One of the hardest designs to pull off is the folio design, and there are loads of pitfalls. Proporta has managed to create a top notch product with their Aluminium Lined Leather Case. It combines great protection, versatile flap usage, great closure system and light weight.
The iPad 2 is inserted from the top, and held in place by tucking a piece of leather around it. The fit is excellent, and even though the leather intrudes on the front of the iPad it is still distance to the screen.
The leather used is of good quality with a thick texture. Edges are either folded or painted, and thus I don’t think the leather is of one of the better grain qualities. Still the thickness adds durability to the case. All seams are well made, and the level of workmanship is better than the pouch I reviewed from Proporta for the iPad 2. The front has cool stitching intersecting into a cross in the lower right of the front flap. A round piece of leather is found in the intersection with a cut-out to showcase the aluminium in the front.
For protection this is a great alternative due to the clever screen saver system. A large sheet of aluminium is sewn into the front flap, and this gives the screen a lot of protection. Both minor to moderate impacts can be easily absorbed by the flap, but also otherwise penetrating damage can be avoided due to the aluminium. Overall this is one of the best folio designs ever when it comes to protection.
To keep the folio shut a piece of leather extends from the front flap, and holds on magnetically to the back. It is strong enough to hold it all in place if it takes a fall.
There are cut-outs for volume controls, mute switch, headphone socket and charge socket. What it does lack is a proper cut-out for is the speaker on the back. Now you can still hear most of the sound coming out, but it is slightly muffled. A more troublesome aspect is the camera cut-out that is hard to get centrered outside the lens. The hole is too small, and as the iPad has some freedom to move the images tend to have black patches where the camera has been blocked by the case. If you want to be able to use your iPad to take pictures this is not the ideal case.
Extra features come in the shape of being able to fold the front flap backwards creating a landscape stand of the iPad 2. Two large padded pieces found inside the flap give two different angles to place the iPad. A really neat feature that doesn’t add any bulk at all. Furthermore the case offer sleep function functionality. Close the lid, and the iPad goes to sleep due to a magnet found inside the flap.
Another important aspect for gamers is that the flap can be folded completely backwards, and stay held on the back. When playing games using the accelerometer this is key to being able to use a folio for gaming.
There are a brown, and a black version of the case. I have tried the black version that comes with a highly enjoyable clean pinstripe lining.
The Aluminium Lined Leather Case from Proporta is one of the most usable folio designs. Stand functionality, sleep function compatibility and first class protection outshines the camera cut-out shortcomings by far. If you are in the market for a folio design definitely consider this as a worthy choice.
Final Rating
Aluminium Lined Leather Case at Proporta.co.uk £59.95
