With the arrival of the 2018 9.7in iPad, Apple’s iconic tablet is cheaper than ever. But an iPad is still a sizeable investment – and if you want to ensure your brand-new tablet remains in pristine, tip-top condition for years to come, you’re going to want to wrap it in a protective and durable iPad case.
READ NEXT: 2018 9.7in iPad review
Or maybe you have an existing iPad case that’s starting to look a bit worse for wear, and you fancy replacing it with a sharp new design – or something a bit more practical. Whatever your needs, we’ve rounded up the best iPad cases for you.
Just one point to be aware of: the cases we recommend below should fit the 2017 and 2018 9.7in iPads perfectly, but the older iPad Air 2 and the original iPad Air are slightly thinner. Most of these cases can be used with older models, but they might not fit quite as perfectly.
Best 9.7in iPad cases
1. 9.7in iPad leather Mofred case
Price: £17 | Buy now from Amazon
Mofred’s dual-tone iPad cases are both beautiful and practical. The case features a flip stand that works in both portrait and landscape modes, a magnetic sleep-wake strip and six different classy tan colour combinations. The convenient front pocket seals the deal for one of our favourite iPad cases.
If you’re wondering, the colour options are black and tan; blue and tan; brown and tan; grey and tan; pink and tan; and purple and tan. For the price, it’s an absolute steal.
2. 9.7in iPad Cuvr case with Apple Pencil loop-holder
Price:£20 | Buy now from Amazon
Unusually, this 9.7in case features a double elastic loop holder for an Apple Pencil or a Logitech Crayon, making it ideal for new iPad owners looking to take advantage of the latest model’s support for stylus input.
The case comes in three colours – blue, tan and white – and has a desk stand as well as magnetic sleep-wake lock functionality. There’s also a magnetic clasp to protect the iPad when not in use.
3. 9.7in iPad Arteck slim folio case with Bluetooth keyboard
Price:£20 | Buy now from Amazon
Cases with built-in keyboards can be hit and miss, but this is one of the better ones – especially for the price. With a standard Mac keyboard layout, and slightly larger keys than usual, it’s surprisingly comfortable to type on; we prefer it to many more expensive iPad keyboards, including Logitech’s premium offerings.
In all, it does an agreeable job of making your iPad feel like a laptop. Just be aware that the hinge is quite restrictive, and doesn’t allow you to angle the display very far back.
4. 9.7in iPad Supcase Unicorn Beetle heavy duty case
Price:£25 | Buy now from Amazon
If you’re looking for heavy-duty protection, you can’t get better than Supcase’s Unicorn Beetle case. With a built-in screen protector and raised edges for extra drop protection, this solid piece of gear will safeguard your iPad from all types of damage. The built-in kickstand is handy too; the only trade-off is that it is, inevitably, quite weighty.
You can get the Supcase Unicorn Beetle in a range of dual-tone designs: we’re particularly fond of the pink/grey model, but other options include black on black; blue and black; gold and black; rose gold and grey; and white and grey.
![Image of iPad 9.7 2017 case, SUPCASE [Heavy Duty] [Unicorn Beetle PRO Series] Full-body Rugged Protective Case with Built-in Screen Protector & Dual Layer Design for New Apple iPad 9.7 inch 2017 (Black/Black)](http://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51r2NXWLzRL._SL160_.jpg "Image of iPad 9.7 2017 case, SUPCASE [Heavy Duty] [Unicorn Beetle PRO Series] Full-body Rugged Protective Case with Built-in Screen Protector & Dual Layer Design for New Apple iPad 9.7 inch 2017 (Black/Black)")
![Image of Supcase iPad Case 2018/2017, Heavy Duty [Unicorn Beetle PRO Series] Full-body Rugged Protective Case with Built-in Screen Protector & Dual Layer Design for Apple iPad 9.7 inch 2017/2018(Black)](http://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51itPfdwlpL._SL160_.jpg "Image of Supcase iPad Case 2018/2017, Heavy Duty [Unicorn Beetle PRO Series] Full-body Rugged Protective Case with Built-in Screen Protector & Dual Layer Design for Apple iPad 9.7 inch 2017/2018(Black)")
5. 9.7in iPad Fintie 360 degrees rotating
Price:£15 |Buy now from Amazon
If you’re looking for a case to suit your personal style, Fintie’s huge range of designs will almost certainly have something for you: you can pick from Rough Sea, Galaxy, Denim Indigo, Ancient Map, Blossom, Bohemian Ledge, Jungle Night, Autumn Love and many, many more.
It’s a practical case, too, with a 360-degree rotating stand that lets you put your iPad in literally any position or configuration you like. It also comes with automatic sleep-wake lock – so it’s got all the essential features of an iPad case – and with a hard inside layer and soft leather exterior, it’ll keep your iPad safe from knocks and scratches.
6. 9.7in iPad Spigen Extreme Heavy Armor Shock-proof
Price:£15 | Buy now from Amazon
Folio-style covers aren’t for everyone; if you’re looking for a more solid, ultra-protective case. Spigen’s Heavy Armor is the perfect choice. Its dual-layer design combines shock absorbency with a hard exterior to prevent scratches and nicks; it’s both lightweight and easy to manage, and delivers a snug fit with perfect cut-outs for volume and lock buttons.
As befits its military-grade design, the Heavy Armor case comes in a choice of black and gunmetal colours – or a more tasteful rose gold.
![Image of iPad 9.7 inch 2017 Case, Spigen [Tough Armor] iPad 2017 5th Generation [Gunmetal] Extreme Heavy Duty Protection / Air Cushion Technology shockproof for New version iPad 9.7 inch Apple iPad 9.7 inch 2017 - Gunmetal (053CS22261)](http://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41INnGxIsdL._SL160_.jpg "Image of iPad 9.7 inch 2017 Case, Spigen [Tough Armor] iPad 2017 5th Generation [Gunmetal] Extreme Heavy Duty Protection / Air Cushion Technology shockproof for New version iPad 9.7 inch Apple iPad 9.7 inch 2017 - Gunmetal (053CS22261)")
