The Best iPad Cases No Matter How You Use Your Tablet

I’ve been professionally reviewing iPad cases since 2011, and in that time, I’ve seen it all. One thing I’ve learned is there’s no single best case for every iPad user. The right model depends on a combination of factors, including who’s going to be using the tablet and for what, as well as aesthetics. But a case is a good idea regardless of how you’re using your iPad. After all, it’s really just a giant sheet of breakable glass with an easily scratchable and dentable aluminum shell.

As a general rule, we prefer cases that protect as much of the iPad as possible, including its screen, back, sides and buttons. If there’s a protective front cover, it should have embedded magnets to automatically wake up the iPad when you open the case, and put it to sleep when you close it. Here are some of our favorites to guide you in the right direction.

• Best iPad cases for protection
• Best iPad cases for kids
• Best iPad cases with keyboards
• Best leather iPad cases

Best iPad cases for protection

This is the most popular case category, with a range of options from the everyday thin case that will prevent scratches and dents from minor drops to models designed to withstand pretty much any damage you throw at them.

Available for iPad (9th generation) | iPad (10th generation) | iPad Pro (11-inch) | iPad Pro (12.9-inch) | iPad Air (5th generation) | iPad Mini (6th generation)

Spigen’s Ultra Hybrid Pro is a thin, lightweight and lower-price case that provides many protective features in a design that should appeal to a variety of tastes. It combines two of the most commonly used case materials: polycarbonate (PC), a hard plastic, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a softer, rubberlike plastic for flexibility and shock absorption. The case’s transparent back panel shows off the iPad’s body while slightly raised corners help to prevent damage from drops. Like many cases, the Ultra Hybrid Pro’s front cover is divided into three columns so that it can fold into a triangular stand; you can position it at a viewing angle ideal for movies or lower for typing. The TPU frame is a little thinner along the right edge, allowing the second-generation Apple Pencil to be magnetically mounted and charged on compatible iPad models.

Available for iPad (9th generation) | iPad (10th generation) | iPad Pro (11-inch) | iPad Pro (12.9-inch) | iPad Air (5th generation) | iPad Mini (6th generation)

The Otterbox Symmetry Series Elite takes the basic structure of Spigen’s case and refines it for a more premium product. It has a similar clear plastic back, but there are more color options for the borders and lid than just black; the Vitamin C orange is a looker. Shock-absorbing pockets are built into the case’s frame—meaning no need for raised corners—and there’s an Apple Pencil-holding tray that pops out when you need it and sits flush against the edge when you don’t.

Available for iPad (9th generation) | iPad (10th generation) | iPad Pro (11-inch) | iPad Pro (12.9-inch) | iPad Air (5th generation) | iPad Mini (6th generation)

Zugu makes iPad cases—and that’s it. So it’s not surprising that the Zugu case is highly functional, even if it’s not the prettiest around. Its structure comes from its PC core while it gets shock absorption from TPU around the edges. The exterior has a faux leather look in your choice of seven colors. There are two rows of eight ridges each on the front cover that are used to prop the iPad up at various angles; the kickstand that folds out from the back of the case is magnetic and rests in the grooves of your desired angle, holding the position securely. While you can attach the Apple Pencil to the side of the iPad on supported models, there’s also an elastic pocket on the back that holds it more securely for travel. Zugu is so confident in the case’s protectiveness that it’ll cover the $49 service fee if your iPad is damaged while in one of its cases (if you have AppleCare+, and only one time).

Best iPad cases for kids

Wherever you fall on the screen-time spectrum, if you’re going to hand a young child an iPad, it needs to be well protected so that you don’t fear for the worst every time it goes flying from the stroller or couch. There are a huge number of seemingly interchangeable kids’ cases on Amazon, from companies with unpronounceable names like LTROP and BMOUO. These bulky rubber cases are a lower-price way to protect an iPad, but we think it’s worth spending a little bit more on a reputable, brand-name option. Note: Kids’ cases are almost all for the 9th-generation iPad, Apple’s lowest-price tablet.

