Does My iPad Need a Back Cover?
Due to the fact that the aluminum rear panel of any iPad is very susceptible to damage, a back cover is recommended to protect the Apple tablet from scratches and other surface damage. Moreover, many back covers will also provide some protection for the edges and corners.
In the world of tablets, the iPad stands as a beacon of innovation and premium quality. With every new release, Apple continues to push the boundaries of technology and design.
If you've invested in an Apple tablet, whether it's the latest iPad Pro or the classic iPad Mini, you've made a significant investment. Naturally, you want to keep your tablet in pristine condition.
But does it need a back cover?
Let's delve into the pros and cons to help you decide if your iPad requires a back cover.
• The Pros: Why Your iPad Needs a Back Cover
- Protection: Your iPad's back is exposed, which leaves it vulnerable to scratches, scuffs, and potential damage. A back cover acts as a protective shield, keeping your tablet's surface safe from harm.
- Resale Value: Just like any tech device, iPads have a resale value. Keeping your tablet in top condition is crucial if you plan to upgrade in the future. A back cover safeguards against wear and tear, ensuring a better resale value.
- Personalization: Back covers come in various designs, materials, and colors. You can add a touch of personalization and style to your Apple tablet, making it uniquely yours.
- Additional Features: Some back covers offer functional features. For example, certain models are compatible with the Apple Smart Keyboard.
- Easy Installation: Back covers are typically easy to install, often snapping securely onto your iPad, so you don't have to worry about a complicated setup.
Do I Need a Cover for My iPad?
While a cover is not necessary, a well-designed cover can go a long way to providing protection during transport and use. The simplest form of this protection is a back cover which will protect the aluminum rear panel, edges and corners from scratches and other damage.
There may be situations where an iPad rear cover is not right for you. Let's take a look at those.
• The Cons: When Your iPad Might Not Need a Back Cover
- Extra Bulk: Back covers can add a bit of bulk to your sleek Apple tablet. If you prefer a minimalist design and don't want any extra weight, this might be a drawback.
- Cost: Quality back covers can be an added expense. If you're on a tight budget, you may decide that your iPad can go without one. Then again, $20 is cheap insurance compared to the cost of repairs.
- Interference with Other Accessories: If you use other accessories like docking stations, the added thickness of a back cover could affect compatibility.
- Need More Protection: As stated, an iPad rear cover is where protection for Apple tablets starts. This is the most basic safeguard. In many cases, you might want or need more protection than a simple rear cover can provide.
• Conclusion: The Right Choice for You
The need for an iPad back cover varies from person to person. Your decision should hinge on your priorities, preferences, and how you use your tablet.
If you prioritize protection and style, an iPad back cover is a valuable investment. It guards against damage, personalizes your device, and may even offer functional features. However, if you cherish your iPad's minimalist design and are comfortable with the potential risk of surface damage, you might opt to go without one.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Consider how you use your tablet, your aesthetic preferences, and your budget to make the right decision. A well-chosen iPad back cover can be a stylish, protective companion for your Apple portable, ensuring it remains in prime condition and always at your service.
What's The Best iPad Pro Back Cover?
MacCase has been protecting Apple portables for over 20+ years. That's a long time in a world where new models are introduced every 12-18 months. In addition, more and more companies have come into the case space so there's more competition than ever. Yet, MacCase endures.
We are happy to have added iPad Pro back covers for the 2020 12.9-inch 4th generation Apple tablet and its little brother, the 2nd generation 11-inch Apple tablet. Both new designs are rendered in crystal-clear finishes. Once installed, you won't even know they are there.
The new 2020 back covers feature design changes to facilitate a perfect fit with the new advanced camera system. Moreover, we have removed the material that covered the volume and on/off buttons of the previous generations. This should have interacted with your Apple table absolutely seamlessly.
