Not surprisingly, the release of the third-generation iPad was followed by quite a few case re-releases, including many that are exceptionally similar to those we’ve previously covered. A majority of the updated cases are folios, designs that start with either a hard shell or soft frame to hold the tablet, with a flip-over cover attached to the frame. Most of these folios have a lot in common with one another, and range in price from $40 to a little over $60, with one notable outlier. In order to give you a sense of what’s out there now, we’re publishing brief reviews of over a dozen of these folios today.
Don’t let the name fool you: iLuv’s new third-generation iPad case iCC845 Epicarp ($60) has nothing to do with fish. The word refers to the skin of a fruit, and although it’s an odd choice, we have to imagine the company chose that to reflect how thin and light the folio-style case is. It’s worth noting that Epicarp most likely is made in the same OEM factory as Uniq Creation’s The LBD, as they have almost identical structures.
Only very small segments of the top and bottom edges are exposed, and the openings are pretty much centered and well-sized. The lid is segmented like Apple’s Smart Cover, although in three columns rather than four. This setup allows the cover to fold into a triangular typing stand, but a raised segment of plastic on the back of the case is required for a viewing stand; it can also be used for typing if you’d like. The magnets in the lid do successfully lock and unlock the new iPad, but not without issue. Because the cover has a little bit of wiggle room, the screen can become activated unintentionally, which can lead to battery drain issues, something that a better-designed lid would have fixed. Combine that with the less than elegant stand design and the atypically high MSRP, and Epicarp earns our C rating.
Our Rating
Company and Price
Company: iLuv (a unit of jWIN)
Website: www.i-Luv.com
Model: iCC845 Epicarp
Price: $60
Compatible: iPad (3rd-Gen)