Available for iPad (9th generation)

Otterbox’s Kids Antimicrobial EasyGrab is a multilayered case that offers the high level of protection this brand is known for. There’s a two-piece plastic frame that snaps in place around the iPad, and then an (intentionally) bulky soft outer case offering significant drop protection (OtterBox doesn’t make any specific claims about drop-height). It’s also antimicrobial. The EasyGrab also comes with a detachable carrying handle that doubles as a way to mount the tablet on the back of a car seat headrest so they can watch “Bluey” while you drive. It’s available in three kid-friendly colors and you can add on a screen protector for extra security.

Available for iPad (9th generation)

Speck’s Case-E Run is another great option for the children in your life. It’s an upgraded version of the no-name cases mentioned above made from a single piece of thick ethylene-vinyl acetate foam, a rubberlike material. Speck says the case will survive drops up to 6 feet in height. Much like the EasyGrab, the Case-E Run is antimicrobial, and it comes with a removable carrying handle that can also go around a headrest.

Best iPad cases with keyboards

Paired with a keyboard case, an iPad can be a useful productivity tool or even a laptop replacement. The best of them feel like typing on a stand-alone keyboard, and we recommend choosing one with a trackpad for a complete solution.

Available for: iPad (9th Generation) | iPad (10th Generation) | iPad Pro (11-inch)/iPad Air (5th Generation) | iPad Pro (12.9-inch)

The Logitech Combo Touch should be the first keyboard case you consider for your iPad. There’s just nothing that matches this case’s combination of functionality, simplicity, lower weight and lower price. Available in Oxford Grey or Sand, the case itself is a combination of rubber and plastic, with fabric covering the exterior and the space around the keys inside. The keyboard is located inside the front cover and the iPad magnetically attaches to the other side so that when it’s closed, the tablet’s screen is against the keys.

There’s no need to worry about battery power or a Bluetooth connection, as the iPad automatically and instantly connects to the keyboard via the Smart Connector, three small contacts that correspond to matching pins inside the case.

The Combo Touch’s keys feel excellent to type on, and even the smaller version of the case doesn’t feel small, even though it’s about an inch narrower than the keyboard on a MacBook. There’s a full QWERTY layout as well a row of function keys across the top to adjust the volume, control media playback and more. The trackpad beneath the keyboard is as good as any Apple makes. Made of smooth glass, it supports multi-touch gestures for easy navigation and you can click it anywhere without worrying if your press will register.

You prop up the iPad with a sturdy built-in kickstand that runs the length of the tablet. It supports a nearly-infinite range of angles between almost flat to perpendicular. There’s either a loop of faux leather or a cutout to hold the Apple Pencil, depending on which version you choose.

Available for: iPad Pro (11-inch)/iPad Air (10.9-inch) | iPad Pro (12.9-inch)

Apple’s Magic Keyboard is a good premium alternative with a few additional benefits. It’s a little thinner than the Combo Touch (thanks in part to the lack of a removable case). A floating cantilever design lets you position the iPad anywhere from 80 and 128 degrees off the keyboard, and because there’s no kickstand extending out from the back, it requires less desk space and works better on a lap. There’s also a USB-C port on the left side of the spine for pass-through charging.

Best leather iPad cases

Apple has stopped using leather in its products for environmental reasons, but there are third-party accessory makers there to fill in the gap. If you like the look and feel of natural cowhide, these are the best cases for you.

Available for iPad (9th generation) | iPad (10th generation) | iPad Pro (11-inch) | iPad Pro (12.9-inch) | iPad Mini (6th generation)

Twelve South’s BookBook Case series is designed to fit in on a bookshelf, but don’t let that fool you. It’s full of clever features that make it quite useful as well. Inside the brown leather case you’ll find a plastic frame that holds the iPad in place. Underneath, there’s a kickstand that is used to position the tablet up at a typing angle; you can also prop the tablet’s edge against the inside cover for a range of viewing positions. The BookBook Case also has a pocket for documents or thin accessories. It zips shut on three sides, with the left edge—the spine—displaying the BookBook “title” and a cute “VOL XII” Easter egg. There’s also a version designed to hold an iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard at the same time.