Category: Cases
Works With: iPad mini
Price: $90
I called the Pad&Quill Aria the “classiest iPad mini case yet,” and I’ll stand by that after using it for a week or two. It’s also most definitely the sturdiest, best crafted case I’ve ever seen, and the fanciest that Brian Holmes and the P&Q crew has come up with to date.
But can such a fancy case ever be practical? Let’s take a look.
The Aria is a leather and wood book-a-like case, only instead of the thin Moleskine-aping smooth leather normally found on this kind of case, the Aria looks like the kind of book Dumbledore would keep his spells in. Up until he died, that is. Oh, sorry – spoiler alert.
The stitched case is thick enough to stop a small dagger, and the wooden frame inside holds the iPad mini as firm and tight as any of Pad&Quill’s other cases. Which is to say, very firm and tight. The wooden section is shaped a little differently than the usual cases, with a handsome sweeping curve to the hole instead of a regular rectangle. I have no ice if this makes it stronger or lighter (I doubly it) but is does look good.
The Good
You can take this case out with you, and the iPad within will stay safe unless you decide to dunk it in the drink. The front has extra thick (two-layer) leather to protect the screen, and to make the high that lets the cade convert into a stand. The spine wraps around the back and is tooled with a fancy design that is straight out of a book-sniffer’s dream.
The spine is tooled with a fancy design that’s straight out of a book-sniffer’s dream.
There’s also the trademark P&Q ribbon, which is essential for getting your iPad back out again (it sits between the iPad and the case and lets you yank it out).
Finally, cut-outs are all present and correct. Almost. You can plug anything in, listen to the speakers and hit all the buttons, but the power-switch cutout is a little closer to the centerline of the iPad than the button itself. Thank to the mini’s thin bezel, its button is actually very close to the corner, thus the case needs to put the hole a little too far to the left to be able to offer corner protection. There’s no problem pressing the button, though – you just have to hit its edge.
Finally, the leather itself feels lovely under the fingers, and slots sturdily into a rear slot (riveted into place) that holds the case’s front edge to make a stand for either typing or watching movies, depending on how you prop it up.
The Bad
There isn’t much to say here. The case can feel a little wobbly when in movie-stand mode, mostly because the iPad inside doesn’t have enough weight to push the whole thing downwards. I imagine that a few months of use will help to break in the stiff leather, though.
There’s no pretending that the luxurious Aria competes with the Smart Cover.
The only real issue is that of bulk. There’s no pretending that the Aria competes with the Smart Cover.
While not heavy for its size, it is thick and chunky. Think of it as a little like a Rolls Royce (an old one – not the hideous modern boxes). IT has beautiful curves, great craftsmanship and offers you every comfort you could want, but it isn’t exactly practical to take on a trip to the supermarket.
The Verdict
If you value comfort over speed, protection over svelte lines and classic, hand-tooled beauty over minimal modernism, then the Aria might be for you. I said back in my news post that “it’ll probably outlast your mini.” Now, after using it for a while, I’d say that it might even outlast you.
 Product Name: : AriaThe Good: Strong, classic, good-looking. Like a case version of Kirk Douglas.
The Bad: Thick and hefty The Verdict You’ll know if this is your kind of thing. If it is, you’ll love it. Buy from:Pad&Quill |
