By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
One of the hardest accessories to decide on for the iPad 2 is a rear case that protects the aluminum backing while working with the magnetic Smart Cover. While a number of these exist and we've reviewed some of them, we find that they either add too much weight or are far from a perfect fit. We test Bracketron's $20 Suitegear Kit for the iPad 2, which offers a case plus a number of extras.
Composed of the following
The Clear polyurethane cover is lightweight, has a nice grippy texture and feels sturdy enough to serve as protection for the rear and the sides of the iPad 2.
It has cutouts in all the right places although the bottom hole for the dock connector isn't centered and is a bit odd which might be an issue when connecting it to a dock.
Installing the clear polyurethane cover requires some work and you need to make sure both it and the surface of the iPad 2's rear are clean of dust and debris before popping it in. Once it is installed, however, it really gives the iPad 2 all around protection without adding too much weight and still preserves the device's look and feel. What's more, the Smart Cover works perfectly with te polyurethane cover.
The microfiber cleaning cloth and the cleaning solution are great after a day of use when the smudges on the iPad's screen can look gross. We've been playing Batman Arkham City Lockdown as well as NBA 2K12 on the iPad 2 and both of these have require vigorous multi-touch control and will require a good cleaning afterwards.
The included stylus is something that you may or may not use. It does come in handy for certain apps like drawing apps or if you just want to avoid smudges. You can also use it on other devices and we got it to work just fine on our LG Optimus Pad as well as various smartphones we have been testing. Considering that similar products sell for over $12.00 just for the stylus, the Bracketron bundle is a sweet deal and would make an ideal gift for any new iPad 2 owner.
Bracketron's Suitegear Kit for the iPad 2 is a great and recommended solution for users who want protection yet wish to travel light and use the Smart Cover. It completely protects the rear and the sides of the iPad 2 while maintaining access to all the ports and doesn't take anything away from the device's aesthetic. The extra cleaning cloth, solution and the stylus are great add ons for the price.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5