The best iPad Air cases you can buy: Expert tested

Zugu iPad Air 10.9-inch Case features: Adjustable stand with 8 angles | Bumper and rugged shell for drop protection | Air flow vents | Secure magnetic mount capability | Microfiber interior | Auto sleep/wake magnetic cover | Stylus pocket on back | Wireless Apple Pencil charging compatibility | Available in 9 colors | Free AppleCare+ Repair Fees 

Let me start by saying the Zugu iPad Air case is a truly solid case that serves as more than a light cover. It features an adjustable stand with 8 configurations, a bumper and rugged shell for added drop protection, a stylus pocket, wireless charging capabilities, and more. The Zugu case currently comes in 9 colors, which is more options than other cases on the market. 

When I tested the Zugu case over the last several weeks alongside other options on this list, it was my favorite iPad Air case. It's functional and practical, providing true security from bumps and drops. I loved using it as a stand, especially while testing several note-taking apps this month. The material feels premium and expensive, and it features a clean, appealing design. 

While the function is top-notch, my favorite thing about the Zugu case is the color. I have been using the case in the Desert Rose color, and as a true Gen Z corporate girl, I love it. Many companies don't cater to colors outside of black, white, tan, and brown, so the unique color choices are awesome. I wish there were even more fun prints and designs, though. 

Current customers on the Zugu website said they like the overall protection, functionality, quality, and aesthetic of the Zugu case. Many said the case is a great value and has a premium feel, and one customer even said they wished they'd found Zugu sooner. 

What's even better is that Zugu offers a one-time AppleCare+ repair fee if your iPad is damaged while in a Zugu case. The Zugu case is well worth the money as a solid all-around iPad air case for style and protection.

Casetify Impact iPad Air Case features: 4ft drop protection | Apple Pencil charging | Variety of colors and styles | Upcycled construction | Antimicrobial coating | Protective corners 

If you're new to the tech accessory world, let me catch you up -- Casetify is like your trendy, Gen Z coworker who brings fresh designs and innovative features to the table. Ever-so-popular for their iPhone cases, it's easy to overlook the brand's other protective offerings, including for the iPad Air. 

The Casetify Impact Case for the iPad Air combines style and function. It features Casetify's EcoShock technology and enhanced protective corners for extra security, and is drop-rated up to 4ft. Along with a secure exterior, the Impact case features Apple Pencil charging for easy stylus integration. Current Casetify Impact Case users love the material, quality, design, and durability of this case. They also appreciate the numerous patterns, colors, and designs it's available in. 

The case is made with an antimicrobial coating to help combat germs, and is partially constructed from upcycled phone cases via the Re/Casetify program, helping to save the environment, too. 

Perhaps the best part of the Impact case is that like most Casetify products, it comes in a slew of designs, patterns, and colors, and its sleek construction provides secure protection and practical use. 

When I tested the Impact case last month I liked how lightweight it was, the handy Apple Pencil storage, and the numerous prints and designs it came it. It's a great basic case to protect from everyday bumps and scratches, but I recommend adding a screen protector for extra security, since there's no front cover. And if you're looking for a folio style case or one that has a stand feature, you can skip out on this one. 

Current customers on the Casetify website said they like the overall value of the Impact case, with emphasis on the case's great material, design, and quality. Many said they appreciate the fun patterns and color options -- which outdo every other case mentioned on this list in the color department. 

Moft Snap Float Folio Case features: Stylus holder | Three unique stand configurations (one ultra high) | Premium construction and feel | Slim profile | Duo case set | Affordable luxury style 

The Moft Snap Float Folio case is one of the most unique iPad Air cases I've tested in the last few months, which doesn't come as a surprise. Moft makes some of the most innovate, origami-inspired mobile and tech accessories I've seen. 

The Moft Snap Float Folio case features a strong magnetic connection with a sleek and slim design that makes the case feel elevated and premium. It also comes with a stylus holder and configures into three unique angled positions. One standing position is an ultra high alignment (as pictured) which lifts your iPad higher than most competitors. 

The case is a duo system, with a softer outside folio and a harder case set for extra protection. They can be used individually or together, and easily remove from each other for quick access. When I tested the Moft case over the last month, I especially liked the standing configuration for my iPad Air, which allowed it to be eye level. It's perfect for working from home and for personal video calls.

Current Moft Float Folio users said they like the overall design and quality feel of the case, as well as the functionality thanks to the unique stand configurations. One customer even said Moft cases deserve more hype than they get. "It's the best case and holder ever. The quality of materials is great, the finishes are great. You can put it in any position you're thinking of and your iPad is very well protected too. Simply the best. This product should be better known," the customer wrote in their review. 

