Inateck offers an Apple Smart Case knockoff for less
The iPad Case from Inateck is a knock-off of Apple’s Smart Case. I received a green mini version of this case for a review though there is also a full-sized case that fits the iPad Air 2 and a variety of colors. It has a case that covers the back of the iPad, and a sturdily attached cover that closes over the screen. The iPad goes to sleep when you shut the cover and wakes up when you open it. There is no confusing this case with Apple’s. It looks a bit different, with black plastic edging around the mostly green back of the cover, unlike Apple’s which has consistent color all the way around. Its quality is not quite as high as Apple’s, but it’s close. Overall, I found this to be a beautiful case, definitely worth its low price.
The Facts
What I liked
The iPad Case fits my iPad mini 2 beautifully. The lip of the case part does not come up over the screen; rather, it’s just flush. Since there is an attached cover that goes over the screen, I don’t feel like that lip needs raised as it would on an iPhone case, or an iPad case that doesn’t have a screen cover. I feel like my iPad is secure in this case, which is the most important thing. The entire case is lined with a soft microfiber, which should prevent it from scratching your iPad. It is lightweight and slim, adding very little bulk to your iPad. All ports, jacks, speakers, buttons, and cameras are completely unimpeded by the case, as there are precision cut-outs where you’d expect. The minty shade of green is nice and looks just like its photos.
The front cover folds into three sections, just like Apple’s. The cover can be folded into a triangle for two different horizontal viewing angles. The lower angle is suitable for on-screen typing while the higher angle is best for video watching or typing with a Bluetooth keyboard. It can also be folded like an accordion and used as a grip when reading in a vertical position.
What I didn't like
My front cover doesn’t lie flat like it does in the photos. It’s actually lying flatter after using it for a few days and loosening it up a bit, but it’s still not 100 percent flat when lying it on its back.
Part of the reason that people purchase cases like this is for the Sleep/Wake functionality in the cover. This case does have that functionality, but for the first couple of days it didn’t work for me. Now that the front cover has been broken in, it has started working.
Bottom Line
Inateck’s iPad Case does not offer the same quality as the Apple Smart Case. It’s pretty close, though. For a fraction of the price of Apple’s case, this will still be a worthwhile purchase for many people. The iPad Case is available on Amazon for $11.99.
