Apple designs beautiful products. Products that generally make us hesitant to hide them in a case, but when we saw the professional styling of NewerTech's Pad Protector, we couldn't help but be excited when they sent us one to review. After spending a few weeks with it, I'm more than pleased. Usually I have to force myself to use cases. The Pad Protector, I actually want to use.

Build Quality
The outside of the Pad Protector is made out of a fine-leather, which gives the case a fantastic executive feel both visually and physically. Inside, The Pad Protector is lined with soft suede, which was great overall. The suede lining made me confident that it would protect that iPad when sliding it in and out of the case and not scratch it. (Suede does have a tendency to pick up a few specs of dust here and there, which might be of annoyance to some users, but it's something I didn't mind all that much.) The magnetic latches further contributed to the premium feel of the case, keeping both the front cover and the rear-flap (for propping up the iPad) in place when not in use. Overall, I couldn't be happier with the materials NewerTech used in their case. I never got the feeling that the case was cheap or flimsy, which is something that's been said often about Apple's own iPad case. Instead, it felt like a case that can actually hold up with use; a case that looks as good as it feels.

Setup, Use, & Features
The iPad slides in from the top of a frame that goes entirely around the iPad with cutouts for the speaker, side-controls, and dock connector. When I first unboxed The Pad Protector I was a little worried about the frame's innermost edges. They were warped out a little bit, but after a day of use the frame seemed to adjust itself to the iPad and fit normally. They would, however, warp back out when propped up vertically. I was more than pleased with the size of the port cutouts that never interfered with any of my peripherals.

However, I would have liked to see a bit more room with the home button cutout. It never interfered with my ability to press the home button, it just could've been cut a bit deeper. My only serious problem with The Pad Protector's frame was that the top (where the iPad slides in) is left completely open. I noticed that if carried or placed with the top-opening angled downward in any way, the iPad would sometimes start to slide out, something users will have to be cautious with when carrying the iPad or leaving it unattended. I'd love to see NewerTech implement some type of way to fasten the iPad in from the top to keep this from happening.

Like Apple's case, the cover can fold back and insert into a magnetic flap which allows for the iPad to be propped up in two ways. The first position tilts the iPad horizontally which angles it perfectly for typing. I did notice a little bit of flex when interacting with the device at this angle, but that's expected. However, the second way users can prop-up their iPad was my favorite. The iPad can be angled vertically so that it's similar to that of a laptop screen, which was fantastic for watching videos. I was blown away with how sturdy the case stands at this angle. There was no real give or rock whatsoever when I tapped at the screen. However, holding the iPad with the cover folded back did take some getting used to. The case's cover tends to bend and slide when folded back, which made holding the iPad a little awkward at times. It made it especially difficult to try to hold the iPad with one hand. This became especially apparent when trying to read with the iPad. I couldn't help but wonder if maybe NewerTech could remedy this by placing magnets on the rear of the case as well.

Finally, the Pad Protector came with a screen protector which I've been more than pleased with. It was a breeze to put on, sealed nicely (especially around the home button), and looks fantastic. Usually screen protectors that come with other products aren't the best, but in my experience it's been great.

Pricing & Overview
The Pad Protector comes in black and red, and with its $24.95 price-tag it's an absolute steal for the product you're getting. Most cases that I've seen that replicate NewerTech's attention to detail and quality are 2-4 times the price. The Pad Protector even rings in cheaper than the flimsy, $30 iPad case made by Apple. If NewerTech can make me enjoy using an iPad case, that's saying something. Overall, if you're looking for a folio-style iPad case, this might very well be the one for you. We haven't found any other case that matches the luxury-feel of the materials at this low of a price.