You Know You Need a Case for Your iPad. Now How Do You Go About Choosing One?

If you are one of the millions of people out there who own an iPad, you know how prevalent one is to your everyday life. You use it to communicate with families through FaceTime, listen to music on your iTunes playlist as you run on the treadmill, or respond to a boss’s email as you’re heading out the door.  While an iPad is more durable than you would think, an iPad case is still an important accessory that you should own in order to protect your iPad as best as possible. An iPad can cost upwards of $600-700, so keeping it in top condition is certainly a priority. But then the question comes to mind over which iPad case you should buy? Here are some things to keep in mind:

• iPads are not one size fits all: Of course, you know that iPad Minis are different in size from regular iPads, but a first generation iPad is not the same size or shape as an iPad 4. If you’re looking at third-party cases, you’ll need to remember this. Third and fourth generation iPads are the same size and shape, so you can buy an iPad 3 case for an iPad 3 or an iPad 4. An iPad 2 case can usually fit an iPad 3 or iPad 4, but it’s not a guarantee. And sometimes a case that’s just for an iPad 4 won’t fit an iPad 3.  Admittedly it can be confusing, so it’s best to review what the instructions say, so you know for sure.
• Different cases offer different protection: If you’re looking into iPad cases, you should consider the type of protection you need. If you travel a lot with your iPad, you’re going to need a tougher case, like a folio, which offers complete protection. You wouldn’t want something like a shell or skin if you take it with you in a laptop or messenger bag because little protection is provided for the screen. However, if you only use it around the house, a shell or skin is fine.
• Price matters: You’re purchasing a case, so you can save money by preventing the need for a new iPad. However, if you’re spending a couple hundred dollars on a new iPad case, you’re not really doing yourself any favors in terms of savings. You can easily find a fantastic iPad case for under a hundred dollars.