The original iPad Smart Cover was a triumphant thing.
The sheer joy of being able to neatly stand the iPad made it an essential accessory for anyone looking to use the device for entertainment purposes.
Quite frankly, it actually enhanced the iPad as a tablet itself.
The iPad Mini doesn’t quite rank as well as its predecessor.
Unfortunately, in a bid to upgrade and build on the original iPad Smart Cover Apple have implemented some baffling changes.
The phrase ‘if it’s not broke, don’t try to fix it’ comes to mind here, because why change something when the original was so well-received?
It’s not all doom and gloom though.
In keeping with the original, the Mini Smart Cover utilises magnets built into the iPad itself.
As you face the iPad- the left-sided magnets act as a hinge while the right side locks the cover, which once opened automatically activates the iPad.
The inner lining affords the same protective micro-fibre cloth the original boasted and in terms of your choices in regard to colour not much has changed with: dark gray, light gray, red, blue, green and pink all available.
One change I did appreciate from the original is how the iPad Mini Smart Cover’s hinges are completely covered by fabric. The original had exposed metal which was liable to scratch the device, so this is a definite improvement.
So far so good.
Until you realise that the iPad Mini Smart Cover is only available in Polyurethane and not leather; a slight but not overwhelming disappointment.
The same cannot be said for Apple’s next change.
Externally, Apple have decided to use three folding sections instead of the original four.
You can still create a triangle to stand the iPad up with and it can still be used as an inclined typing surface; interestingly this change doesn’t seem to change the level of support given.
What it does mean is that when you want to neatly fold the iPad Mini Smart Cover behind the device to use it you’re left with an overhanging bit of cover. It doesn’t actually fold behind the device like the original.
This is obviously quite a major design flaw and I’m unsure what purpose this overhanging piece serves.
Moreover, the cover doesn’t stay as close or tight to the screen as its predecessor. Which is obviously a worry if you want to transport the device anywhere.
If you think about it. This is a cover that doesn’t actually cover the device properly and I have a feeling that many iPad Mini users will feel aggrieved by the disparity between this smart cover and the original.
Either way, I have a feeling Apple will take more inspiration from their original smart cover than the mini version when designing their next edition.
