Kensington, X-Doria introduce cases, covers for iPad mini
updated 03:44 pm EDT, Wed October 24, 2012
Kensington offer combined cover and stand, back covers
Kensington's first case for Apple's newest handheld is the Protective Cover & Stand for iPad mini ($35), a slim hard-shell case with a velvet interior and a choice of three color combinations. The rear allows for unobstructed use of the iPad mini's rear camera, while the front cover can fold up into a triangular tube-shaped stand, allowing the iPad mini to be positioned in two different ways.
Although lacking a front cover, the Kensington Protective Back Cover for iPad mini ($20) is available in four colors and offers more traditional protection. The clear and teal colored cases use a thin layer of TPU rubber to prevent scratches and provide increased grip, and the black and eggplant versions are made from a hard polycarbonate polymer, and also enable the use of the Apple Smart Cover.
X-Doria iPad mini case lineup includes puff printing, sleeves
The X-Doria SmartStyle ($40) features a puff-printed cover that wraps around from front to back, and has a 3D pattern that adds more tactile grip. The integrated stand can fold to an upright position for reading, or at an incline for typing. Carefully positioned magnets in the cover triggers the sleep and wake function whenever the cover is opened or closed. The Dash Folio ($40) uses the same hinging mechanism as the SmartStyle, but opts for a textured, leather-like cover and a slightly different hinge mechanism. The more normal looking SmartJacket ($35) is relatively similar, however eschews the hinge running down the back being used as a stand in favor of rolling the magnet-coated front cover.
A marked departure from the normal covers being introduced, the SleeveStand ($30) is a zippered enclosure with a soft padded interior, which can also be used as a display stand. An easily-hidden wrist strap and a built-in storage pouch for cords are also included.
The Engage ($20) is a cover for the rear of the iPad Mini. Available in a number of translucent colors, the cover protects the back, while leaving enough room for the Apple Smart Cover to be used for the front.