We looked far and wide, tested hundreds of options and studied the properties of all the popular materials to find what would ultimately become what we feel are the best iPad Pro back covers available. What makes them so good?
iPad Covers - Amazon
iPad covers come in a variety of material options. As with all things, there are positives and negatives to each material. Which material will work best for you depends on the level of protection you need, the environment you'll be using your tablet in, how long you want it to last and what you want it to feel like as you handle it.
Probably the most famous place to shop for iPad covers like this is Amazon. The marketplace is flooded with an overwhelming amount of cover options. Many of them will be made from the materials we will discuss below.
If you have arrived here before looking at iPad covers on Amazon, or have come from Amazon feeling overwhelmed, reading through the material options below should be very helpful to you. Hopefully, our quick primer on what to look for will help you make the best choice for you.
Hard Plastic iPad Back Covers
Most of the back covers for iPad that are available are made from hard plastic. These are great as long as you don't actually attach or put the cover on your iPad. Why you ask?
Because those covers are not engineered to be actually on the iPad. They are designed and engineered to a theoretical shape. The people who make and market these hard plastic shell-type covers never take into account the stresses caused by needing to stay attached to your Apple tablet.
The material used lacks the elasticity needed to prevent failing over time. When you attach a hard plastic cover to the back of the iPad Pro, the material, on the structural level, goes into tension and compression and there is no "give" to the materials. In a very short time, stress fractures occur, usually around the corners.
Shortly after that, a corner or two will break off. The whole point of the cover is to provide protection. The poor engineering and materials used undermine that very purpose. More cracks will ensue eventually rendering the cover non-functioning and headed for the landfill in which it was always destined.
Hard plastic is decent for absorbing impacts, just not repeatedly. Just because people are used to putting hard plastic back covers on their iPads doesn't make it the best solution for protecting your Apple tablet. Let's look at another option.
Silicone Back Cover
Silicone made its fame in the Apple case space being the go-to material for early iPhone cases. While the tacky texture of the material was a great contrast to the "bar of soap" slipperiness of the iPhone shape, the novelty grew old quickly.
Silicone attracts dirt like a 2-year-old in a sandbox. Dirt, lint, low-flying objects and everything else in its vicinity seems to stick to it the same way your hand does. It also yellows over time. Your $800 state of art cell phone would eventually look more like a 10-year-old pair of swimming goggles that was left in the sun all summer.
On the positive side, silicone is good for absorbing impacts and will not crack and fall apart like hard plastic.
The Best iPad Pro Back Cover - Polymer
What is needed to create the best iPad Pro back cover is a material that offers flexibility like silicone, without the sticky or tacky surface (no dirt build-up). You'll also need it to be designed in such a way as to not be stressed when attached to your iPad. The cover should enhance your experience, not detract from it.
The cover should be durable and tough, able to absorb small impacts and last more than a few weeks. The best back covers for iPads will be Smart Keyboard compatible. The cover should complete the process that the Smart Keyboard started, seamlessly integrating with it to create a united whole.
This is the design brief we set out to meet when we designed our iPad Pro back cover. It will never crack, it is tough, durable, impact-absorbent and nice to hold in your hand. It has a softness to the touch but is never sticky so it won't attract dirt like silicone.
It's probably the easiest and best $20 you can spend to ensure your iPad Pro stays in "as new" condition.
FAQ -
Is there a back cover for my 2022 M2 12.9 iPad Pro?
Yes, there is a protective back cover available for your 6th generation 2022 M2 12.9 iPad Pro. The 2022 Gen 6, 12.9-inch iPad Pro features the same overall dimensions as the 5th generation model so any cover that worked with the Gen 5 model will be compatible with the 2022, 6th generation tablet.
Is there a back cover for my 2021 M1 12.9 iPad Pro?
Yes, there is a protective back cover available for your 2021 M1 12.9 iPad Pro. The 2021 M1 chip-equipped 12.9-inch iPad Pro features the same overall dimensions as the 4th generation model so any cover or case that worked with the Gen 4 model will be compatible with the new 2021 tablet.
