Last Updated on 8 July 2020 by Colette
This post features product gifted for review
Since I got my iPad mini last Autumn, I’ve been really conscious of protecting it from damage. By the very nature of an iPad and it’s portable design, I often have it out and about with me so the risk of bumps, knocks and scratches is high. I immediately invested in a fairly standard Apple cover. You know the one which attaches magnetically down the side and flips open to create a stand. It has it’s benefits. I love the bright red colour, the stand, the smooth feeling. However it also has it’s niggles – it only really protects the screen – the back is open and therefore prone to scratches and there is no protection from bumps or knocks. The cover has also been known to fall off in my hand before now (in fact last time it happened I dropped my ipad on the floor screen down – thankfully it survived unscathed).
I was excited to see if the Tech21 Impact Folio Case would cut the mustard – featuring advanced impact protection to 6ft this had to be good right?
On first impressions I was disappointed by the brown colour. Why would you choose brown anything? I get that dark colours are practical but you know, black, navy, grey . . . anything but brown.
Colour aside, the texture or the cover is pleasingly smooth to hold but not slippy so as to mean you’re at risk of dropping it. This geometric ribbing and “FlexShock” technology plays a significant part in protecting your tech from impact. Designed to withstand being dropped from around 6ft you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re doing everything you can to prevent damage to your precious technology – now you know I like to be thorough in my reviews but I’m afraid I’m not going to test that one out for you. Let’s just trust them on it shall we?
By definition of the case, it is going to add a certain level of bulk to your slick, slim ipad – but this is a small price to pay for increased protection from bumps and knocks on your daily commute or at the hands of careless children. I’ve certainly seen bulkier cases on the market that’s for sure.
Fitting the case is child’s play – your tablet just pushes neatly into the flexible edges and you’re done. They curve very slightly to hold your ipad securely in place, there is no way it’s going to accidentally slip out.
I’ve mentioned already that the case does add to the size of your iPad and of course it’s to be expected this heavy weight protective case is going to weigh more than your naked ipad but again, this is just pay off for the protection you’re getting (and if you compare it to the ones we use on the kids’ iPads at school it’s as light as a feather!)
When choosing a case, I think it’s important to ensure that you retain all the features of your tablet or phone. Who wants to have to keep taking it in and out of it’s case to be able to use it properly – you know you’ll only drop it whilst messing about trying to get it back in or something. Thankfully the Tech21 case offers full access to all the features of your iPad. Use of the camera is not affected – as you can see, it fits neatly around the camera without interference and the buttons are still responsive. (There really is nothing worse than using a case which means you have to press buttons a million times with the pressure of an elephant to make them respond)
As you would expect from a case of this style, it features automatic wake on opening the front cover – I do think the magnet on this could do to be a little stronger as if I hold my iPad face down then it will flop open reasonably easiliy. It also provides a great multi angle stand – which I think is one of my favourite features of this case, it is far more stable than my previous Apple branded cover.
All in, I’m impressed with the protection provided by the Tech21 case, yes it’s a little bulkier than carrying your iPad around on it’s own, yes it weighs a little more and yes, I would definitely prefer it to be a different colour but do I feel safer carrying my iPad in my bag now? Absolutely. Would I panic if Amy picked it up off the kitchen side, no probably not. This Tech21 Impact Folio case absolutely does the job in protecting your iPad from bumps and knocks (and even 6ft drops) so is ideal of those of us with small children or busy commutes!
Yes, my daughter dropped her iPad and it broke – we had to get the front replaced as it had cracked.
I'm touching wood as I speak but I've been so lucky with mine. I hope the luck continues.
No havent had any problems, i'm really careful
I had only just got new phone unlocked at shop, put it in my bag to go home. On arriving home I discovered phone screen scratched, house keys had been the culprit. I believe new technology should come with protective covers etc. As seem incomplete without these.
Rachel Craig
This looks great, my daughter loves to 'borrow' our phones and tablets so sturdy cases are a must!
Ooh this looks fab. I've given my iPad to my children and need one of these!
I wouldn't go for brown either, but I have to say I need some more protection than the standard Apple cover as well. I dropped my iPad mini a few times, and the screen is cracked all over
So far, so good. I always buy clamshell mobiles to try and prevent damage x
Dropped my phone & cracked the screen!
I've dropped my phone a few times but thankfully haven't broke it
I have smashed my OH phone before. Have a tech21 case and it is brill! I have dropped my phone loads and it hasn't smashed yet. Didn't know they did tablet cases.
My 2 most epic fails were: spilling a glass of cola over my MacBook Pro's keyboard (and killing the whole machine), and my first iPod falling out of my pocket into the toilet (so dead). Hubby put his Samsung Galaxy phone through the wash, and shockingly enough it came back to life and worked for another 8 months!
My son dropped a laptop down the stairs about four years ago. it still works today – and it was the cheapest on the market when I bought it!! shows how little it means to spend a forune on things, eh?!!
My teenager dropped his iPhone at school, the whole screen smashed
I've dropped a couple of mobiles over the years.
I am terribly clumsy as I have dropped a phone down a toilet scratched and cracked nearly every screen and lost about 4 mobiles on nights out, what am I like! x
I stood on the Galaxy tablet the other night thankfully I did not crack it.
Oh touch wood I have been lucky
My daughter has dropped my phone twice and both the times I have repaired the screen since it was cracked and the other time the whole screen came off it was such a bad drop…I need to save it from her so bad..
My boyfriend knocked my phone out of my hand by accident and it smashed I didn't have a case on it I had to take out another contract because glass and speaker were smashed I ended up paying for 6 months for a phone I didn't even have plus pay for another contract at same time so I could get a new phone as it wasn't insured. 🙁
My phone flew out of my pocket when I walked right into one of those 2 foot bollards that councils are putting up all over the place at entrances to parks to stop joyriders driving into them. It was quite dark and they switch off half the lights in the area too to save money 🙁 My screen smashed, but I was more upset by my cut knee.
No, I'm always very careful.
Near misses of falling phones
Cracked the screen on my phone in the past!
Just a few scratches to my tablets screen.
Yes my Google tablet nexus 7 dropped it on my kitchen floor and the screen completely smashed.
Yes my Google tablet nexus 7 dropped it on my kitchen floor and the screen completely smashed.
Cracked screen on phone
I dropped my phone down a flight of concrete steps on a night out once – cracked the screen and pretty much everything else. It's quite a sickening feeling watching your phone as it bounces of every step whilst you desperately try to chase after it in heels.
I am usually careful but my daughter has dropped her phone a few times and scratched it
embarassingly yes on girls nights out lol
Yes, badly scratched and often spoiled. Sturdy protection is really important.
Luckily my Ipad has survived quite a few near misses but this would definitely give me peace of mind
yes i had my ipad screen replaced as it cracked x
I try and be very careful, I have had cheap cases crack and once a tiny bit chipped off my phone screen
my phone screen shattered 🙂
It was! Cracked screen on the kitchen floor while pregnant, then got it fixed just before due date and then in hospital after having my daughter the nurse by accident pushed my phone of the table and screen cracked again!
No, I'm super careful
Kirsty Fox
I've been lucky and had no mishaps
Been lucky so far – touch wood!!