Product Brief: The Marware Eco-Flip
Part case, part stand, the Marware Eco-Flip for iPad is a leather and microfiber case with a vertical flip-top design. Its exterior is black eco-leather - that is, leather treated with “fewer toxins” than standard animal skins. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but the leather has a nice look with a smooth, somewhat rigid feel. The Eco-Flip’s interior is covered in a microfiber material which feels great, and is easy on the iPad’s back piece and sides.
  The iPad is held in place inside the case by a form-fitted holster with cut-outs for the ports, speakers, and hardware controls. This holster keeps the iPad from moving around without being tight. The inside of the case’s flip-top is home to two noteworthy features: the hand strap and the foldaway stand. The hand strap is designed to be used when the flip-top is folded all the way back, and is included to make holding the iPad and its case with one hand a sturdier affair. The foldaway stand allows the use of the iPad at a viewable angle when it’s in landscape mode on a table or desk. When not in use, the stand is held flatly out of the way by a magnet embedded in the case.
A thin elastic strap is attached to the sides of the main case section which can be used to hold the flip-top over the iPad screen when closed, or to keep it from flopping when it’s folded out of the way against the back.
The retail price of the Marware Eco-Flip for iPad is $44.99.
Subjective Analysis
The case has a clean, professional look that makes it suitable for any user not inclined to affix ACDC stickers to their gadgets. It is well constructed and seems like it will stand up well over time, although this is difficult to say after using it for only two weeks. It will definitely protect your iPad from scuffs and scrapes, and provides a decent amount of protection for short drops.
As much as it is a case, the Eco-Flip is also a stand. The flip-top can be positioned to prop-up the iPad vertically (in portrait mode), and the foldaway stand makes it easier to type on, view and interact with the iPad’s screen when it’s on a flat surface (in landscape mode).
The foldaway stand is interesting; unlike the flip-top which is really a makeshift stand, the foldaway is included for no other reason than to prop up the iPad on a table or desk. While I don’t feel the angle at which it holds the iPad is ideal (I would have preferred a slightly steeper position), it does aid in typing on the tablet's touchscreen keyboard tremendously. Before the Eco-Flip, I rarely typed on the iPad except to send a quick email or tweet; now I find myself typing documents on the iPad much more due to the foldaway stand and the usable angle it provides. |
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Being a case rather than a skin, the Eco-Flip does add some bulk to the iPad, but I feel it is minimized as much as it can be considering the case’s design. It also adds weight to the tablet - a bit more than I would like - which makes it less suitable for readers who hold the iPad for long periods of time when reading an eBook; you can easily remove the iPad from the Eco-Flip when you need to shed the weight, though.
Conclusion
There will be many iPad cases released in the coming months, and I'm sure some of them will be great, but I can’t imagine any always-on case being much better than the Marware Eco-Flip. If you prefer a skin or portfolio style case, there are other options available, but if you want a traditional flip-top case with built-in stands, the Eco-Flip for iPad should be at the top of your list.
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