About.com Rating



Works with
iPad

The Good
Covers/protects entire iPad
Easy to grip
Very affordable

The Bad
No access to iPad or ports while in case
Not made specifically for iPad

The Price
US$9.99

As a general rule, multi-purpose cases usually get lower marks from me than cases designed to protect a single product or product line. This is because multipurpose cases, by their nature, aren’t tailored to work specifically with the device they contain.

But, when it comes to Kensington’s Reversible Sleeve for iPad case, the features are solid and the price so low that a good review is justified.

Limited, but Effective Feature Set

The Kensington Reversible Sleeve iPad case seems to have begun its life as a case for 7-10" netbooks. Luckily, the iPad clocks in around 10 inches, so it fits snuggly.

The Sleeve is a stretchy neoprene envelope with a flap on top that pulls back to let you slip the iPad in. As the name suggests, it's reversible, offering a choice of black or light gray to suit your taste.

Beyond that, there’s not much in the way of features. The neoprene is easy to grip – an important feature in a case, and because the Sleeve covers the entire iPad, it provides comprehensive protection.

This same comprehensiveness, though, is also a downside. Because the case completely covers the iPad, it doesn’t leave openings for the screen, dock connector, volume buttons, or headphone jack. This is where being a multipurpose case is a drawback; were the case specifically designed for the iPad, it might have those features.

Despite that, the Reversible Sleeve is a worthy option for a key reason: price.

The Bottom Line

The Kensington Reversible Sleeve iPad case will set you back just US$9.99, a very affordable, fair price. In fact, because the price is so low, you could easily use this case for some situations and have another, more functional one for others.

For instance, this could be a great case to use when traveling, since it would protect the iPad while in an airplane carry-on bag without adding much weight.

So, while the Reversible Sleeve iPad case isn’t the perfect iPad case, the combination of good protection and a great price make it a good back-up case for use in specific situations.



Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.