****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I have to start off with, that this is the most expensive case I’ve ever bought for my iPad Pro. I usually look for cases in the $20 or under range and skip over any cases that cost above that range. My previous case was a Fintie slim folio case $23, which was a very simple case and not too well thought out, hence wanting to change to a different one. This Zugu slate blue case first caught my eyes with its elegant and good looking design, and I especially love the two tone colors. After looking through the case description, I was sold on this case. This case does add a lot of weight to the my already heavy iPad Pro 12.9. So for those looking for a slim lightweight case, this case isn’t for you. If you made it this far and still sticking around, I will continue with my review below.I was able to install my iPad Pro into this case without too much hassle. It wraps around my iPad Pro 12.9 perfectly, with the cutouts aligning with all the ports and openings. The power button and volume button covers have a very nice clicky feel, as if you were clicking on the actual buttons. My previous Fintie case, the power and volume button covers felt very forced and don’t have a nice feel to it like this Zugu case. The sleep and wake feature works smoothly as expected. The Apple Pencil holder on the side lines up the pencil perfectly with its magnet. The Apple Pencil feels quite secure in place of the holder, but it is dented in at the center of the holder area, so at the same time the holder offers quick easy access to pull out the pencil when I need it. Again, my previous Fintie case, it had a pencil holder area where I need to push the pencil down in place. It did have a small push hole behind the area to push up the pencil for you to pull it out, but I always have to push it a couple of times for the pencil to push out just enough so my fingers can pull it out, which can be a fight most of the time, just to use the pencil. Well thought out design of the Apple Pencil side holder for the Zugu case.This case offers 10 different angles for you to stand up my iPad Pro, which is a lot more than most cases offered. The magnet is strong enough to stand it at all the angles available. It feels very sturdy and I never had to worry that it will fall backwards while working. When I have to fold the front flap flat to the back of the case, the magnet does hold the front flap in place, so it doesn’t fall off to force you to hold the iPad Pro by the right corners. When I need to close my iPad Pro, I simply push the flap from the left towards the right a little to release the front flap from the magnet hold, easy peasy. I had many previous cases that don’t hold the front flap in place when flipping the flap to the back of the case, and it is extremely annoying when a case does that. I did try sticking my iPad Pro on refrigerator and the magnet was strong enough to hold my heavy iPad Pro on it, but it did start to slide down a little bit at a time by the minute, so I wouldn’t be sticking it on the fridge for long period of time. Perhaps those same magnets might work better with lighter iPads like the regular ones or the Air. Anyway, it isn’t a really dealbreaker for me, nor a reason to deduct a star.Some reviewers reported that they were having problems plugging in their USB-C cable through the cutout, but I did not experience it. Plugging in and out of the port through the cutout was smooth and problem-free. I find the stylus pouch holder on the back of the case a nice touch. I know some reviewers questioned the need of having the stylus pouch holder or even called it a stupid unnecessary add on, but I personally love having it and think it was a genius to include it. Not everyone uses the Apple Pencil all the time, and it might not be a good idea to have it constantly being charged at all times. When I’m not using my Apple Pencil and it is fully charged, I like to keep it inside the pouch holder. And also, although the side pencil holder feels very secure while holding the pencil, but it is always hard to say when you’re traveling around and bumping into crowds that it won’t get brushed off. Having the pencil pouch holder in the back can give a peace of mind in those situations. I don’t foresee myself using my iPad Pro that often outside of my office, so it wouldn’t be the reason for me to use the pencil pouch holder. I use it mostly to keep my Apple Pencil from being overcharged. But for me, I like to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it for unforeseen situations. Kudos to Zugu designer whoever thought it would be a nice touch to include it with the case.Like any products, I do think this case does have room for improvement. Personally, I would love a version of this case where the front flap is also trifold like a folio case, instead of just one big flat piece, where I can fold it into a triangle, so I can simply stand my iPad Pro when I have limited desk space. That would surely make this case the absolute perfect case for me. With the simple trifold flap, combined with the sturdy 10 angle adjustment stand, and all the other current features of this case, it will make one heck of a premium case for me to upgrade. This case as it stands is definitely a five stars. But with my suggested addition, it will easily be a 5+ stars for me. I really hope the Zugu designers will consider it for a future version. But currently, an excellent case indeed.
