BoxWave Apple iPad 3 Case - BoxWave Ardent Leather Smart Nuovo iPad 3rd Generation Case (Red)

The case arrived as and when expected, so I have no beef with the vendor. It does protect the iPad as I would hope, and looks good, which is why I have rated it with four stars. I also like the design feature that allows you to fold the cover around the back and use that as a vertical or horizontal stand.

Reasons for not giving five stars:

1) The close mechanism (the latch-tab that slips into a sewn-on flap on the back) is a little cumbersome to insert, and to open if you slip it snugly into its receptacle. To grab it, you have to kind of slip your finger under one side of it, and pry it loose from the sewn-on flap. I have a feeling that it's going to start looking ugly after not too long.

2) The magnet that puts the iPad to sleep when you close the cover doesn't engage very well. As you are trying to insert the latch-tab into its receptacle on the back, you will hear the "switching" sound several times per second as the screen flashes on and off until you finally get it seated. Being a bit of a geek, I find this annoying, knowing that putting the iPad through gyrations like that is just the kind of thing that can cause it to 'lock up', though I will admit that this hasn't happened yet.

3) I sometimes like to set the iPad up on edge while listening to music at my desk at work. Because the case's back material is a very hard plastic (which of course does protect the iPad), it tends to slip around on the desk's hard laminate top. It would be nice if it had on its edges some embedded little rubber feet, or something similar, so it would stay put. I'm afraid that one of these days it's going to slip off the desk and onto the floor.

I just wish that Apple still produced a case like the one I bought from them for my first-generation iPad. It worked very well in all respects.

The case is very slim and lightweight. The synthetic leather exterior provides a good grip. The cut-outs for the controls, port and camera are precise, and the on/off sleep functionality works great. The IPAD fits securely into the sturdy plastic back but the case can be unsnapped easily if needed. The front cover folds back easily, although the binding may wear out over time. It also stands up fairly stable on a flat surface. Overall, it's a decent case at a decent price.

This case is really impressive considering how slim it is. Very stable in stand mode and the sleep function works properly. The only missing feature is a stylist holder otherwise it's perfect.