The Best iPad Air Cases and Covers to Protect Your Tablet

The OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 is our favorite iPad Air case. It's slim yet offers excellent protection against scratches and drops. With a built-in magnetic folio cover that doubles as a viewing stand, the accessory will also protect the slate when it's not in use.

OtterBox has equipped the case with a convenient Apple Pencil holder, too. Best of all, the clear case will showcase the cool new colors of the latest iPad Air.

More: Our In-Depth Review of the Latest iPad Air

The Speck Balance Folio is a solid alternative to our top pick from another major brand. Even with its slim profile, it's still able to protect the iPad Air from 4-foot drops. Like our favorite phone cases from the brand, the Balance Folio can also keep germs away, thanks to Microban antimicrobial treatment.

This iPad Air case has an anti-scratch lining, a magnetic cover that doubles as an adjustable viewing stand, and an Apple Pencil holder. Unlike its OtterBox rival, the Balance Folio also has a neat magnetic cover for the iPad's rear camera.

The Slim Smart case by ESR is the best affordable iPad Air case worth your attention. For less than $20, the surprisingly elegant accessory will protect the slate from scratches and light drops without adding bulk.

The case has a translucent protective shell for the iPad Air, as well as a folio cover that doubles as a viewing stand. You can order it in various colors: black, blue, gray, green, papaya, and rose gold.

More: Get the Most from Your Tablet With These iPad Accessories

The Logitech Combo Touch iPad Air case consists of a detachable protective shell with a fabric finish and an excellent QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard has backlit keys, and a trackpad for making the most out of the gesture controls that iPadOS offers.

The case utilizes the tablet's Smart Connector, and you can detach the keyboard when you don't need it. Other key features of this iPad Air case include a versatile viewing stand and a slot for the Apple Pencil.

The OtterBox Defender Series is the best rugged case for the iPad Air. The drop-proof accessory has a soft inner shell, a rugged exterior cover, and a rugged display cover that doubles as a viewing stand. Design-wise, we also like that the case has a cutout for the Apple logo on the back.

Other key features of the product include a port cover to keep dust and lint away and effortless access to the Apple Pencil charging dock. Otterbox backs its creation with a lifetime warranty.

The UAG Metropolis SE iPad Air case is a rugged folio offering that meets military drop-test standards. Its magnetic cover also doubles as a multiposition viewing stand, while precise cutouts ensure that you can easily access your slate's hardware buttons and features.

We like that the accessory has a built-in holder for the Apple Pencil. You can order the UAG Metropolis SE in black, mallard, or olive finishes.

Made by hand from high-quality full-grain leather, the Pad & Quill Cafe case for iPad Air is among the most luxurious options on this list. Each accessory carries the signature of the artisan who made it. Pad & Quill backs the product with a 25-year warranty.

The cover will hold your iPad securely thank to adhesive tech by 3M. It has multiple propping angles for the slate, a durable closure with snap buttons, and a convenient pocket for documents. We really like that it can accommodate the Apple Magic Keyboard, as well as the Smart Keyboard for the iPad Air. It has space for an Apple Pencil, too.

If you want to protect your iPad Air with a leather case without a folio cover, this Nomad offering is the best worth your attention. The snap-on rugged case is made from genuine Horween leather, so it will develop a unique patina as it ages. Just in case, Nomad offers a pricier version of the case with a folio cover as well.

The accessory has a polycarbonate frame with a rubber bumper to protect the slate from drops and an interior with a microfiber lining. It also features precise cutouts for the device’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor, the USB-C connector, and the Apple Pencil charging dock.

This iPad Air case by PITAKA is minimalist and high-tech in equal measure. The impossibly thin accessory is made from aramid fiber — a lightweight and durable material commonly used in the aerospace industry. It has a cool, carbon fiber-like texture and excellent tactility.

Our favorite bit about the PITAKA Magnetic case is that it is fully compatible with the Apple Magic Keyboard. The cover has precise cutouts for the Smart Connector of the iPad Air, its Apple Pencil charging dock, and its USB-C port.

The BookBook cover by Twelve South is a characterful and discreet option for storing and protecting your iPad Air. When not in use, the accessory looks like a book with a hardback cover. It is handcrafted from full-grain leather with distressed accents for a vintage look, and it has a dual zipper closure.

Rather impressively, the BookBook can fully accommodate an iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard or a Smart Keyboard Folio. A crushproof spine and a convenient internal pocket for documents and small accessories round up the product’s key features.

Apple's own Smart Folio has an impressively slim profile and an understated design. It attaches magnetically to the slate and offers excellent protection for its back and its screen when not in use. It also doubles as a dependable viewing or typing stand.

The cover is made from a single piece of high-quality polyurethane, so it feels great in hand. It's available in several colors: black, white, pink citrus, navy, and green.

If you own an iPad Air, it should have a screen protector on it — and the UAG Shield Plus glass screen protector is the most reliable one on the market. It offers excellent protection from damage and scratches and is backed by a lifetime warranty. Even more impressively, the accessory has antimicrobial tech, which is designed to last throughout its lifetime.

Of course, the product is compatible with the Apple Pencil and protective cases. It also comes bundled with an installation and a cleaning kit.