The best iPad Air cases you can buy: Expert tested

Let me start by saying the Zugu iPad Air case is an excellent case that serves as more than a light cover. It features an adjustable stand with eight 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 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. Although, I wish there were more fun prints and designs. Another downside is Zugu hasn't released any cases for the new iPad models, though I would be surprised if we don't see some available soon. 

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 of 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.

Zugu iPad Air 10.9-inch Case features: Adjustable stand with eight 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

Suppose Casetify is like your trendy Gen Z coworker who brings fresh designs and innovative features to the table. In that case, Burga is the more sophisticated, sleek, and cohesive millennial with just a few more years behind them. Like Casetify, Burga is extremely popular for iPhone cases, but it's easy to overlook the brand's other protective offerings for devices like the iPad Pro. 

Burga's folio case for the iPad Air combines style and function. It features a spot for stylus storage and Apple Pencil charging, has a hard shell backing and a soft close folio front, can be used as a stand for your iPad, features shock absorption and a raised bezel design, and is overall sleek in profile. 

Perhaps the best part of Burga's case is that it comes in a slew of designs, patterns, and colors. It's sophisticated but practical and offers enough secure protection for everyday use. 

When I tested the Burga case on the last few weeks I liked its light weight feel, Apple Pencil storage, folio-style cover, stand configuration, and numerous prints and designs. It's a great basic case to protect from everyday bumps and scratches, but I recommend bumping up to something more secure, such as an Otterbox or even the Zugu case, if you're accident prone or are rougher around the edges when it comes to handling your tech. 

I also wish the stand options on the case were a bit more comfortable for viewing, though it's a nice add-on to have the option to prop up my iPad up at all while watching a show or video. For the $60 price tag though, I think this a great buy for the features you are getting, especially considering a similar folio case from Apple is now around $80 and ones at Casetify start at $92. 

Current customers on the Burga website said they like the overall value of the case, with emphasis on the case's design, build, and and quality. Many said they enjoyed the fun patterns and color options -- which outdo most other case mentioned on this list in the color department, and compete with the likes of only Casetify. 

Burga iPad Pro Case features: Raised bezel design for camera and screen protection | Apple Pencil storage and charging spot | Variety of colors and styles | Shock absorbing bumper | Stand configurations | Never-fading prints 

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 innovative, 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 removed 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 at eye level. It's perfect for working from home and for video calls.

Current Moft Float Folio users said they like the case's overall design and quality feel, 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. 

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 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 full of function thanks to a detachable keyboard, backlit keys, built-in stylus storage, iPad OS shortcut keys, and more. It offers 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 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. 

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

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. 

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

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. 

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