Fintie SlimShell Case for iPad 6th / 5th Generation (2018 2017 Model, 9.7 Inch), iPad Air 2 / Air 1 (9.7 Inch) - Lightweight Stand Smart Protective Cover with Auto Sleep/Wake, Black

Great fit

Price is right, and me Bride love's it

This case fills the bill for everyday use. The tray that holds the iPad Air 2 is very sturdy and holds the iPad securely. IThe Fintie SmartShell is light and slim so it is good for general hand held use; reading, surfing the web, hand held gaming, etc.. The front of the case, or flap, folds back 360 degrees flat or it can be folded into a triangle to stand it on a table or counter top, When the case acts as a stand, it can be configured standing up or laying down at a shallow angle (good in the kitchen if you are reading a recipe). The stand can also act as a good hand-hold when playing some games where you want both thumbs free; probably not its intended use.I would give this case 5 stars if the spine of the "book" Spine was stiffer. The spine should be flexible for opening and closing the front flap (which it is) but, as it is configured, the spine can twist when it is open or when used as a stand. This is not a huge problem because the flap stays aligned when it is closed or when folded into a stand and sitting on a table. Its just when you hold it in your hands in stand mode that the twisting is a little annoying. I imagine this would not be considered a drawback by most users because the stand feature does what it is intended to do very well.There is a hidden magnetic strip in the flap that holds the stand in its triangular profile; pretty slick. The magnetic strip also functions as an automatic switch when the flap is closed; automatically putting the iPad in sleep mode and waking up to the sign-in screen when opened. The iPad buttons, speakers, charging port, headphone jack, and camera are all functional when this case is used.It is a little difficult to remove the iPad from the tray if you want to switch to another case such as a keyboard case; which I did to write this review; not much of a problem since the iPad will probably remain in this case 95% of the time.I have never dropped my iPad Air 2 so I can't vouch for the protection of the iPad if it was to be dropped on a corner from height onto a concrete floor because the corners of the case are hard plastic. I'd say don't try that. If it did not fall squarely right on a corner, I expect there would be no damage. I'll let you know if that ever happens but I'm not about to try it. I would recommend the SmartShell case for general use because it works well overall and there is no reason to spend 3 times as much on similar items at retail stores. I would buy this case again for its intended purpose; slim compact case with built-in stand but not intended for rugged outdoor or construction site use.

If you are looking for a case that does not add much bulk but lends a fair amount of protections, look no further.When I first ordered my iPad Air 2 I started looking for cases and Fintie was one of the very few out there. I was not too sure of the plastic back but with the leather texture on back (sides still plastic) it does not seem like plastic and is easy to carry. The plastic back sides comes above the surface of the iPad, around the edges just a bit to offer a some of flip and fall face down protection and the if it falls on the corner that little extra bit should protect the surface corner as well from contacting the table or floor. The inside of the plastic back is covered by microfiber that extends across the lid. All switches are easy to get to.The case back is easy to snap in. It will increase the lengths 3.5mm and the width 2.5mm. The total thickness with the iPad installed is 12mm, twice that of a naked iPad. This might be the only downside of the product. It the thickness does not bother you, this might be the perfect case.The plastic seem sturdy enough to take the force of a fall, but I will not be the one testing it. I was able to get an approximate thickness of the plastic back at some places. Plastic at the bottom of back is about 1.2 mm thick. At the on off button it is 2.1mm. The base with padding and texture about 2.3mm and the lid is about 2.5mm. The lip around the plastic back is about 1mm but when you snap it in, this lip is on the bevel of the surface side so it comes up a fraction of a mm above the surface of the iPadIt does take some force to remove the back from the iPad so it is safe to say that it will stay on without much problem.I will also be reviewing the Fintie iPad Air 2 Slim Fit Leather Folio Case with Smart Cover in the next couple of week.

I’m comparing this to the only other case I’ve purchased for the iPad Air 2 (Case Crown Omni), but I’ve purchased 4 of them over the past 5 years; the Case Crown Omni which I've been very happy with. (They look very similar, which is what caught my eye at first.) I didn’t mind that I had to purchase a new Case Crown every year or so (because of breakage). Small price to pay for one of such quality. It did a good job protecting iPad from monthly drops of 2-3 feet. But the corners inevitably broke each year. I looked at it as a $20-$30/ year protection of $600 iPad (the price went down each year). The Case Crown Omni was the only one I wanted since it was very thin, very light, and inexpensive into the bargain. I purchased this one because it was even cheaper, though I expect it to be slightly more durable. There are areas where each compares favorably. The Case Crown Omni was slightly thinner and lighter but more expensive. As stated, this one appears to be more durable, but we’ll see. That means I paid less for something (the Fintie) which ‘seems’ more durable, which makes me feel frugal. The Case Crown has gone down in price, so if I purchase this again, it will have to be more durable (last longer than a year). Both are good. I am happy with both purchases. So far.Other than the Case Crown being thinner and lighter, it has four fold panels rather than the three this one has. That means this one has a wider, sturdier base, but the Case Crown was slightly easier to hold as I tucked my index finger into the hollow of the folds. But this one compares favorably in price and sturdiness or durability (I think) and the Case Crown for it’s thinner lighter size. I’ll update this review next year, or if it tears or snaps too early.