How I Protect My 9.7″ Apple iPad Pro
Faizel Patel – 13-03-2017
Technology has certainly changed my life. While limited finances allow me to keep up with the latest gadgets and gizmos which may cost a small fortune, I try to also keep my gear equally protected.
My iPad Pro 9.7″ literally goes everywhere I go. It’s a piece of equipment that any reporter should carry with him. The iPad has changed the face of how journalists file stories.
But enough of the iPad for a while. To keep my iPad protected, the first thing that I did was get a gorilla screen protector. These protectors can save you thousands of Rands if you drop your iPad because it absorbs so much of the impact and protects the screen.
Another must have is a cover for the iPad. While some people may go for the smart cover which is quite expensive, I opted a few times for the Bodyglove covers.
They come in about 4 colours which include red, purple, black and grey. The problem I had with these covers is they were cracking, especially at the corners.
I had three Bodyglove covers and they all cracked at the corners. I must say that at no time did I drop my iPad for the cover to crack.
After reporting the matter to Bodyglove, they replaced my cover with a similar one and here I am 3 months later, with a similar problem.
So I scouted tech shops and scoured the shelves for some adequate protection for my tablet.
I have seen the Urban Armour Gear (UAG) covers before but they always looked bulky despite offering good protection for your device.
I picked one up and was pleasantly surprised to learn that looks can be deceiving and that the covers are quite slim and light weight.
The UAG covers with its frogskin exterior seem to offer superior protection for devices and also has some other features which include being drop tested, a holder for the Apple Pencil and smart keyboard compatible amongst others.
The UAG covers for iPad are by no means cheap, retailing for about R999 at major tech shops and about R758 at mainstream online shopping websites.
Distributed by Gammatek, the UAG iPad covers come in exciting colours which include, black, midnight, magma and cobalt.
When I finally got the UAG cover and put I my iPad in it, the cover felt sturdy and protected. The iPad is secured in a rubber housing with extended rounded corners for extra protection.
The magnetic clasp is a nice touch to keep the cover closed. I particularly enjoyed that the front cover can be unclipped and the iPad can be repositioned in portrait after reattaching the cover. While it does feel bulky, my iPad does feel secure and protected.
On the back you get an included stand the can adjust to almost any angle so you get the ultimate viewing experienced based on your personal preference.
What I was worried about though is the velvet finish on the front inside cover while it offers soft protection for the screen, it might be a dirt or dust magnet. It seems easy to clean but will the lush feeling last?
I also like the rugged feel of the cover. The frogskin exterior along with the rubber grooving makes it easy to grip and won’t slip easily of out of your hand while holding the iPad. The back of the cover has a military grooved design which is quite cool.
Overall the UAG seems like a good cover for my iPad Pro, but as I use it in the field, time will tell if it will weather the storm.
