Is it a turtle shell under your arm or what? No it is the new CARA from SwitchEasy. It might look like a turtle shell or honey combs. No matter what associations your brain makes it is a really special case that attracts a lot of attention.
CARA is made from two materials. The back is made from a soft highly flexible elastomer material. It is not far from your standard silicone to the touch, but is stronger. It hugs the entire right side, top and bottom edges. About two millimetres extend onto the front of the iPad 2. There are cut-outs for the headphone socket, charge socket, mute switch and camera on the back. The speaker on the back is covered, but has multiple small holes still allowing sound to travel out freely. The volume controls, and silent button are covered by the elastomer. To me the volume controls became more sensitive using the CARA, and accidental changes in volume became frequent.
The front flap is a huge slab of polycarbonate that extends from the side of the case. The back elastomer continues inside the front flap. I am not sure that the elastomer is strong enough to hold onto the rather heavy front flap for long, but that requires long time testing that I will have to take later on. The front feels almost like a kitchen tile, and is truly sturdy. The honeycomb pattern gives it a tactile aspect, and makes it highly enjoyable to the touch.
For protection the CARA offers a real contender. The front flap is one of the sturdiest pieces I have ever seen in a case for any iPad. For impact, and scratch protection this case is one of the best available. The closing mechanism that extends from the front, and latches onto the side is strong. It will hold for at least one bounce in the pavement.
To enhance the level of protection further SwitchEasy has included headphone jack protectors, charge socket protectors and one anti static screen film. If you use all of these extras as well the CARA might even beat the OtterBox Defender when it comes to brute force protection. Finally SwitchEasy has also included two foldable stands. To say that the CARA offers a complete package is an understatement.
When using the iPad 2 in a CARA case you can fold the front flap completely onto the back of the case. This allows you to play most games where you hold the entire iPad such as driving games. What soon dawns is the weight of the case. This is so far the heaviest case I have tried, and even after five minutes it starts to show when playing Real Racing 2. Even walking about with the case typing or surfing the Internet becomes straining quickly. This is a shame since the weight Apple managed to get rid off between the iPad generations is added back on.
The CARA from SwitchEasy is a cool looking high protection case that suffers from high weight. If you need a complete protection solution the CARA is still a great choice, but be vary that it will not be as pleasant to use due to the added weight. This is a shame since the design, and workmanship are excellent.
Final Rating
CARA at SwitchEasy-Europe.EU €49.99
