Booq’s Booqpad ($60) is back for iPad Air 2. The folio case stands out for its ability to house a removable notepad in the front cover — Booq includes a notepad with the case. It’s also possible to remove the magnetic polycarbonate shell from the faux-leather cover to use Booqpad as a playthrough case.
A folding stand adds to Booqpad’s versatility. Unlike the previous version of the case for iPad Air, no screen protector is included, and the design has changed a bit.
Booqpad’s removable shell is a blessing and a curse — it’s nice to take it out when you don’t need the folio cover, but it also removes too easily in certain situations. A tip in the wrong direction while the case is open, and the shell — which is held in place with magnets and only provides minimal protection — could fall right out of the folio.
The folio’s design won’t activate the iPad’s sleep/wake function, either. On the positive side, the shell doesn’t add a lot of bulk to the case. Booqpad’s stand, like in the past iPad Air version of the case, isn’t incredibly intuitive, but works well enough.
Of course, the real appeal of Booqpad is still the built-in note-taking ability paired with the iPad Air 2.