessly and is of a high quality, though some will be wary of the item's high cost and minimal protection.
This case follows the same principle as the Apple Smart Cover, attaching via a magnetic strip to the edge of your iPad to offer a front cover, with the addition of a full QWERTY keyboard. This keyboard allows you to fully utilise the iPad Air's office application capabilities, making answering emails or writing presentations much easier. The keyboard automatically syncs to the attached device, so there is no fiddly setup, and it requires no additional charge.