So in my quest to find the perfect case, without a keyboard for my M4 iPad Pro, I landed on the "ESR for iPad Pro 13 Inch Case M4(2024), iPad Pro 13 Rotating Case with Removable Magnetic Cover, Adjustable Portrait/Landscape Stand with Raised Screen View, 9 Standing Angles, Shift Series, Black" .
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
Why this case?
As I have mentioned in the past, I do not need a keyboard very often, and when I do, I have several workarounds that make it possible. I had a Logitech Combo Touch keyboard on my last iPad, and most of the time, the keyboard cover was off and sitting in a chair. As a result, I wanted something that could cover the iPad, supply a stand of some sort for when I don't want to hand hold it, and if possible, a slim case for when it is in tablet mode.
The ESR Case does all of this, to some extent, and more...
The ESR Case does all of this, to some extent, and more...
The Inner Case
A unique feature of this design is that it has a heavy case on the outside that performs all of the standing functions and a light interior case for when you want to hand hold the iPad. Really a win/ win situation.
The inner case is a light shell (~187g) compared to the 582g iPad. It covers the back and has a small lip to protect the screen. Personally, I prefer having my iPad with some protection no matter how I am using it. Below is a photo of the iPad in the inner case laying next to the closed outer case.
The inner case is a light shell (~187g) compared to the 582g iPad. It covers the back and has a small lip to protect the screen. Personally, I prefer having my iPad with some protection no matter how I am using it. Below is a photo of the iPad in the inner case laying next to the closed outer case.
The Standing Position
The thing that makes this case really useful is the fact that it uses magnets to connect the inner case to the outer case. This means it can go from tablet mode to standing mode in less than a second.
The case has two flap on the back to prop it up into 9 different positions. The larger flap is for standing it up to see it better and the smaller flap helps put it into a good writing or Pencil input mode.
The case has two flap on the back to prop it up into 9 different positions. The larger flap is for standing it up to see it better and the smaller flap helps put it into a good writing or Pencil input mode.
Of course, you can use these angles as you please. Below is a screenshot from a Youtube video.
Propping it up is nice for video:
One of the really unique features is that since it uses magnets, the inner case can be placed higher on the stand to improve the viewing distance. This is great for sharing the screen with a Mac or for games and movies:
This mode is also great for typing, especially if you have a thick mechanical keyboard:
Couch Use?
One thing I was surprised by was the fact that I could actually use this case with a keyboard on the couch. I have two approaches. The first is an old keyboard case I used for a while with my original iPad Pro 9.7. The keyboard was designed with a back cover to hold the iPad and the front was a Bluetooth Keyboard with a trackpad. It worked great and even has function buttons. A while back, I separated the keyboard from the case, so I could use it to control an iPad (for music) from across the room. It worked great. Well, since I was using a Logitech Combo Touch with my M1 Pro, I didn't use this keyboard all that often. However, I placed this in front of the ESR on my lap and it works great. This is more than enough for the rare times I need to type a lot on the couch. It was already in that area because of its prior use.
Below is a pic of the iPad on my lap from the couch. You would think it wouldn't be steady, but because the outer case is quite heavy, it stays put without any issues. The other picture shows the screw hole from where I removed the old cover.
Below is a pic of the iPad on my lap from the couch. You would think it wouldn't be steady, but because the outer case is quite heavy, it stays put without any issues. The other picture shows the screw hole from where I removed the old cover.
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Occasionally, I will also use the iPad with the case and a smaller mechanical keyboard or a Magic Keyboard that I have had for years. Because I have long legs, I could probably use any keyboard in lap. While the iPad doesn't really require a mouse thanks to touch input, when desired, I pair it up with a Logitech Ergo MX mouse that has a scroll ball to move around the curser rather than needing to move the curser around by moving the mouse. As a result, the Logitech can pretty much be used anywhere, including the arm of a couch.
One additional feature, which is nice for when you toss this in a bag, is a small pouch for the Pencil.
This keyboard has two flaws. The first would be the weight when moving it from place to place. It may be one of the heaviest cases available. That being said, when hand holding the device, you can remove it from the outer case. The second issue is the fact that the magnets that connect the cover to the iPad don’t really hold the cover in place when turned upside down. I had a similar issue with another case, so this may be some issue with what Apple told these manufacturers. This case actually does a better job of being attached to the cover than my other case, but still should be mentioned.
Outside those two issues, I am really happy with this case. It seems custom made for my many different use cases.
Outside those two issues, I am really happy with this case. It seems custom made for my many different use cases.
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