Not surprisingly, the release of the third-generation iPad was followed by quite a few case re-releases, including many that are exceptionally similar to those we’ve previously covered. A majority of the updated cases are folios, designs that start with either a hard shell or soft frame to hold the tablet, with a flip-over cover attached to the frame. Most of these folios have a lot in common with one another, and range in price from $40 to a little over $60, with one notable outlier. In order to give you a sense of what’s out there now, we’re publishing brief reviews of over a dozen of these folios today.
Capo Case ($40) from Hammerhead is a somewhat unique riff on the nearly ubiquitous folio-style case for the iPad 2 and third-generation iPad.
The rear is pretty much what we’re used to at this point—a hard plastic shell—but we appreciate how protective this one is, with nicely molded openings for the buttons and ports, along with full coverage otherwise. The shell is covered in faux leather, as is the front lid, but we found the intersection of that material and the plastic to be just a bit rough; the lines could be refined.
The interesting aspect of this case is the lid is split into two segments, with a plastic hinge holding them together. This results in a more mechanical look than most folios that often fold along creases between plastic-supported columns. Capo’s cover can be folded underneath to form a stand, with the small clip that holds the case shut fitting into one of three ridges on the back of the shell for different viewing angles.
A typing position is also supported, although it doesn’t use the clip, relying instead on the rigid folded cover. Auto screen locking is supported thanks to magnets inside the lid.
There was a difference of opinion between some of our editors on the aesthetic appeal of Capo Case. At least one said that he could see it becoming his everyday case—especially the black-on-black model—while others prefer the organic look of cases that mimic the Smart Cover more closely. Functionally, however, Capo works well, and at a fair price.
