6 things to consider when buying a tablet case

Unless the ultimate owner of your tablet is a child, using a case isn’t critical. Most tablets are well-constructed enough that you don’t need to worry about breaking them, and they’re mostly used while stationary.

What a good tablet case can do for you is make your tablet more functional, adding features, propping up the screen, and keeping any extra accessories you might have safe. With so many options to choose from, you want to make sure you know what you want before you buy. Here’s what you should keep in mind while buying a tablet case.

1 Decide how you want to use your tablet

The activities you’re using it for could change the case you need

What you actually plan on using your tablet for can greatly change the kind of case you might need. If, for some reason, you do plan on using it outside, you might want something more protective. But it can be even simpler than that. Knowing that you might use your tablet in landscape orientation rather than portrait orientation could mean you need a different case.

If you’re using your tablet in landscape orientation to watch movies, you might want a case that can help prop it up. If you’re just using it to take notes or read articles, something that just protects the back of your tablet from scratches might be more important. Apple’s Smart Folio cases are expensive but strike a balance between acting as a simple stand and protection for the back of your iPad, but a silicone case with raised edges might do the trick too.

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2 To keyboard or not to keyboard

A built-in way to type takes up space

If you want to use your iPad as a tool for document creation or general writing, you might want a case with a keyboard. All modern tablets can connect to Bluetooth keyboards of all stripes, but it can be convenient to have that keyboard (and even a trackpad) directly built-in.

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Apple Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro

Apple’s Magic Keyboard is an iPad keyboard case that can be posed at multiple angles, has a built-in trackpad, and a pleasant-to-type-on keyboard. It’s much easier to use on a lap than other options, too.

Committing to a keyboard case does mean that you have to deal with extra bulk, and that you might need to take your tablet completely out of its case to use it any other way. That’s the way Apple’s Magic Keyboard works, but you can get Logitech’s Combo Touch case or Samsung’s Book Cover Keyboard and remove the keyboard from your tablet when you’re not using it.

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The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and iPad Air is pricey, but makes working on the go with your iPad a real possibility.

3 Consider what material works best

Hand-feel and extra protection

Nomad / Pocket-lint

Cases can come in just as many materials as they can styles. Most often, though, you’re going to get a mix of materials: a harder metal or plastic frame on the inside for breaking your tablet’s falls, and a variety of different options on the outside depending on how you want your tablet to look.

If you want a leather case, for example, it’s going to cost you. But leather feels better in your hand, and gets softer and more natural to hold over time as it gets “broken in.” A plastic or rubber exterior might not shrug off scratches as easily, but it’ll pick up fewer stains than a fabric or leather case. There’s no right or wrong answer here, but knowing how you want your case to feel or look will help narrow down your selection.

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4 Figure out whether you need to protect other accessories

Styluses, keyboards, and more

Part of the versatility of tablets is how they can be transformed, depending on what accessories you use them with. Add a keyboard and a trackpad, and you’re basically using a laptop. Attach a stylus, and you can probably ditch your Wacom and your paper notebooks. Keep a controller handy and you’ve got a simple game console. The list goes on, but something to consider when buying a case is if it includes a way to protect your accessories.

At it’s simplest, that could be storage or an extra cover for a stylus, but you can find tablet cases with slots for wireless keyboards or straight-up pockets on the back for storing anything else you might need. Controller storage is a little trickier, but there are ways around that too with the right kind of Bluetooth controller.

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5 Choose the level of protection that works for you

Protection from scratches and drops isn’t required, but does help

Otterbox / Pocket-lint

The final thing you should really consider is how much protection you actually need. Are you satisfied with a slim cover for the back and front of your tablet, or do you need something more substantial? You don’t necessarily need to trade the features of one for the added protection of another.

There are rugged cases with folio covers that fold into stands, and surprisingly slim cases that will probably give most of the protection you need. You just need to find a case that strikes the right kind of balance for you, whether it’s from Otterbox, Supcase, or Apple itself.

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SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro Series

Supcase’s Unicorn Beetle Pro case offers rugged protection for the front and back of your iPad, and dedicated storage for an Apple Pencil.

Your tablet case should be both stylish and functional

Your case, much like your tablet itself, is personal. It should look the way you want, but it should also do what you need it to do. If you’re happy with how it looks and feels, there doesn’t necessarily need to be a wrong answer, but hopefully, the tips and examples above will help you narrow things down.

If you need more inspiration about how to use your tablet now that it’s thoroughly protected, Pocket-lint has lists of streaming services to try, note-taking apps for getting your ideas straight, and tools for saving articles and other online content for later.

The editorial was inspired by Pocket-lint’s partnership with Supcase.