The iPad Pro was made infinitely better with the introduction of the iPad Magic Keyboard.
This world class tablet has been transformed into a true productivity contender but it can
also just be your couch tablet. One of the complaints about the iPad magic kebyoard
is that when you do detach it to use without the keyboard it is left unprotected from hard
surfaces, debris, or drops. So, Can the CoverBuddy solve those issues? Lets see.
Hey, Im Jerry and I like stuff….
If you do too Be sure to stick around till the end because I am going to give this guy away.
The CoverBuddy is a case that protects the iPad Pro when you remove it from the iPad
Magic Keyboard. I stumbled across this a few weeks ago when someone posted a comment on the channel
asking how to protect the iPad when you want to use it as a tablet sometimes.
A quick Amazon search led me to CoverBuddy which is a case, for the ipad pro, that works with the
magic keyboard, smart keyboard, and smart folio. That’s right, You don’t need to remove the
cover buddy to connect it to a keyboard case. On its surface, this is approximately a 1mm thin
plastic shell case that snaps onto the ipad pro. On the inside is a thin microfiber layer to help
protect the back of the ipad when connected. At the top there is a spot for the Apple Pencil,
and around the sides are cutouts for ports, mics, and speakers.
You may have noticed these gold colored circles or pins, which
means it has passthrough to the smart connectors and you will not lose the keyboard functionality
of the smart keyboard or magic keyboard. This case is meant to sit between the keyboard case and ipad
to allow you to dock to the keyboard when needed and pull it off and walk away when it’s not.
Installing the iPad into the cover buddy is exactly as you might expect.
Line up the camera side first and then snap in all 4 sides to make sure it is secure.
This definitely feels slim and light weight and I feel like I can put this down on a desk,
table or any surface and feel ok knowing that it is not going
to scratch or pickup something dirty. You can see just how slim this thing is.
The edges match up with the edges of the iPad and all of the cut outs look pretty precise.
Because this case is so slim, though, I do not think this is going to be protective, in any way,
from a drop. This looks like it will protect against
scratches on a table, protecting the back and sides but I wouldn’t trust this in a fall….at all.
On the back you can see that there is a good chunk of uncovered space that is not
protecting the ipad. This might be a point of concern for some people if you were looking for
full coverage and it must just be needed to fit correctly in the magic keyboard when closed.
Just like the iPad its self, there are magnets inside the coverbuddy to keep it snugly attached
to the keyboard case. It actually does not look too bad when docked to the magic keyboard. The
thing that stands out and makes you realize that something is there is the Apple Pencil holder.
And I just happen to have my Apple pencil right here.
Look at that , it just snaps in and connects via magnets on the
top of the ipad as expected. The cutout around the case for the apple pencil seems to give it
a little more security to keep it from getting knocked off in a bag or when walking around.
There is a little finger hole on the back side to push the pencil out but it’s
actually not as easy as you would expect.
……
Like I said before, the cutouts around the speakers, mics and buttons are really precise.
In fact, they may be too precise around the buttons, especially the volume buttons.
I don’t have big hands or sausage fingers and even I am strugglibg to change the volume.
It can be done but it takes a bit of effort and I have to first find the button
then use the side of my finger to push it or use my finger nail upside down.
Like I said it can be done, it’s usable, but I have to think about it.
One thing I definitely notice is the weight. The cover buddy its self is barely noticeable in the
ipad pro but when you add it to the already heavy ipad magic keyboard you can feel the difference.
Carrying this transformer between rooms is not an issue and The difference is not like when
adding the Magic Keyboard to the ipad Times 2 but so many people complained about the weight of the
magic keyboard and I do not think those people will be happy about adding any additional weight.
Is the cover buddy worth more than $40? …..Not for me.
I leave my ipad connected to the magic keyboard
95% of the time. I love having a full keyboard and trackpad when at a desk or on the couch.
For the rare instances I do remove the ipad and use it as a tablet
I am in my home, stationary, and If I set it down I am unconsciously carful about where I put it.
For some, the additional Apple Pencil storage support may be useful.
I am not a big apple pencil user and it usually lives inside a pen slot in my laptop bag.
I Don’t think the additional weight of the Cover Buddy is a big deal if you find the other features
beneficial. I don’t really see a benefit for me so I don’t see any reason to add the extra weight.
Although not for me, it may be something you want so Im going to give away this cover buddy for a
12.9 inch iPad pro. All you need to do is follow me on Twitter @ jerrySchulze
and tweet at me. I will pick a winner on September 22 at 12PM central time.
Sorry but you must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States.
If the Coverbuddy isn’t for you either, I did install a Skin on my Magic Keyboard and go
through the process of removing it, and I loved the SopiGuard skin I had. If you are interested
in a skin to protect the iPad magic keyboard you should check out this video over here.
I hope you Like it, subscribe it, and Ill see you next time.