Customer Reviews and Ratings

3.0 out of 5 stars

Based on 100 reviews

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Good items but little expensive

    • Written by from Indianapolis

    I got my mini and also got smart cover. First of all, I was afraid to buy this item(smart cover) because most reviews that i read were negative comment on this. In fact, smart cover looks fine in my opinion, and the price is kind of expensive. However, I give this five stars because there is nothing wrong with this item. Also, it is just a smart cover,and it only protects the screen. So, if you look for the entire protection for your ipad, this one is not working at all. But, if you only look for protecting the screen, then this one works well.

    26 of 30 people found this useful

  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Returned mine

    • Written by from Arlington

    I've been a Smart Cover user for the full-sized iPad since its release and love it.

    While this Smart Case may look like that product, it's very different.

    My biggest gripes were the following:

    1) the cover is rather loose fitting. When in a bag, it never seemed to stay put and keep my mini locked. When sitting closed on a desk, you could often see a gap under it on the front of the screen. When you open it and put the cover on the back of the device, it slides around/rotates a few degrees, causing it to be awkward in your hands.

    2) It's very weak. For the life of me, I couldn't get it to work well as a stand. On anything other than a flat/hard/steady surface, it fell apart.

    I'm currently without a solution for protecting my mini, but I can wholeheartedly say this is not the answer. I've owned nearly everything Apple for a decade now and this is the first return I've made.

    36 of 40 people found this useful

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Not worth the money

    • Written by from West Hills

    Useless as anything other than a cover. Will allow you to stand the ipad up, but don't plan on typing on it while it's stood up. The magnets are weak and I've almost dropped my ipad twice while handling it with the cover as a handle. Save your money and buy something better.

    23 of 30 people found this useful

  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Good concept, bad design...

    • Written by from Bristol

    It looks nice but doesn't work well. It slides around all them time on the iPad. The real issue comes when you try to use it as a stand. The magnets are not strong enough to hold the cover on the iPad and the cover falls off. This makes the iPad fall. It does look pretty good though.

    8 of 10 people found this useful

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Overpriced, but essential.

    • Written by from Miami

    The iPad mini Smart Cover works as advertised. I couldn't imagine using the iPad mini without it as it provides a soft and grippy backing when flipped behind the device. The wake/sleep mechanism when opening or closing the cover is a timesaver. Moreover, the two positions of the cover open let me use the iPad mini different ways -- tabletop gaming, watching movies, etc.

    12 of 13 people found this useful

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Lab coat

    • Written by from Bismarck

    I am surprised by how secure the cover is. The mini will dangle securely when held just from the far edge of the cover. Much tighter attachment than the original iPad 2. The smart cover secures the mini firmly in typing position and the edges seal well in my lab coat pocket. My medical library totes inconspicuously on rounds. My toolkit just expanded exponentially. The cover and the mini combined are so light that the weight is not apparent when walking or sitting, but there is enough inertia when I take my coat off that I am reminded that it is there. It just belongs where it is, being useful.

    14 of 16 people found this useful

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Get the iPad Mini skip the smart cover

    • Written by from Brooklyn

    Very disappointed with the new Ipad mini smart cover.
    The cover never sits flat when closed and the magnets are very weak. The weak magnetic connection leads to the cover opening very easily. Finally the newly designed hinge is no longer made of aluminum and comes apart more easily. Compared to the previous smart cover the ipad mini smart cover really disappoints. Brought mine back. Hopefully another company designs a cover like the old one.

    9 of 10 people found this useful

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Excellent and Useful

    • Written by from Carrboro

    This is a big improvement over the Smart Cover for the larger iPads. This fastens much more securely, for one. The magnets seem to be stronger, but it may be that the lighter weight of both the Mini and the cover allows for a more secure contact. The heavier iPads always seemed to be on the brink of breaking free of their covers. This feels as secure as if it were actually attached. Another nice feature is that it works much better as a stand - again, probably because of the lighter weight. With this, I don't see the need for another stand, whereas I was always searching for the perfect stand for the others. Finally, I'm much happier with the look of this. With the black Mini, the black back and this dark grey cover make a sharp looking combination.

    6 of 7 people found this useful

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Does not work well as a stand

    • Written by from Kettering

    I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. The Smart Cover for the iPad Mini has one less fold and that causes it to not stay folded in the triangle position when I am using it to angle the screen. It is magnetic, but the magnets aren't strong enough to keep it folded and with only a slight nudge it comes unfolded and the iPad flops down to the surface it is sitting on. (It did it just did it as I was typing this review.). Consequently I will be returning it and getting something else. I have the Smart Cover for my iPad 3 and it works much better due to having the extra fold.

    8 of 9 people found this useful

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Skip the cover and get a case

    • Written by from Gulf Breeze

    Just got my new iPad mini and bought this cover with it. I find the cover to be in the way most of the time and the connection to the iPad Mini is weak. First hour I owned it I was showing to a friend who attempted to flip the cover to a stand and in the process the cover detached and the mini fell a short distance to the floor which cracked the screen. Not the cover's fault exactly but it interferes with having a good grip on the device and pulls away from the mini with the slightest pull. The iPad mini is fragile. I've dropped my iPhone a hundred times in the same way with no damage. Spend your money on a cover that will actually provide a good grip and protection in a short fall.

