In April of 2015, I reviewed my first case from Urban Armor Gear – the Rogue case for the iPad Air. I really liked the cover and found it quite protective. I now have an iPad Pro 12.9″, and am happy to be the one chosen to review their Metropolis case.

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Like the smaller version, this one is also a full-on piece of body armor for your iPad. It meets MIL STD 810G-516.6. This means:

UAG cases specifically have been certified Military Grade through NEBS Certified Testing Laboratory. To achieve this certification, a device must be dropped from a height of 48 inches, on each face, corner, and back. The device is dropped a total of 26 times and must function properly after the test, while not sustaining any damage to the screen.

Als, like the original Rogue I tested, the Metropolis has a pliable, grippy frogskin texture on the outside, and a nappy microsuede on the inside.

The cover folds back to allow you to view your iPad in several different viewing angles, without having the inner surface of the case lay flat on the table.

One secret superpower that the Metropolis has above it’s smaller sibling, however, is that the outer cover is detachable, and you can use any Apple Smart Cover-esque magnetic folding screen cover with the armored back.

Along the inner hinge, almost the entire side where the Smart Connector touches is free and accessible, so many chargers, keyboards, and stands that are designed for an iPad Pro should work with this case. I’d definitely try it out with the keyboard or stand you have in mind, but the Apple models are what they were designing it to fit.

Since the iPad Pro 12.9 is now being replaced by a newer model with a slightly different form factor, you can pick up one for your original iPad Pro for only $29.95! A $90 case for 66% off – not a bad deal.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Urban Armor Gear. Please visit Urban Armor Gear for more info, and their Amazon store to purchase.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, IPad Pro Case

Urban Armor Gear Metropolis iPad Pro 12.9 case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 5, 2017 at 8:33 am.

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Several years ago, I reviewed the Joli Originals smooth leather sleeve for the MacBook Pro and while that behemoth of a laptop is long gone, I continue to use the sleeve to this day. I keep it on my nightstand as a soft, secure space for my iPad and iPhone… a safe haven from the hectic whirlwind that is our house. When I was looking for a sleeve to protect my new 10.5″ iPad Pro, Joli Originals was one of the first on my list to look into and thankfully they sent one my way for this review. 

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Like all of Joli’s products, this sleeve is handcrafted in the Netherlands from fine Italian leather and 100% pure wool felt. The leather is extremely soft, supple, and smells/feels wonderful. The sleeve is lined with a high quality Dutch wool felt. Instead of my usual black or dark brown color selection, I decided to live on the wild side and get the gray leather lined with the red felt interior.

The pictures do not do justice to how nice this sleeve looks in person. The quality of workmanship and finish of the sleeve are excellent. As you would expect, the cut and stitching of the leather is straight as an arrow. The stitching itself is done with strong, durable nylon parachute thread.

This sleeve is perfectly fitted for Apple’s latest flagship tablet. Initially sliding the 10.5″ iPad Pro in and out was a bit tight but quickly stretched just a hint for a glove-like fit.

The Joli Originals smooth sleeve has a simple but extremely functional design. It appears that the wool felt is glued to the leather then the two halves are stitched together to form the slipper case.

Like I’ve said, the feel of the Joli Original sleeve is wonderful. Its overall design is ideal for protecting your naked iPad while in transport solo or in a larger bag. The sleeve will not protect your iPad from any significant drop but does a great job protecting it from scraps and bumps. The sleeve is available for all the various sizes of iPads and you can select a roomier sleeve to accommodate Apple’s Smart Cover or Keyboard. They are available in various color combinations.

I really like the Joli Original sleeve they created for my iPad Pro. Its handmade craftsmanship, high quality materials, and simple design are excellent. Joli Originals customer service and attention to detail are very good as well. I regularly use this sleeve to transport my tablet either by hand or in my gym bag to protect my iPad from my hectic lifestyle.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Joli Originals. Please visit their site for more info and to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, IPad Pro Case

Joli Originals Smooth 10.5″ iPad Pro Sleeve review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 1, 2017 at 11:02 am.

