Which iPad should you buy? Comparing all of Apple’s tablets in 2020

About our trusted experts

Jesse Hollington is a tech journalist with over 10 years of experience writing about technology, with an especially strong expertise in all things iPhone and iPad. Jesse previously served as Editor-in-Chief for iLounge, authored books on the iPod and iTunes, and has published product reviews, editorials, and how-to articles on Forbes, Yahoo, The Independent, and iDropNews.

Emmeline Kaser is an experienced product researcher and reviewer in the field of consumer tech. She is a former editor for Lifewire’s product testing and recommendation round-ups.

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Braecn heavy duty ipad mini case

The Braecn case offers a multi-functional three-layer military protection for the iPad Mini and prevents damage due to shock, dust and accidental drops. The three layers comprise a hard poly-carbonate cover, a hard polycarbonate inner case and a soft silicone outer shell.

The rugged case comes with a kickstand that is capable of 360-degree rotation to place the tablet in any comfortable position. The case helps in accessing the controls, buttons and ports even when it is holding the tablet inside. It also contains a covering mechanism for each port to prevent dust from entering the same.

The accessory features a handgrip and an adjustable removable shoulder strap. The shoulder strap can be fixed on to any two holes in the case so that the tablet can be carried horizontally and vertically. The case comes with a free screen protector. It comes in various color variants of black, blue, green, light blue, purple, red and rose red.

Who should buy this?

Case army aipm123 soft flexible ipad mini cover

The Case Army crystal clear cover is scratch and abrasion resistant apart from being shatterproof and shock-absorbent to a certain extent. The cover is made of smooth and treated rubber that keeps stains and dirt at bay. It offers complete protection to all parts of the tablet barring the screen.

The cover lessens the chance of signal loss while the clear nature offers a high level of transparency. It is a perfect fit for the tablet and does not come off the same unless it is manually removed. The clear nature makes the tablet look like how it actually is without a cover.

Who should buy this?

• The Case Army cover is ideal for people who want partial protection (without the screen) of their tablet at a nominal price.
• The cover is a good choice for those who want a cover that is simple and easy to use.

Choose ipad mini if you…

…prefer a compact size and a better screen.

iPad mini is smaller than 9.7-inch iPad, but it’s more expensive. It’s 7.9-inch Retina True Tone display offers the highest pixel density – 326 ppi. All other iPad models feature “only” 264 ppi.

As a result, iPad mini will help you see a crispier, more readable text, although its screen size is smaller.

A small screen size is also more eye-friendly. Tablets use backlit displays, where the image is being created by light that comes from behind – directly into your eyes. Therefore, the smaller the display, the less eye strain. Your eyes will get tired, but at a slower pace than in case of iPad 9.7.

⇢ iPad mini on Amazon

Cooper cases b1a43c6 executive look ipad mini case

The Cooper Cases iPad Mini case is designed to look like a leather folio case and comes with a detachable keyboard and a foldout stand. The faux leather exterior has shockproof, rugged and durable properties. The interior of the case is made of soft suede microfiber to offer protection breaking and scratches.

The detachable and rechargeable QWERTY keyboard can be connected to the tablet using the wireless Bluetooth 3.0 functionality. The black keyboard has 59 laptop-like keys and 14 shortcut keys that are exclusively dedicated to performing the tablet’s functions.

It features a 10 m working range and encompasses a 100-hour lithium polymer rechargeable battery. The case can be used as a normal portfolio case by removing the keyboard from its magnetic keyboard tray. The foldout stand helps in supporting the hands-free operation of the iPad. The iPad Mini case is available in five plain color choices of black, rose red, dark blue, purple and red.

Who should buy this?

• The Cooper Cases accessory is, without doubt, the apt bet for people who would like to use a keyboard with their tablet to use it as a laptop for business or during travel
• The convenient angle position offered by the stand makes the case ideal for those who want to use their tablet for activities like reading and watching movies

Hocase hard rubber ipad mini case

The Hocase shockproof hybrid protective case encompasses an anti-scratch shock absorbent exterior and a hard polycarbonate inner frame. This protects the iPad Mini from damage due to accidental falls or drops. The kid-friendly cover features raised lips to offer additional protection against shattering or scratching by preventing the screen and camera from coming in contact with a flat surface when the accessory is kept face down.

The dual layer case comes with a white floral picture on the back panel and the picture of a lady on the front panel. It comes in four color choices of hot pink/gray, purple/teal, rose gold and teal/gray.

Who should buy this?

