New York — As with any new Apple product announcement, accessories vendors were ready with new cases to fit the slimmer form factor of the new iPad Air 2.
Apple itself introduced new Smart Covers and Smart Cases for the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3.
Smart Covers are polyurethane, while the Smart Cases are available in aniline-dyed leather. Smart Covers for both the new Air and the new Mini are available in black, white, pink, yellow, blue, green and (Product) Red. They are priced at $39.
Leather Smart Cases are available in black, Midnight Blue, Olive Brown, Soft Pink and (Product) Red. Smart Cases are priced at $79 for the iPad Air and $69 for the iPad Mini.
Smart Cases can be ordered now and will ship in one to three days. Availability of the leather cases is to be announced.
Cases for the original iPad Air will not fit the new model’s thinner profile.
X-Doria was first out of the gate, announcing three newly designed cases for the new iPad Air 2.
The SmartStyle jacket features a puff-printed cover with a 3D-patterned tactile grip. An integrated stand folds to an upright position for viewing or an inclined position for typing. Magnets in the cover trigger the sleep and wake function the front cover is opened and closed. It is available in black and black houndstooth with a $39.99 retail.
The SmartJacket has a slimmer profile and a 3D-patterned back cover, multiposition stand and magnetic front cover, in black or purple, for $34.99.
The Engage Folio features a hard polycarbonate clear backshell with anti-scratch coating. A leather-like front cover has wake/sleep magnets. Available colors include black, cream white and pink, with a $34.99 retail.
Belkin International unveiled three new keyboard cases in its Qode line for the iPad Air 2 as well as cases for both new Apple tablets.
The new Qode Ultimate Pro and Qode Slim Style keyboards feature Bluetooth Smart technology for improved battery life and multiple pairing of devices, and a redesigned keyboard layout that includes the same number of keys as a laptop keyboard, improving accuracy, Belkin said.
The Qode Ultimate Pro for iPad Air 2 and the step-down Qode Ultimate are made of aircraft-grade aluminum and offer multiple viewing angles, smart-sensing on/off magnets and come in Space Gray and silver.
The Pro model features backlit keys with three brightness levels, adjustable landscape and portrait modes with two viewing angles each, and a detachable case cover that can be used without the keyboard. It offers up to one year of battery life at average usage rates, Belkin said. It retails for $149.
The Qode Ultimate offers three viewing angles and adds dual neodymium magnets for extra stability. The keyboard folds into the case when not needed for more comfortable handheld tablet use. It delivers six months of battery life and retails for $129.
The Qode Slim Style is a folio-style cover with an integrated Bluetooth Smart keyboard that tucks away flat for touchscreen use. It offers multiple viewing angles and added magnets for stability. It comes in black or Gravel for $99.99
Belkin is also offering four new case designs for the new devices. The Slim Style cover for the new iPad Air 2 and Mini 3, a form-fitting jacket with a velvet-like exterior with contrasting detail in Blacktop/Gravel, Stone/Cyan and Azalea/Fiesta; the Striped Cover folio-style case with perforated vertical stripes in Blacktop and Plum; the Classic folio in Blacktop, Purple Lightning and Paparazzi Pink; and a Chambray folio for the Air 2 in dark gray and purple.
Prices range from $29.99 to $49.99.
The cases and the Qode Slim Style keyboard are available immediately. The Qode Ultimate models will ship in December.
ClamCase is standing out from the pack with a gold-finished metallic Pro keyboard case to match the Air 2 in gold and an aluminum model, as well as a Mini 3 keyboard case in aluminum. They feature a 360-degree hinge, polycarbonate and anodized aluminum enclosures for protection, and an upgraded battery.
The ClamCase Pro for iPad Air 2 will be available in December, the company said.
