Mobile menu toggle

Elevate your iPad with this lightweight origami case/stand [Review]

By

Moft Dynamic Folio★★★★
The Moft Dynamic Folio case/stand can lift your iPad closer to eye level.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPad cases that fold into stands are old news, but the Moft Dynamic Folio takes that idea and builds on it. The front flap can be folded into a variety of shapes to support the tablet at a range of angles, in both landscape and portrait orientations. A highlight is one that lifts the iPad up about 3 inches so it’s easier to see.

Plus, the case/stand is lightweight and very easy to attach and remove. There are versions for all recent Apple tablets.

I tested the flexible iPad accessory for several weeks. Here’s what I found out.

Moft Dynamic Folio review

Apple doesn’t build a kickstand into the iPad, which helps keep the tablet slim and light, but it means we’re on our own when the time comes to prop the tablet up so we can lean back and watch a video. The same holds true if we want the iPad held up so we can draw on the screen with a stylus.

Fortunately, plenty of flip cases fold into stands. With one of these, you can both protect your computer and also use it hands-free.

The Moft Dynamic Folio can be folded into more than the usual number of shapes for a case of this type. Moft makes a habit of creating cases like this, and it developed some real skills over the years.

Origami iPad case/stand
Moft Dynamic Folio
4.5

A  slim, lightweight solution that lifts your iPad - and your creative output. It switches easily between creative and content-consumption modes.

Plus, Moft Dynamic Folio offers magnetic strength you can trust powered by N52 — one of the world's strongest magnets for stable elevation and seamless angle shifts.

Pros:
  • Lightweight case
  • Stand offers multiple viewing configurations
Cons:
  • Weak support for portrait mode

Table of contents: Moft Dynamic Folio review

A very flexible iPad stand

The product starts out as a simple wrap-around case, but the front flap includes built-in folds and magnets that allow it to be formed into a variety of shapes useful to hold up an iPad. Moft says the Dynamic Folio supports over twenty screen-viewing angles. Here are a few I find more useful.

One of these I already mentioned, in which the stand/case is configured to hold the tablet up several inches. I tested the version for the 13-inch iPad Pro, and it supports the bottom of the tablet screen up off my desk by 3.2 inches. That brings the screen up much closer to my eye level. I find this option best when using the computer with an external keyboard and mouse. In this arrangement, the display tilts backward about 30 degrees.

Moft Dynamic Folio iPad case/stand
Moft’s case/stand holds your iPad where ready to be used with an Apple Pencil.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

When it’s time to draw on the iPad with an Apple Pencil or other stylus, flip the folded stand around and it can hold the computer up at an angle of about 30 degrees, with the bottom edge about two inches above the ground. It’s a useful configuration if you want to draw on the tablet with it elevated, though a bit wobbly. And the magnetic Apple Pencil holder is below the screen, not above it as usual.

There’s another configuration that also holds the iPad up at about 30 degrees, but this time with the bottom edge of the computer touching the ground. That makes the setup more stable, and, as a nice bonus, this arrangement also includes a platform to hold an iPhone next to the tablet screen.

These are the Moft Dynamic Folio’s more useful stand options. There are others.

One of these holds the iPad screen in portrait mode, but this isn’t particularly stable. I can’t ding the stand/case for that too much though, because few case/stands handle portrait mode well.

And it’s a slim iPad case, too

Moft Dynamic Folio iPad case/stand review
The Moft Dynamic Folio also makes a great case.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Don’t overlook the advantage of a stand that can unfold to become a simple iPad case. The Moft Dynamic Folio wraps around the front and back of the iPad, and clings very firmly to the tablet with magnets.

There are no plastic clips on the corners of the case — it’s all magnetism. This makes it very lightweight and easy to remove and reattach, but it also limits how protective the case can be. It defends the screen from scratches, but can’t do much if you drop the tablet.

The Moft Dynamic Folio adds less than 0.2 inches to the thickness of the tablet. The weight depends on which version you have, though. I’m testing one for the 13-inch iPad Pro, and it comes in at 0.9 pounds, but cases for smaller tablets weigh less. Moft says the one for the iPad mini is only 0.4 pounds, for example.

You can go for basic black, but my review unit is gray with a blue interior, or there’s one that’s light blue with a grey interior.

Moft Dynamic Folio review: Final thoughts

Those looking for a minimalist case for their iPad can be happy with this one. It’s about as lightweight as a case can be, and it’s very easy to put on and remove. And the range of stand shapes it can be folded into is impressive.

★★★★

Limited support for portrait mode pushes down its star rating, though.

Pricing

The price for the Moft Dynamic Folio varies by the size of the tablet. The 13-inch model I reviewed costs $69, the one for 11-inch iPads costs $49, and the version for the iPad mini is $39.

Buy it from: Moft

Origami iPad case/stand
Moft Dynamic Folio
4.5

A  slim, lightweight solution that lifts your iPad - and your creative output. It switches easily between creative and content-consumption modes.

Plus, Moft Dynamic Folio offers magnetic strength you can trust powered by N52 — one of the world's strongest magnets for stable elevation and seamless angle shifts.

Pros:
  • Lightweight case
  • Stand offers multiple viewing configurations
Cons:
  • Weak support for portrait mode

Moft provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.