Tablet and iPad Cases

Cases and covers for tablets

A tablet is a large sheet of glass with a thin edge, and it is more often dropped off a sofa, a table or a child's lap than a phone. A case guards the corners and the back, and most tablet cases also cover the screen when it is not in use. This range is for cases made to fit a particular tablet: compatible with iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and other models, not made by the tablet makers.

The kinds of tablet case

• Folio cases have a front cover that folds back into a stand, usually in a triangle, so the tablet stands up for watching or tips low for typing on the screen. Some covers wake the screen when opened and put it to sleep when closed, on tablets that support it.
• Tough and shockproof cases are thicker, with raised corners and often a handle or a built-in stand. They suit children, the kitchen and work sites.
• Clear and slim back covers show the tablet's own colour and add little bulk. They protect the back and edges but not the screen, so they pair well with a screen protector.
• Cases with a pen holder have a slot or loop that keeps a stylus with the tablet.

Getting the right fit

On an iPad, open Settings, then General, then About: the model name is near the top, such as iPad Air 11-inch. Tap the Model Number line and it changes to a number starting with A, which you can look up if two models share a name. On an Android tablet the model is in Settings, in the About section. The inch figure is measured corner to corner across the screen, and the name is a rounded number, so two tablets called 11-inch can differ in shape. Match the model, not the inches.

A case for the right model has its openings in the right places: the camera, the speakers, the charging port and the buttons. On iPads with a magnetic strip down one side for a pen, look for a case that leaves that strip open, or the pen will not hold on.

Material and weight

Most tablet cases are soft TPU or silicone round the edges, hard polycarbonate at the back, leather-look PU on the cover, or a mix. Soft edges absorb knocks best. A hard back keeps the case slim. A folio adds a little weight, which matters if you hold the tablet up to read in bed. The guide to case materials explains each one, and it applies to tablets just as it does to phones.

Questions people ask about tablet and iPad cases

Will a case for one iPad fit another?

Only if they share a body. Several iPad models look alike but differ by a few millimetres or in where the camera and buttons sit. Check the product page lists your model by name.

Should I get a case or a keyboard case?

If you type more than short messages, a keyboard case does both jobs. If you mostly watch, read and draw, a folio case is lighter.

Does a case work with a sleeve?

Yes, if the sleeve is sized for the tablet in its case. See tablet sleeves.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Tablet keyboard cases
• Tablet screen protectors
• Tablet sleeves
• Tablet stylus pens
• Tablet stands