I woke up today to find the UPS guy had already dropped off a box from Speck, and what was inside? A review sample of the highly coveted and oft sold-out PixelSkin HD case for iPad 2 in black! I’ve been drooling over this case since I saw it on thier site a little over a month ago, and within moments of cracking open the box it was clear my expectations of this little guy were going to be met and exceeded, let me walk ya though it.
The first thing you notice when you open it is exactly why they call it the PixelSkin. There’s matte black squares (da pixels) embossing a glossy back mirror like finish that really gleam in the light and give the case a decidedly premium look. I wasted no time in removing my iPad from the cheap rubber dust attracting skin I was using and squeezed her into the PixelSkin HD without much trouble. It’s a tight fit for sure, as it should be, hugging every single angle and keeping an ultra low profile. I was amazed at how they nailed the perfect amount of grippyness. The ‘pixels’ add a tactile touch that make it easy to hold up if you’re lying down and the smooth plastic used along the edges make it easy to slide in and out of a crowded carry-on bag with magazines and papers (which I find myself doing a lot, so I noticed this right away).
Like most of you, I was, very briefly, in awe of the Apple SmartCover the day they announced it, but that excitement quickly soured when the entire Apple community realized it didn’t cover the oh-so scratchable back of the iPad. Couple that with the fact it was $39-$69 for just a simple flap with a built in magic trick of waking the iPad from sleep mode, and I decided to pass. While the PixelSkin HD does feature a magnet to keep the flap more secure, it does not support the instant-on wake from sleep function. That’s fine by me, what’s a finger swipe anyway? .03 second? The price point fits too, sitting right in between at $49 – with back coverage.
Of course the flap does double duty as a prop a la the SmartCover, but does it better. It easily folds into position when you need it and when you just want to hold the iPad in a standard way, the flap sticks closely against the back of the case for a comfortable holding experience. Additionally, the magnet in the flap makes sure it stays shut while closed, which is a nice touch.
After using the PixelSkin HD all day long, I can say without hesitation that it’s my favorite case I’ve seen so far. The construction is top notch and it’s got killer good looks. Lucky for you Speck now seems to have all colors in stock and is taking orders on Black
Optimum protection, supermodel tech gear. Highly recommended.
