When the iPad Mini Smart Covers first showed up, the big question for me was not just which color looked better. I wanted to know whether they actually fit right, whether the new smaller design worked the same way as the larger iPad covers, and whether the material felt worth the price.
I got my hands on the dark gray and red Smart Covers and tried them on both the black iPad Mini and the white iPad Mini. The quick version: they work, they look good, but there are a couple of practical details that bothered me.
Quick Answer
The iPad Mini Smart Cover snaps onto the iPad Mini properly, works well as a basic stand, and stays attached to the back better than the older leather Smart Covers did on larger iPads. I did not run into the alignment problem some people were talking about.
The main drawback is the folding design. Because the cover is divided into thirds instead of folding cleanly in half, it does not work as well for the way I used to hold older iPads. At $40, it feels a little expensive, especially since leather was not available at the time.
Fit And Attachment
The Smart Cover connection is a little different from the older iPad covers. The latch still feels like there is metal inside, but it is covered with a rubbery material. The inside of the cover feels similar to Apple’s previous Smart Covers, just scaled down for the iPad Mini.
A lot of people were saying these did not snap on in the right place. In my use, I did not have that issue. On the black iPad Mini, both the dark gray and red covers snapped on cleanly and lined up the way I expected.
When flipped around to the back, the cover does stick magnetically to the back of the iPad Mini. That is useful, and it actually works better here than it did with the older leather covers on larger iPads because the leather versions were heavier.
Dark Gray Cover
The dark gray Smart Cover looks a little darker in the packaging because the plastic has a slightly foggy look to it. Once it is on the iPad Mini, it reads more like an ash gray than a deep black or charcoal.
On the black iPad Mini, the dark gray looks clean and understated. It does not stand out much, which may be exactly what some people want. On the white iPad Mini with the silver back, I thought the gray looked pretty nice too. For someone with a white iPad Mini who wants a simple, neutral cover, it is a solid option.
Red Cover
The red Smart Cover is a completely different story. Calling it red is technically accurate, but it does not really capture how bright it is. Like a lot of Apple’s colored accessories, it pops quite a bit in person.
On the black iPad Mini, the red really stands out. On the white and silver iPad Mini, it still stands out a lot. If you tend to leave your iPad sitting around and want something that catches your eye, the red cover would definitely help with that.
Folding And Holding
This is where the smaller Smart Cover is not quite ideal for me. On my older iPads, I usually did not flip the cover completely flat against the back. I liked folding it in half and holding the iPad that way.
The iPad Mini Smart Cover does not really allow that same habit. The panels are split into thirds, so folding it halfway does not line up the way I want. If you fold it at the first seam, it tends to want to flip back open instead of staying tucked behind the device.
That may not bother everyone. If you mostly use the Smart Cover as a screen cover or stand, it is fine. But if you have a specific way you like to hold the iPad with the cover folded back, this design may take some getting used to.
Stand Use
As a stand, the Smart Cover worked well in my testing. I watched a movie in landscape with the iPad Mini sitting on my bed, and it stood up nicely without giving me problems.
Typing mode also works, although the iPad Mini itself feels a little small for any serious typing. For quick text entry, it is okay. For longer writing, I would not want to rely on that setup.
Price And Material
The Smart Cover was $40, which feels fairly expensive for what it is. That price is around what the older leather Smart Covers used to cost, and I would have preferred a leather option if one had been available.
That said, there is a tradeoff. I liked the feel of the leather covers better, but they were heavier and did not stick to the back as well. The lighter rubbery version works better magnetically when folded behind the iPad Mini.
Key Takeaways
- The iPad Mini Smart Cover snapped on correctly in my testing, despite some early complaints from others.
- Dark gray looks more like an ash gray and works well with both black and white iPad Minis.
- The red cover is very bright and stands out strongly on both iPad Mini colors.
- The cover works well as a landscape stand for watching video.
- The thirds-based folding design makes it harder to fold in half and hold the way older iPad covers could be held.
- At $40, it feels expensive, and I would have liked a leather option.
Watch the Video
The video above above to see the dark gray and red iPad Mini Smart Covers on both the black and white iPad Mini, including how they attach, fold back, and work as a stand.
