Best iPad Air Keyboard Cases

The new iPad Air (the fifth iPad) is seriously skinny. We’re talking about 7.5mm, which makes it easy to handle for such a big tablet, but you have to worry about durability. You can add a flourish of personal style to Apple’s minimalist design, choose functional elements to enhance your daily use, and make sure it’s safe when you sling it in your bag; all it takes is the right case. Here are some of our favorites.

Moshi VersaKeyboard Case

A trio of elements makes this a case worth considering. It has a hard polycarbonate shell to keep your iPad Air protected, a versatile folding cover that can act as a stand in portrait or landscape view, and a detachable Bluetooth keyboard that slides in the back. It’s surprisingly slim and light for a keyboard case, at 380g. The origami style cover also supports the automatic sleep/wake function and has a soft microfiber lining to keep the screen clean and scratch-free.

Kensington Comercio Me Folio Case

This is a slim case from Kensington that enables you to customize your iPad Air. The hard shell has a clear, scratch-resistant window in the back, and you can put photos or a Skin it decal in there. There’s a folding cover with a microfiber lining that brings the iPad Air to life automatically when you open it and sends it off to sleep when closed. There are also channels in the case designed to redirect the sound from the speakers towards you.

 Incipio Capture Case

If you’re going to expose your iPad Air to the elements then it could be a good idea to snag a rugged case like this. It offers multiple layers of protection with a soft inner core, a hard shell, a bumper, and a removable 360 degree rotating neoprene hand strap to ensure you don’t drop it. This case can handle bumps and falls, it is splash and dust resistant, and you get a screen protector included as well. It will be overkill for most people, but anyone requiring real protection should take a look.

Booqpad Case

 

Versatility is the major draw for this folio case. You’ve got a standard polycarbonate shell that attaches to a folio cover using magnets, so it can be attached and detached quickly and easily. The folio cover acts as a multi-position stand and it even comes with a pad of paper. The exterior is polyurethane with a textured finish and the inner lining is nubuck. In addition to the notebook, there are slots for cards. This case also comes with a screen protector.

Zerochroma Vario-SC Case

This understated case is slim and plain looking, but it boasts serious practicality. Crafted from TPU, which is soft to the touch, this case has cut-outs for the ports and covers to protect the buttons. There’s a raised lip that protects the screen of the iPad Air if you should place it face down. The main attraction is the kickstand on the back which can spin 360 degrees to enable you to prop your tablet at any angle you want in landscape or portrait view.