Apple's iPad lineup is more crowded and confusing
than ever, including a diminutive 7.9-inch model released just six months ago,
last year's 11 and 12.9-inch Pros, a 10.5-inch Air revived at the same time as
the Mini, and finally, a 10.2-inch "regular" variant unveiled
alongside the iPhone 11 family earlier this week.
Needless to say it's no longer a breeze to choose
the right iPad to fit your individual preferences and usage patterns,
especially if you also consider previous generations available at third-party
retailers and trusted eBay sellers for crazy low prices. That being said, if
you're absolutely certain the seventh-generation non-Pro iPad is what you want,
you might be thinking whether or not you need to buy some accessories with the
10.2-inch slate.
While Apple's own Smart Keyboard is undoubtedly a
great choice for a nice productivity boost, you have to keep in mind the thing
costs a whopping US$ 159, which represents almost 50 percent of the actual new
iPad's US$ 329 retail price. That's pretty insane, but luckily, one of the most
popular third-party keyboard manufacturers has already announced availability
for two lower-cost alternatives.
The new Logitech Slim Folio and Rugged Folio are
priced at US$ 99.99 and US$ 139.99 respectively, with the latter scheduled for a
commercial debut in October, followed by the former in November. As the name
suggests, the Logitech Rugged Folio will be the more robust option, providing
military-grade drop protection for 10.2-inch iPad use in the "most
demanding environments."
In fact, that bad boy is billed as the company's
"most durable iPad case ever", which means something coming from such
a highly respected and prolific brand. The Rugged Folio also has a
"unique" keyboard with a "high performance" fabric going
for it and a built-in kickstand supporting four usage modes.
Obviously, the Slim Folio is, well, slimmer and
sleeker in addition to cheaper, while still promising to protect your iPad (7th
Gen) from scratches, bumps, and spills. The keyboard attaches magnetically to
the tablet, securely holding it in place at a comfortable typing angle, with a
dedicated slot for the first-gen Apple Pencil or Logitech Crayon also on deck.
