Pay Tribute To Good Old Blighty With Maroo’s New UK Case For iPad [Review]

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This is probably the iPad case The Queen uses.
This is probably the iPad case the Queen uses.

The UK case from Maroo is a premium folio case designed by Seth Aaron, winner of the seventh season of Project Runway. It’s made from black and white leather with black nylon stripes adorning the front, echoing the iconic Union Jack and “Seth’s love of all things British.”


The case uses “SG Bumper Technology” that not only holds your iPad firmly in its place, but also provides impact protection for its corners. And as you’d expect from an iPad case, there’s also a cutout for your rear-facing camera and access to all of your ports and buttons.

The UK’s front folds over to provide a stand for typing or watching movies, and features two elasticated strips that allow you to secure the front cover while it’s open. There’s also space inside the front cover for business cards and notes.

The Good:

Despite being plastered with a huge Union Jack, the UK case actually looks pretty good. Its color scheme means it’s stylish and sophisticated rather than cheap and tacky. And on the inside, it’s even better, sporting a soft, checkered lining that looks terrific and provides great protection from scratches and scuffs while your iPad’s inside the case.

That SG Bumper Technology provides a really tight grip for your device, ensuring there’s no chance of it popping out of the case when you get a little heavy-handed, or drop your iPad. What’s more, it doesn’t impede your iPad’s display, and its thick rubber edges give you great impact protection for all four of your iPad’s corners.

On the back of its front cover, the UK features a large flap that’s great for storing the notes and business cards you pick up on your travels. There are also two elasticated tabs that allow you to secure the front cover to the back of the case and prevent it from flapping around while you’re using your device.

As you’d expect from a good iPad case, the UK’s front cover can be folded over and secured by a small leather tab to provide you with some elevation while typing, or to act as a stand for watching movies. It also includes built-in magnets that work like Apple’s own Smart Cover to wake your device when you open the case, and then put it to sleep again when you close it.

The UK’s build quality is fantastic. Its leather is strong and robust and seemingly immune to scratches, while the stitching holding it all together seems like it’ll take years of abuse before showing any signs of giving up. I’ve been using the UK on and off for several weeks, and mine still looks like it was just taken out of the box.

The Bad:

While it does have taste, the UK isn’t the most subtle iPad case money can buy, and it may not be entirely suitable in a professional setting. If that’s not an issue for you and you want a case that turns heads, then it certainly does that.

I was a little concerned with the lack of protection the UK provides to the edges on my iPad. While its corners are very well protected, its edges are left exposed. If you’re unfortunate enough to have your iPad land on its side when you drop it, it’s likely to pick up some damage.

However, using the elasticated tabs to keep the front cover firmly closed will help by providing a little bumper.

The only other complaint I have about the UK is its color scheme. It looks pretty, but the bright leather does get dirty quickly (especially if you let the kids use your iPad, like I do) so you’ll find you’re wiping it down with a damp cloth on a regular basis.

Finally, the UK is a little pricey at $99.99.

The Verdict:

On the whole, the UK from Maroo is a really great case. It’s strong, stylish, and looks terrific when teamed up with a black iPad. It’s not exactly a manly case, but it may be the perfect gift for your other half.

At just under $100, the UK isn’t cheap, but it is made from quality materials and built to last. If you’re not all that keen on the UK’s design but you like the look of Maroo’s cases, you can also find a number of other pretty designs in the Seth Aaron range.

[xrr rating = 80%]

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