Little background–this M1-powered iPad is my fifth since they were introduced in 2010. I was
in love with the device since the beginning, mostly because of my obsession with reading
comics, which is still my primary use for it. As my library continuously expands, and as the
screen size gradually increases, I’ve been locked into a pattern of trade-in/upgrade/trade-
in/upgrade until reaching the inevitable end of my personal iPad journey…the 2021 iPad Pro
with 1 TB and more ram than anyone has any real use for.
Along the way, I’ve had probably every case/folio imaginable over the last decade or so, but I
always inevitably return to the Apple Smart Folio, with its bloated price and perfect fit. Like I
said before, I’m a reader, it’s my primary use for this device, and the case not magnetically
attaching flat to the back when folded over makes me want to seriously Hulk out. This is a
personal pet peeve that I know not everyone shares, but it makes it almost impossible for me to
find a case with the right combination of factors–weight, grip, strong magnets, and price.
Enter the Pitaka MagEZ Case 2, an earlier version of which I first saw in a tech-based YouTube
video, and instantly became intrigued by. Unlike a folio, it didn’t offer a full cover, but the form
factor and the materials sounded pretty perfect, and most importantly, I could hold it without a
cover flopping around on the backside like a dead fish. After several weeks of waiting for this
new version to be ready, I’m happy to report that I LOVE this case as much as I was hoping.
Here’s a full breakdown…
What I Love:
Slim-fit and feather weight
The engineering here is PRECISE. I was expecting much more overlap in the little teeth that
holds it in place, but the fit is so perfect that the case itself is barely visible when you’re using
the tablet. The word “case” doesn’t feel accurate at all, and I’d prefer to call it a “shell.” Despite
how thin and weightless it is, seems just enough to offer some moderate corner and side
protection without satisfying the critical form factor that makes iPads worth having in the first
place.
Grip
It’s not microfiber, but the surface of the MagEZ case has a great feel, and you never get the
sensation it’ll slip out of your hand if you’re not careful. This isn’t a bigtime concern, but if you
like to read with one hand, this becomes more important. Touch is very important, and it’s
something that a lot of cheaper cases/folio have big time issues with. If the actual material
touching your hands is poorly made, it can ruin some of the experience. The aramid fiber has a
great level of “tackiness,” and even though it’s not technically soft, very comfortable to hold during long reading sessions.
Magnets
Strong, strong, STRONG. Attaches securely to the MagEZ Stand (more on that in a separate review), and other magnetic accessories/stands from a number of other companies. Have a couple magnetic tables and file cabinets in the office that this case securely locks onto, which is some added relief that a stray hand or excited toddler can’t easily knock or slide it right off a tabletop. This also allows it to be work perfectly with the Magic Keyboard, and when you’re putting it into place, there’s this great final moment where it feels like the magnets are almost sucking it out of your hand and locking it into place. Very satisfying and futuristic feeling.
Honestly, getting this case when the last step in finally convincing me to invest in an official Magic Keyboard. Glad I did, such a convenient accessory, and love that I can take the iPad off and instantly start reading or whatever, because there’s already a credible case attached. Beats taking it off the keyboard and then having to instantly transfer it to a separate case or folio.
Protection
99% of the time, the iPad is used at home or in the office, so I don’t need heavy duty protective cases unless I’m traveling, especially after I accidentally scratched the bottom of a previous iPad on the seatbelt buckle in a plane. That kind of thing would never happen with this case, and again, it provides just enough protection without getting in your way, and adding a bunch of unnecessary weight into the mix.
What I’d Like Improved:
Incompatibility with Apple Smart Folio
I specifically asked someone from Pitaka whether the case would work with a standard Apple Folio, and was assured that it would. It does not, but I’ve recently purchased another similar case from another company that does work, while I wait for Pitaka to send their own folio cover, which I imagine should work and fit perfectly. Wild card here is that I don’t know about the magnet placement, so if it doesn’t securely attach to the back, I probably won’t be using it long. We’ll see, and excited to check it out based on the quality of this case.
Fingerprint Magnet
This is nitpicky, but if fingerprints drive you crazy, you might have a little trouble here. Some of it actually seems moisture/heat based, so once the case is set down for awhile, the prints seem to fade away, but the second you pick it back up again, get ready. With everything else the case does right, I wouldn’t consider this a major negative factor, but thought it worth mentioning.
Full review for the EZ Stand coming soon, and highly recommend the case. Solved a LOT of my long running case/folio issues, and I’ll enjoy using it (and my iPad) every day.
Any specific questions/concerns that I could answer, more than willing to help out, if you’re on the fence about it.
B