Logitech Combo Touch features: 4 modes (type, view, sketch, read) | Detachable keyboard | Backlit keys | Stylus storage | Full row of iPad OS shortcut keys | 1-year limited warranty | Two viewing angles

The Logitech Combo Touch is our pick for the best overall iPad Air keyboard case thanks to its top features and more affordable price. The Combo touch is packed full of function thanks to a detatchable keyboard, backlit keys, built-in stylus stoarge, iPad OS shortcut keys, and more. It offer four modes of use: type, view, sketch, and read, to suit itself for any of your iPad activities. 

Review: My favorite iPad keyboard and stylus are not made by Apple

When ZDNET's Senior Reviews Editor Kerry Wan tested the Combo Touch and Logitech Crayon Stylus with the iPad 10th Gen back in 2022, he lauded it for its ability to "flex on the Magic Keyboard [Folio]." 

"Logitech's Combo Touch cover and Crayon stylus for the iPad are cheaper and practically better than Apple's own accessories. [They] are not perfect, but they deliver a more feature-rich experience than Apple's first-party accessories at a fraction of the cost. That's not a knock on Apple's own iPad keyboard and stylus by any means; the two are just as worthy of your consideration," Wan wrote in his review. 

Current customers on the Logitech website said they liked the top-of-the-line features, overall value, and price point of the Combo Touch case, which has over 100 5/5 star reviews. One customer, like Wan, even said it beat out Apple's own Magic Keyboard. "This product is exactly what I hoped Apple was going to provide. And, it was at a fraction of the price," they wrote. 

OtterBox Defender Series Pro Case features: Raised edges for added protection | Antimicrobial additive to reduce bacteria growth | Port covers

Some people use their iPads to scroll on the couch, but others need a tablet in the field. Whether you work in construction, utilities, or another boots-on-the-ground industry, you might want your iPad Air to be able to venture out with you. Enter: the OtterBox Defender Series Pro Case. 

With raised edges, it offers drop protection for your screen and camera. Plus, the Defender Series Pro case comes with OtterBox's silver-based antimicrobial additive, which means your case actively fights bacteria growth. Finally, the case offers port covers to ensure any dirt and dust you encounter in the field doesn't clog up your jacks and ports. 

Current users on Best Buy said they like the value, quality, and overall ease of use, giving the Defender case 4.5/5 stars on the site. Many users said they like the secure durability and protection from bumps and scrapes, but some users said they had issues getting their Apple Pencil to stay secure. 

To learn more about this case, you can dig into our review on the iteration of the OtterBox Defender for the iPad Pro. 

Apple Smart Folio features: Auto sleep-wake feature | Magnetically connects to your iPad | Two-stand design 

It's hard to beat a case coming straight from the manufacturer. When you choose the Apple-designed Smart Folio for your iPad Air, you're not just guaranteed a perfect fit. You also get functionality that can make it easier to both protect and use your tablet, like the ability to charge your Apple Pencil with the case on. 

"My life as a digital marketing guru keeps me hopping, so I need a case that's as much about defense as it is about practicality," says Ryan Ratkowski, Founder of Cascade Interactive. "And here's the kicker, the feature I can't get enough of - the automatic wake/sleep function."

This feature, which Ratkowski calls the "unsung hero of iPad functionality," means that whenever you open the case, your iPad Air display automatically wakes up. When you close it, the tablet goes to sleep, saving battery --although you might not need it since the latest generation has up to 10 hours of battery life. 

The Smart Folio attaches to your tablet magnetically. That keeps the design slim and lightweight, but it does leave the edges of your iPad Air exposed to damage if you drop it. 

Also: iPad Air (2022) review: So good I almost regret buying my iPad Pro

The cover of the Smart Folio features a tri-fold design that comes in eight color options. That lets you roll it up to serve as a small bump to make it easy to type on the surface of your tablet. Alternatively, you can fold it as a stand to hold the iPad Air almost vertical for easy viewing. 

The main drawback here is the price. At $79, this case is not even close to the most affordable cases out there. That said, buying the case straight from Apple can give you peace of mind about fit and functionality -- and can streamline the process, since you can purchase it as you buy your iPad Air. Many Best Buy reviewers agree, noting that despite the case's protection, quality, and ease of use, it does have a hefty price tag for a case.

"Think of it as the Batman of iPad cases – lean, mean, and, despite an ultra-slim profile, all about defending your device," says Nina Clapperton. As CEO of She Knows SEO, she is a frequent traveler that takes her iPad Air along with her. She says that the Apple Smart Folio can "handle day-to-day bumps like a champ, keeping the usual culprits like spills, dust, and debris at bay."

Current Amazon users said they liked the quality, appearance, and fit of the Apple Smart Folio cover. However, some users said it doesn't offer a ton of protection, especially for the high price tag.