Once you've got your hands on the long-awaited iPad mini, you'll want to protect it with a case or cover. Here's our roundup of the first available cases for the iPad mini. Also, be sure to read our iPad mini preview.
Cases and covers for the iPad mini
Apple itself has announced an official Smart Cover, which is a miniature version of the full-size iPad's. It will be available in the same six colours: green, pink, grey, dark grey, blue and red. The price is also the same at £35, and it attaches with powerful magnets, and can wake and sleep the iPad mini using the same technique as for the iPad with Retina display.
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Within hours of the mini's launch, companies including Proporta, Belkin and Cygnett announced their cases, and here are a few examples from the ranges.
Belkin Striped Cover with Stand - £35
This is like the small brother of Belkin's Cinema Stripe stand for the iPad 3, and has a similar non-slip finish to offer both viewing and typing angles. Protective corners hold the iPad mini in place.
A magnetic tab holds the cover closed for protection in your bag. There's a choice of two colours: blacktop and gravel.
Belkin Quilted Cover with Stand - £35
If you're after a more designer look, the quilted version of the case includes auto-wake magnets and the same magnetic clip to hold the cover shut.
There's a choice of three colours: ruby, black and cream. Belkin's whole range of iPad mini cases will be available to buy from the beginning of November.
Griffin Folio for iPad mini - £30
Just like Griffin's folio case for the 9.7in iPad, the iPad mini version opens like a notebook, and the tablet slides into the back section to hold it in place. Flip the cover over and it slots into place to provide angles suitable for typing and video. There are cutouts for all ports, buttons and cameras, and it's available in a range of colours and designs.
Griffin IntelliCase for iPad mini - £35
A combination of a polycarbonate rear shell and a TPU cover, the IntelliCase provides protection in a slim package for your iPad mini. Magnets in the cover wake and sleep the tablet when it's opened and closed, and also provides two stand positions: for typing and FaceTime calls, or watching videos. It's available in black, red, digital camo (blue/grey) or ZigZag, which is black and gold.
Griffin Survivor for iPad mini - £50
If you need to keep your iPad mini safe from harm in harsh conditions, the Survivor should be a good option. As with other cases in the Survivor range, the iPad mini version has a shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame over which is a shock-absorbing silicone bumper. There's also a built-in screen protector and ports are covered, keeping out dirt and rain. Again, a variety of colours will be available to suit your taste.
Proporta iPad mini Back Shell - £20
We're not too surprised to see smartphone-style shell cases being launched for the iPad mini, and Proporta's are some of the first. These slim plastic cases cover the rear and sides, adding protection without too much bulk or weight.
Currently, there's a choice of black or white to go with the two iPad mini colour options.
Proporta iPad mini Swivel 360 - £25
This folio-style case is made from faux-leather and incorporates a rotating hinge so you can swing your iPad mini from landscape to portrait mode. That makes it suitable for watching TV shows as well as for any occasions where you want to stand it upright.
Cygnett Armour - £35
Favouring a design we've seen before from Scosche (in fact, see the folIO m1 below), Cygnett's Armour case for the iPad mini grips the tablet with six 'hooks' but has a foldable rear panel which allows the edge to rest on the inside of the front cover in an upright position for watching videos or making video calls as well as other angles. It's also available in purple.
Cygnett Vector - £30
This tough, glossy rubberised case should protect your iPad mini from small knocks. It covers the volume and power buttons, and has raised edges which protect the screen if placed face down on a surface. Cheap it isn't, but at least it also comes in black.
Scosche folIO m1 - £TBA
Similar to Cygnett's Armour, the folio m1 is based on Scosche's previous foldIO P2 iPad case, and comes in a pseudo-carbon fibre finish as well an unusual white carbon fibre look. Plus, a black leather version will be available.
The inside cover has two grooves for different viewing angles. As of yet, there's no word on when these will be available to buy in the UK.
Case-mate Tuxedo for iPad mini - £TBA
We've seen the full-size iPad version of the Tuxedo, and it's much like Apple's own Smart Cover. However, it extends around the rear of the iPad mini, and is attached with a super-strong adhesive tape (which leaves no residue when removed).
There's no word from Case-mate when the mini Tuxedo will be released, but we're sure it will be available in a similar range of colours to the bigger version, and hopefully cost a little less (around £30)
Proporta Quicksilver iPad mini neoprene sleeve - £15
As neoprene sleeves go, the Quicksilver-branded version from Proporta is quite stylish. The padding should protect your iPad mini from the odd bump or scuff, and the dual zip means it can be zipped up from either end.
We'll add more iPad mini cases to this article soon.
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