    369 of 426 people found this useful

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Pleasantly Surprised

    • Written by from Philadelphia

    Initially, I thought that the Smart Cover was over priced and under protected. But when I replaced my iPad 2 with an iPad 3, I wanted a lighter case for around the house than the Maroo case I had been using. (Which is also awesome, btw).
    I initially bought a back shell case from Belkin, that could work w a Smart Cover if I so decided to purchase one. A week later, I took the chance. I'm very happy that I did. The magnet attached design, the slim factor, the interior fabric, and the fact that each fold is magnetized, are all reasons why I love the product. And this is coming from someone who was a harsh skeptic, and expected to be returning the product,

    The Smart Cover is not going to protect the screen if yo drop it. But I never expected that's what it would do. You need a heavy duty case for that.
    Since I bought Apple Care + with my new gen iPad, I went lighter on the case. And the combo of a translucent dark grey Belkin shell, with Apple's dark grey Smart Cover is awesome functionally, and in the slim factor. Plus, the two together make an incredibly sexy team.
    I'd recommend it — IF you have Apple Care. (Which you should for a $500 - $700 investment)

    17 of 25 people found this useful

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Incredibly overpriced, doesn't work well.

    • Written by from Pittsburgh

    I must say, I have never been as disappointed in an Apple product as I am with this Smart Cover. Where to begin? Well, when you fold it into the stand position, it frequently comes apart. The magnets just aren't strong enough. Speaking of, the Smart Cover doesn't really stay in place on the screen that well. Hold it upside down, and you'll see what I mean. It comes undone. If this were $10, then it may have been worth it, but they charge so much because they are Apple and they can. Do yourself a favor and buy an off-brand product. You'll get the same thing at a quarter of the price.

    54 of 60 people found this useful

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fabulous cover

    • Written by from NEW YORK

    Once it's on, it just stays in place. And, it's so darn cute!
    .

    10 of 21 people found this useful

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Hey! Not so good.

    • Written by from lincoln

    Bad, in fact. Please don't buy this thing. It's pretty lousy and you can find better third party options for half the price.

    Here are the things that caused me to hate it:
    - Like others have said, when closed it lifts itself up a little in the middle. I understand that not everyone experiences this, but for a first party product costing 40 entire dollars, I expect consistency.
    - It slides around very easily when closed, due to the lack of a hinge on the connecting side and weak magnets on the other.
    - The fabric will soak up all the sweat and grease from your naturally gross hand, and conveniently transfer all that to the mini's screen.
    - Used as a stand, the magnets are not nearly strong enough to maintain integrity when nudged. The full sized version got around this by having an additional flap that would fold under. No such luck here.
    - It is probably the clumsiest possible thing you can attach to this expensive, droppable device.

    Don't get me wrong, I love the mini. I just think this is a poorly designed, over-priced magnetized rubber flap we all need to forget. Let's move on together.

    36 of 40 people found this useful

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Works as advertised

    • Written by from West Babylon

    Real simple really....the cover does exactly what it says it does. I liked the dark grey cover best as it blends into my office surroundings better. I work in auto sales, and I really don't want the public or any colleagues to know I have one...so the dark grey works great for me, blends in with some books I have.

    Cover works perfect as I fold it and make a stand out of it so my clients can watch some videos while I get information for them in my absence. Keeps the folks entertained. All around...solid fit. I don't know why people are having trouble making it work. If a car salesman can get it to work perfectly, anyone else should.

    9 of 13 people found this useful

  • 3.0 out of 5 stars

    Decent but not great

    • Written by from Hayward

    I purchased the smart cover for the iPad mini. Its ok but lacks in protecting the whole iPad. no protection for the back of the mini. Another problem is that the cover easily comes off the iPad because it is attached via magnet to the iPad. It easily slips off which is a problem, esp when i am typing. Overall, decent but a whole body protector would be much better. I do like the auto on off feature tho.

    6 of 11 people found this useful

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Terrible!!!

    • Written by from Wenatchee

    Does not fit the iPad mini. Hangs over the end causing it to pop up in the middle and turn the screen on. The hinge (err lack thereof) is horribly loose and does not hold the cover in the proper position at all. I love apple products but this is the worst product I've used since the Newton.

    iPad mini - amazing
    iPad mini Smart Cover - terrible

    22 of 28 people found this useful

  • 3.0 out of 5 stars

    verified at Apple Store

    • Written by from Oakland

    The cover pops up in middle of the spine at closed position, leaving the iPad mini powered on & screen on. The gap is about 1/4 of an inch.

    If you put the mini with cover in a bag, I believe a very high chance the screen will turn on automatically.

    13 of 17 people found this useful

  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Just like it's big brother

    • Written by from Cary

    I have to say, I am very surprised by some of the negative reviews about this product. It almost made me decide against it. Being I have had the full size in the past, I gave it a try. Just like its bigger sibling, it snaps right on exactly where it is supposed to be. I would have liked to see these come in maybe at $29.00 for the smaller size, but other than that, it works extremely well, just as advertised.

    17 of 20 people found this useful

  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Great, but could be...

    • Written by from Salt Lake City

    I love the cover, I think it functions very well, but I also recently purchased a smart cover for an iPad 2 and it's freaking awesome. So stand alone this cover is a 4-4.5 but compared to the smart cover it's a 2, I hope apple sees the need and makes one quick.

    6 of 13 people found this useful