Five years have elapsed since we last saw Acme Made cases for Apple products, but the company’s back in the game with two affordable new iPad cases: Skinny Sleeve ($30) and Slick Case IP ($40). Both of the cases use high-gloss plastic as their dominant external material — Skinny Sleeve is a thin, shiny pouch with one hard-reinforced inner wall and a soft back, both covered in neoprene, while Slick Case IP is a folio-style, double-zippered case with an internal divider, an iPad-holding set of elastic straps, and a pocket for a cable. Black and white versions are offered for each case, with silver Acme Made logos inked onto their faces; their backs are bare.
On May 13, 2010, iLounge published The Complete Guide to iPad Cases and Protection, a multi-page comparison of over 70 different iPad cases and film protectors, sorted by genre. The following details were added to this piece by that comparison article; please click on the link above for additional comparative discussion of similar protective options.
We typically steer clear of recommending sleeves for iPods and iPhones, but iPad users may find that they make more sense. The concept is to totally envelop the iPad inside protective material, using a flap or zipper to open and release the device when it’s needed. In almost every one of these cases, the designs speak for themselves—you either like how they look, or don’t—so we’re sorting them by price and focusing our brief notes on fit and scope of protection, with bare opinions otherwise.
Does Skinny Sleeve fit? Yes. Is everything protected? Yes, though the top of the case is open with long flaps that cover the iPad’s top surface fully, but loosely.
Unlike Sleeves, which keep an iPad inside for slip-out use, the Flip-Style collection of iPad cases has been designed to split open and reveal the device—generally for use while still in the case. There are such similarities between these cases that we’ve put them into groups solely for the purpose of indicating which we think are standouts, and which basically blur into each other.
Slick Case IP is a Middle-of-Pack Pick. Acme Made’s trademark glossy plastic exterior works well with this soft, fuzzy, padded interior, which uses just one big pocket to hold whatever you might want to place on the opposite side from the iPad. Note that this case is designed for the iPad to stay on the left side with elastic, zipping closed with one zipper; you can flip the iPad upside down and turn the case around if you don’t mind the exterior Acme Made logo being upside down as well.
Our Rating
Company and Price
Company: Acme Made
Website: www.Acmemade.com
Models: Skinny Sleeve, Slick Case IP
Price: $30-$40
Compatible: iPad (2010)
