I’ve been on the lookout for a case for my iPad 2 that looked good, didn’t add too much bulk or weight and would stop the back from getting scratched when I put it down on my wooden table. I’ve been using the Gear4 IceBox Edge for the last couple of weeks and you can find out whether it lives up to the task.
The Icebox Edge I have here is green. Very green. All the colours in the range are very vibrant in fact. The case is made from a combination of silicon and glossy plastic. The case is all one piece and doesn’t separate and the joins between each of the materials is completely flush. When the iPad is inserted it feels secure and there is very little flex in the case or the silicon around the edges. The front doesn’t encroach onto the bezel much but is slightly raised so that if you were to drop the iPad the full force of the screen wouldn’t take the brunt of the fall.
In portrait the silicon wraps around the back into a crescent shape, giving you something to hold onto. The centre of the back is then a clear, durable plastic that allows you to see the Apple logo and 3G antenna.
Cutouts line up perfectly, I had no problem plugging in a variety of headphones into the 3.5mm headphone jack. Both the sleep/wake button and volume buttons are covered and retain most of their tactile feedback making them easy to press. The camera cutout is centred well, as is the 30 pin dock connector. There is a small hole for the microphone and the rotation switch can be accessed with a fingertip without issue.
Weight was not an issue with this case, it felt very light in use and in real terms it didn’t shorten the time I would be able to hold a naked iPad. I appreciated the extra grip the silicon gave me whilst holding the iPad in portrait, sadly however the same grip is not given in landscape. I expect having silicon on all 4 sides would compromise the structural integrity of the case and in fairness, the plastic isn’t any more slippy than the iPad itself.
This case has been on and off my iPad for the better part of 2 weeks now and it still looks like new. There are no scratches on the plastic despite being placed on an unvarnished wooden table and the silicon has kept its shape. As mentioned, I have taken the iPad in and out to test other accessories and it still feels like the first time I put it in each time.
I would recommend this case for anyone who is looking for something that covers the back of their iPad and who doesn’t need full wraparound protection.
The Gear4 IceBox Edge is available in Green, Black, Pink, White and Purple directly from Gear4 as well as retailers such as HMV.
Links – Gear4