Cygnett Folio Case Makes Your iPad Look Like A Ferrari - An AppAdvice Hands-On Review

Australian-based accessory maker Cygnett has released a line of cases for the new iPad and iPhone 4S and they are now available worldwide. We’ve recently had an opportunity to try out the stylish Glam folio case for the new iPad and have a review for you below. The Glam folio has a gloss finish that will turn heads when you pull it out of your bag. The red Glam looks like it was meant to match your fancy pair of patent leather spiked heels. It is so shiny I can see my reflection in it.

The interior is made from a soft, suede-like material that protects the iPad’s screen. Because of the natural resistance of the material, it also serves to help stabilize the iPad when displayed in an upright position. There are three strips of shiny gloss on the inside, front cover so that when you stand your iPad up, the device will rest along the strip and not slide downward. However, because of the suede-like lining, you can actually stand the iPad up in a near-vertical position without fear of slippage. The design of the folio stand allows the iPad to be displayed almost fully upright and all the way down to a low viewing angle with no effort. At its lowest position, you can put a lot of pressure on the iPad without it slipping downward. The cover can also be flipped behind the iPad, allowing users to prop it up in a comfortable typing position, or lay it completely flat.

There are magnets hidden in the two outer corners of the case that keep it tightly closed. When shut, the front cover is so secure that you can flip your iPad upside-down and shake it vigorously without fear of the flap coming undone. However, with just the slightest lift, you can easily open the cover. Opening and closing the case activates the iPad’s internal sleep/wake function so that you can quickly pack up and leave without worrying about wasting battery life. The sleep/wake function does not always work. The front cover must line up perfectly with the case or it doesn’t activate. I found that it would fall properly into place about half of the time, but if I shut the cover by holding the binding side of the case, it would not activate.

The iPad fits snugly into the case by slipping it into the frame and securing it with a Velcro flap. There is an opening for the back-facing camera and grooves in the frame for the home button and front-facing camera. All edges are exposed so users can access the volume controls, wake button and screen lock (or mute) switch. The design of the case makes accessing the side buttons difficult. The frame sticks out over the edge of the iPad about a quarter of an inch so that someone with particularly fat fingers would have to squeeze into the space in order to reach the side buttons. The plug port has the same problem with accessibility as the side buttons. The iPad’s charger fits just fine, but if you want to plug something thicker into the port, like a camera connector, you have a hard time getting it to fit. It might even be better to just remove the iPad from the case to avoid accidentally jamming the connector into the port incorrectly.

Even though there are some accessibility issues with side buttons and the plug port, this is a fabulous case. It works wonderfully, does not take up a lot of space when set up as a display and is so lightweight it barely increases the weight of the iPad. The high gloss finish will make you the envy of the office. If you are less of an exhibitionist, you can check out the Alumni and Lavish Earth line of folio cases for the new iPad. They offer the same functionality, but won’t blind passersby with the shiny design. The Glam and Lavish Earth series of iPad folio cases cost $59.99, while the Alumni cases are $49.99 and are available from the company’s website. Cygnett also has a line of artistic iPhone 4 and 4S cases that will make you a trendsetter with your friends. The Underground cases are made from a hard, glossy plastic with images that conjure up London’s tube trains. They are lightweight and sturdy and are designed to snap onto your iPhone, securing it in place.  The sides are clear and all button functions are exposed and easily accessible. Each case comes with a screen protector and applicator card as well as a microfiber cloth. The Underground line of iPhone 4 and 4S cases cost $49.99 and are available from the company’s website.

The ICON Art Series cases fit exactly like the Underground cases, but are specially designed by artist Nathan Jurevicius. There are three different designs featuring Jurevicius’ iconic Scarygirl. The rubberized coating is soft to the touch, even though the case itself is hard. All button functions are exposed and easily accessible. Each case comes with a screen protector and applicator, as well as a microfiber cloth. The ICON Art Series line of iPhone 4 and 4S cases cost $39.99 and are available from the company’s website.

My personal favorite, the WorkMate Pro is a shock-resistant case that has two layers. The inner layer is made of a tough silicone material that grips the iPhone while the outer layer is a polycarbonate shell to protect it from damage. If you wanted to, you could remove the hard shell and just use the inner lining as a cover. The volume, home and wake buttons are all covered, but have raised designs so you can find them easily. The headphone jack and plug port are a little harder to access because of the protective lining, but the silicone is soft, so you don’t have to remove the case in order to get to them. Each case comes with a screen protector and applicator, as well as a microfiber cloth. The WorkMate Pro for the iPhone 4 and 4S costs $19.99 and is available from the company’s website.

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