The good folks at WirelessGround were kind enough to send me the Monaco Flip Type Leather Case for iPad recently. After having used it for more than a few weeks now, I thought I’d jot down my notes on this flip case, weighing the pros and cons for you, and telling you all about it. If you’re in the market for a stylish, quality and durable case for your iPad… This one is definitely worth a look. Keep reading after the jump for my full review.
Out of the Box
First thing I noticed out of the box with the Monaco Flip Type Leather Case for iPad was the smell. Now don’t go thinking ‘smell’ in a bad way, this bad boy is the goods. When you open the somewhat luxurious box, you’ll be greeted with a whiff of leather… Something I enjoy. Like a kid taking his new ball glove out to the field for the first time, I quickly extradited the case from the packaging to give it a closer look.
Fit, Finish and Quality
Overall this flip case from Monaco is, as I said before, the goods. The leather looks to be top of the line, and the stitching is reinforced all around. Monaco notes that all of their cases are hand crafted and made of the best materials, and I have to agree. They also note that their cases will typically outlast similar cases from other manufacturers by multiple years. Again, I have to agree.
Features and Uses
This flip case actually has multiple uses.
First off (of course) the case can be used to protect your iPad while on-the-go. The flip top gives you excellent display protection. Just flip it closed and the magnetic button holds the top closed tight, but not too tight. It’s easy to open and close, and snaps closed with a satisfying sound.
Second, it can be used as a stand of sorts. Simply flip the top back over the case, and you can easily stand the case on it’s side for landscape viewing, or on its end for a portrait view of your iPad. Very handy if you’re sitting down to watch a video, or are showing off those latest photos in slideshow view.
Lastly, this Monaco case has openings for all function buttons on your iPad. So, while your iPad is tucked nicely within the case, you’ll find it easy to plug the iPad in for charging and/or syncing. Think of it as cozy protection for your iPad while you charge or sync it up. Very convenient.
Pros and Cons
The pros far outweigh the cons in this case (pun intended). Let’s get right down to it with all of the good stuff.
The quality of the materials used in this case are good stuff. I’m no expert on the quality of leather or of stitching in any way… But after much use, and much ogling, I can tell you that when you take the case out of the box, you’ll be impressed.
After you slide your iPad into the case (which, I might add is lined nicely to protect the out-of-the-box finish on your device), the ease at which you can use the case is apparent. Opening and closing the case is satisfying as the metal button opens and closes with a nice ‘snap’… Letting you know that
The protection this case provides is stellar. Sure, the materials CAN be damaged, but if you’re like me, leather with a somewhat ‘weathered’ look is A-OK. The outside shell is strong and sturdy… Heck, I even dropped my case a few times (by accident, of course) and everything was OK. The flip top is a nice feature, covering the display and providing an extra layer of protection. Granted, it isn’t for everyone, but when not in use I always flipped the top closed… it some sort of weird way I had piece of mind knowing my iPad was protected on all sides. Yes, I’m a geek.
Pros wrap-up: Quality of materials, ease of use, and device protection.
Cons
Some of you out there will no doubt NOT be a fan of the flip top on this case. That’s completely fine, as it’s a personal choice. One thing I may suggest you do if you’re considering a flip top case like this one… Go to an Apple Store or some outlet that carries iPad accessories… and try it out before you buy. If you think the top is going to be an issue… Give it a pass. It never hurts to give things a look-see before you drop down your hard earned dollars, especially when the case you’re looking at is as pricy as this one. Which leads me to my second point…
The price. At $79.95, this is truly one of the more expensive iPad cases out there. True, you’re getting real quality here, but that’s not important to everyone. Most folks just want something they know they’re going to abuse, and as long as it holds up, protects the iPad and allows them to use the case as per normal, it’s all good.
The last ‘con’ I can think of is the fit of the actual iPad inside the case. It isn’t a biggie at all, but from time to time I noticed my iPad did shift around within the case. This became a tad frustrating, especially when the display wasn’t found in the middle of the opening anymore. On a few occasions I do have to admit I ended up taking the iPad out of the case to play certain games, or to do email. It made things easier to tap the display where needed. Just a word of warning here is all!
Cons wrap-up: Questionable form factor for some, price, and potential fit problems.
Conclusions
If you’re in the market for a top-quality iPad case made of the best materials, and don’t mind the flip-top form factor… The Monaco Flip Type Leather Case will be the ultimate answer for you. If the flip top could potentially become an issue for you (if you want access to the display at all times), you may want to look elsewhere. That said, you can’t deny the quality and care taken when putting this case together. It screams quality to me, and after having put the darn thing through its paces I can say it’s held up to the everyday rigors of an internet geek like myself very well. For more information or to purchase one for yourself, hit up the link below.
Monaco Flip Type Leather Case ($79.95) [WirelessGround link]