• The floral pattern makes the Hocase accessory undoubtedly a good option for women who want a case with an elegant design for their iPad Mini
• The kid-friendly pattern ensures that the tablet case is worth considering by parents whose children primarily use the tablet for their school and college related activities

Jetech tri-fold magnetic smart ipad mini cover

The JETech cover has a slim and lightweight design. The cover is made of a combination of polyurethane and polycarbonate. It has a smooth interior and a synthetic exterior that gives your iPad Mini complete protection. The magnetic property of the cover renders automatic sleep/wake functionality by setting the tablet to ‘wake’ mode when the cover is flipped open and ‘sleep’ mode when the cover rests on top of the screen.

The cover comprises cutouts so that you can access the camera, speakers and USB ports without having to remove it. It is available in seven color options of black, blue, green, dark gray, pink, purple and red. It comes with a lifetime warranty card.

Who should buy this?

• The JETech cover is worth considering by people who want to place their iPad Mini tablet in different angled positions for comfortable writing and view
• The availability in multiple colors makes it a good option for those who want to take their pick from different colored plain cases

Ladco b1a43c6 water repellent ipad mini sleeve

The Ladco sleeve is made using waterproof canvas fabric and has moisture proofing and water-repellent properties to prevent water from coming in contact with the iPad Mini through it. This protects the tablet from becoming wet due to splashes or rain.

The anti-static and extra soft sleeve renders protection with its three distinct layers comprising a shockproof layer, a waterproof layer and a fluffy fleece fabric inner layer.  The three layers are capable of absorbing impacts and reducing damages that are likely to occur due to accidental bumps.

The sleeve has an extra pocket on the front that is large enough to hold items like your tablet charger, wallet and keys. It comes in two color options of blue and gray.

Who should buy this?

• The Ladco sleeve is worth giving a thought by iPad Mini lovers who are looking for a non-bulky protection option for their tablet
• The sleeve is ideal for those who want an inexpensive cover that is washable and easy to maintain
• The zipper mechanism ensures that a sleeve is a good option for those who want a cover that can be handled easily

Makeit bc26592 hybrid shockproof ipad mini case

The MAKEIT iPad Mini case has an advanced dual layer hybrid design. The inner layer is made of hard poly-carbonate that is shock absorbent. The shock absorbing design is engineered such that the shock effect is absorbed and the impact is evenly circulated or distributed into the bumper.

The outer layer is designed using premium grade anti-slip silicone rubber to protect it against accidental bumps, scratches, drops and dirt. The snap-on mechanism makes it very easy to put the case on and also remove it when it is not needed. The sturdy case is very easy to take from one place to another.

The form-fitting hard case has precise cutouts for accessing all the buttons, ports and cameras, as well as the speaker and microphone. The case is available in two color and pattern variants of mint green and purple/light green. It comes along with a stylus pen from the same manufacturer and a two-year warranty.

Who should buy it?

• The rugged feature of the MAKEIT case makes it the right choice for children using the iPad Mini to do their classroom or school related tasks
• The case is a good option for people who want to charge their iPad Mini without removing the case
• The stylus makes it ideal for those who would like an alternative to using their fingers to operate their tablet

Pawtec paw-sleeve-79ipm stylish and lightweight ipad mini sleeve

The Pawtec sleeve is made of two materials for the exterior and the interior. The exterior is made using lightweight, stretchable and durable neoprene. The shockproof and bubble-padded interior offers extra protection for the laptop from accidents such as bumps, dents, drops and storage.

The protective storage carrying sleeve case helps in safeguarding the tablet during travel or when going outdoors such as on vacation or for business trips. The case comes with a one-year limited warranty and offers an easy replacement at no extra cost.

Who should buy this?

• The black Pawtec sleeve is worth giving a thought by iPad Mini lovers who are looking for a non-bulky protection option for their tablet.
• The sleeve is ideal for those who want an inexpensive cover that is durable and easy to maintain.
• The zipper mechanism ensures that a sleeve is a good option for those who want a cover that can be handled easily.
• The bubble padding makes the case apt for those who are sceptical of the tablet being prone to accidents.

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Techcode pp-gz-mn123 premium quality pu leather ipad mini case

The TechCode case is designed using luxury soft PU leather on the outside for all-round protection and soft flannel on the inside to prevent scratches. The handcrafted case offers a comfortable tight fit for the iPad Mini so that it does not fall off.

The accessory comes with four small slots and one big slot inside the top cover so that you can keep a few currency notes and debit or credit or business cards. It also features a book style foldout viewing stand for those who wish to use their tablet in hands-free mode. It comes in three checked pattern options.

Who should buy this?