Hands-on: Belkin Leather Folio for iPad

If you’re one of the 2 million iPad owners, you’re probably loving your time with Apple’s “magical” tablet. I know that whenever I attend family gatherings or hang out with friends, I tend to bring my iPad to show off what it can do or if I want to do some quick browsing at a local coffee shop. Throwing my iPad into my bag without any form of protection would be insane, especially how much I use it on a daily basis. I need something to protect my iPad while still looking good for moments I need to show it off.  That’s where Belkin’s Leather Folio for iPad comes in.

Belkin’s Leather Folio for iPad is as simple as it sounds. It’s a leather folio that’s made to house the iPad. The leather is smooth and feels great in your hands. The folio features a outer flap that can be flipped down in order to protect the iPad’s delicate screen from getting scratched.  The inside of the flap features an elastic strap that secures the flap in its closed position. The inside of the folio is covered with a microfiber that helps in gripping the iPad in place as well as keeping the back of your iPad from getting scratched up.  All around the edge of the folio there’s a very light stitching that adds a nice touch of style to the already stylish leather folio.  The iPad’s home button is covered by the folio’s own home button that is made out of a rubber material which allows you to be more mindful of its location, which results in less frequent accidental home button pushes. The iPad’s connection port, speakers, headphone jack, and microphone are all exposed, while the sleep and volume buttons are covered with a light plastic strip placed over them which helps in navigating to those buttons without needing to wander around the iPad.

My only complaint with Belkin’s leather folio is how easy it is for the iPad to slip out of the case when it’s used in landscape with the home button on the right side. There are many apps that use this form as its default position and it could result in the iPad slipping out of the case. An additional flap to cover the open space would help in securing the iPad when it’s in this position.  Until Belkin offers an updated version of the leather folio with something to keep the iPad more secure in this position, I’d recommend steering clear from using the iPad in that position.

Belkin’s Leather Folio for iPad feels great to use and its leather dresses the already impressive iPad in a smooth and secure case. As long as your mindful of how you’re holding your iPad during use, you can’t go wrong with Belkin’s Leather Folio for iPad.

Belkin’s Leather Folio for iPad ($59.99)