Twelve South, makers of high-quality accessories for Mac and iOS devices, have launched the SurfacePad for iPad mini this week, a new entry in the SurfacePad line of products that aims at protecting your iPad with a leather case that adheres to the iPad and that also works as a hands-free viewing stand and typing wedge.
Made of premium Napa leather, the SurfacePad covers both the front and back of the iPad mini, using a “special adhesive” to hold the mod cover in place in the back of the device. According to Twelve South, the adhesive leaves no sticky marks or residue on the iPad’s aluminum case, and it can be removed and reapplied at any time with ease. Because of the thinnes of the case (0.1 inches/3 mm), when opening the front cover of the SurfacePad to use the iPad the experience should be similar to Apple’s Smart Cover, which, however, only protects the device’s display. As with Apple’s cover, the SurfacePad incorporates magnets to wake the iPad and put it to sleep when opened/closed.
The peculiarity of the SurfacePad is that there’s a small kickstand hidden into the case. When used on a desk or other surface, this allows the SurfacePad to have a comfortable angle for typing without having to manually fold any part of the case. If, on the other hand, you want to use the SurfacePad as a viewing stand for movies or other content, the same structure allows for two different viewing angles (70 and 60 degrees) – the magnets won’t touch the surface of the iPad in this position because they’re hidden under the cover’s microfiber.
The SurfacePad for iPad mini seems to combine the best aspects of Apple’s Smart Cover (ease of use, lightness) with Twelve South’s typical attention for high-quality materials and additional options (multiple viewing angles, built-in kickstand). The SurfacePad is compatible with both the first-gen and second-gen iPad mini, it comes in three colors (black, red, and white), and it costs $69.99. More details and photos are available at Twelve South’s website.