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I love my 12.9″ iPad Pro, but, like most folks have mentioned in reviews, I find it a bit difficult to balance when trying to carry it around during use. I’ve found a case that I like for use around the house or on the road, but it’s more a stand, even though it has a hand strap. When Julie offered the team the Armor-X cover for iPad Pro, I pondered if it would be right for my needs. They sent it for testing, and I’ve had it a week or two, so it’s time to report on the results.

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The Armor-X case is made up of three pieces: a two-piece inner hard plastic frame, and a tough rubberized outer case that seals the two together, as well as adds a hand-hold and stand on the back.

The stand is folded under where the hand strap spans, and there is a circular insert in the back of the case to allow it to rotate.

You can hold it in any position, and there is no need to worry that the iPad will slide out of the case. It is firmly attached to the handgrip, and the leather strap is easy to adjust to your hand. I am not able to comfortably get my thumb around the edge while holding the grip, but those with larger hands may. If using in a portrait mode, similar to a clipboard, you’ll find it a natural for sketching, taking notes, or annotating a checklist, as you would with paper.

The ports and buttons are nicely protected. There is a snap-over cover for both the headphone jack and charging port. I was able to use most of my cables without incident.

The buttons are clearly marked, and work well in the case. The sound, funneled through louvered openings (see picture above with green headphone cable), does not appear muffled in any way. There are openings for the cameras, touch sensor, and microphones. The touch sensor is perhaps the only thing you may find a bit compromised. Given its position at the edge, and the thickness of the case (shown in the picture above with white charging cable), you may have an issue getting it to read your fingerprint from some angles. I have both of my thumbs scanned twice in my preferences, which gives me a better chance of having either one read by the sensor, but your mileage may vary. For Apple Pencil users, charging can be an issue, and there is no clip, silo, or other holder for the Pencil or any other stylus. The Pencil, because it is heftier in diameter than most cables, doesn’t fit perfectly into the port. You can wiggle it around and make it charge, in a pinch, but it’d be better to connect a cable and the Pencil adapter, to prevent any incidents with the port or your Pencil.

The stand is a nice touch, but will probably not be used as much as the handle. It slides down from under the hand strap and only will support the iPad in landscape orientation. It will almost stand up in portrait, but not steadily enough to be comfortable in use. If you need to quickly write up a report and have a keyboard in your bag, it’s going to be very comfortable. I wrote this entire article with the stand on my kitchen table using my Logitech K811 keyboard. I love using this iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard.

There is no pass-through for the Smart Connector in this case, which may be a turnoff for some potential users, but with the dearth of accessories that work with that connector, I don’t really see this as a negative. If there is a sudden influx of compelling Smart Connector chargers, stands, or other peripherals, that might change. The only such item I’ve seen that would make me think twice is the Logi charger stand, but I don’t think a lot of folks have this stand.

With the iPad installed, it’s a bit hefty at 40.8 ounces (yes, that’s 2.5 pounds!), but the iPad itself is 1.5 pounds buck naked. Adding this much protection and functionality for only another pound is not too much, in my opinion. I found that even with the added weight, the iPad is actually more manageable than the bare unit itself. Part of this has to do with the size of the device itself. Being so thin, yet so large, it’s hard to manage holding it with one hand trying to wrap around the edge. It’s just too skinny. With this case, however, it has added thickness, as well as grip, even before considering the added convenience of the built-in handhold on the back.

While it’s great for those who use their iPads Pro while holding it for moderate periods of time, I don’t have that kind of need in my life. (In the picture above, I’m holding the iPad with my left hand while wielding a DSLR in my right. And I’m more worried about dropping the camera than the iPad!) A building, fire, or home inspector, teacher, lecturer or other professionals who want to have a good list or notes while walking around or standing before a group sans podium would benefit from this case. Next time I demo iOS to a large group, I’ll be using this, so that I can get the most image on the display, and can see what I’m presenting. I’ve done similar workshops with iPhones and regular iPads, and it’s great to have a case that lets you gesture with one hand while securely holding the device in the other.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Armor-X. Please visit for more info.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cases and Covers, IPad Pro Case

Armor-X iPad Pro cover review originally appeared on on July 14, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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