Five Unique and Stylish iPad Cases

At last count, there were approximately one million iPad cases on the market, give or take a few hundred thousand. It sure feels that way, anyway.

If you’re anything like me, it can take many hours of researching cases and reading reviews before settling on one that will warrant the precious credit card number. As a service to you on your grand journey to find The Ultimate iPad Case (may it end mercifully soon), I present five quite unique iPad cases.

And you’re probably saying to yourself, there are at least 10 other cases that are exactly like each one of these. True, but if we go down that rabbit hole, Apple will have a new, thinner iPad with different-sized ports by the time we’ve made up our mind.

1. Grove Bamboo iPad Cases ($159+)

The Bamboo iPad Case is a specialty case handcrafted by Portland, Ore.-based Grove. It’s a solid bamboo shell made for the iPad 2, 3 and 4 with an all-natural leather or wool felt magnetized smart cover. You can buy artist-designed versions (20+ designs) for $169 or have your own custom-designed cover for $199. It’s currently sold out now with an estimated availability of “Spring 2013.”

2. Brydge Brydge+ iPad Clamshell Case ($170+)

Released last year, the Brydge+ iPad case is the Rolls-Royce of iPad cases. If you want to make your iPad 2, 3 or 4 look basically like a Macbook Air complete with brushed aluminum shell, this is your case. It’s available with built-in Bluetooth speakers for $200 or without for $170. Current expected delivery is “April 2013.”

3. TwelveSouth BookBook for iPad Leather Case, Vol. 2 ($80)

The venerable TwelveSouth BookBook for iPad got a refresh in 2012, but it’s still one of the most creative and unique iPad cases around. The new version is slightly thinner (3mm), features an improved variable-angle stand and now has a cutout for the rear camera. It’s currently shipping in three distressed, hardback leather styles for $80.

4. byrd & belle iPad Reader Sleeve ($48)

The iPad Reader Sleeve, Gray Wool Felt and Brown Leather from Minneapolis-based byrd & belle is a no-frills, one-piece iPad sleeve made from 1/8″ thick felted wool with a top-grain vegetable-tanned leather strap. Each piece is handmade with slight variations in texture and color. You can order it to fit the iPad 2, 3, or 4 (with or without Smart Cover) for $48 + shipping.

5. onandoff Sound Cover Travel Speaker Case for iPad ($129)

Originally launched in early 2012 as a Kickstarter project from designer Peter Hannes Olafsson, the Sound Cover iPad Speaker Case has volume-boosting (up to 300%) NXT stereo speakers which are powered by a 1600mAh lithium-ion battery. You get a multi-angle stand, automatic sleep and wake functions and a 0.9″ ABS plastic case. It’s currently shipping for $129.

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