Tech21 are somewhat famous in the case industry both for their cases and for their appearance on Dragons Den showing off their D3O technology. This case has that very tech included as you can see in the picture, its the orange stuff. Essentially what d30 technology does is stays soft until force is applied, such as an impact at which point it goes hard. The net result is that it protects any device that its wrapped around at the time. The case has a leather effect on the front and back and feels nice in the hand.
The iPad half of the case is a snap on style and is pretty thin. The iPad snaps in very easily and feels secure.
The volume buttons are very easily accesible. The camera cutout is one I haven’t seen before. It looks like a piece of the case is missing and if I’m honest I thought it was lazy design. I was wrong. This “missing” piece actually makes it much easier to press the Sleep/Wake button and its something I was quite pleased to have in the end.
The bottom of the case has a cutout for the stereo speakers and the lightning port. This is no larger that in needs to be which is great for drop protection. The tech21 logo is embossed on the back.
The front flap is one piece and doesn’t set out to copy Apple’s smart cover. This means there is no typing mode but its not without its benefits either. I found this design easier to hold open as the flap folds around the back and is easier keep open. The smart cover has a tendency to flop open when I’m using it. The inside of the flap is lined with a soft touch material that keeps the iPad screen protected and clean. Smart cover Sleep/Wake functionality is present here so when you open the cover the ipad is unlocked and ready to go.
The case can be used as a stand though. Now, this may look like I’ve propped it up but Tech21 have actually thought this through and put rubber strips along the edges to stop them from sliding. It’s quite secure as long as you don’t go prodding the screen with too much force.
When closed the combo looks very sleek and classy. The leather effect looks nice and the stitching pattern around the edges gives it a look of quality.
Overall I really like this case, in my review I said I was loathe to use a case but this one comes pretty close to perfect for my usage. Decent drop protection, smart cover and not too bulky. This particular iPad Mini Case and more, are available from Mobile Fun for £34.95 which as about the same price as the official Apple cover, which offers minimal protection.
If you have any questions about this product then please don’t hesitate to contact me using the links in the bio box below.