iPad cases : Insurance-approved protection

Once you’ve decided on which iPad your school, institution and increasingly your business, is investing in, keeping it safe and secure against damage should be your next investment decision.

With some iPad models now costing more £1000, many educational institutions and businesses require insurance cover for their new devices. One of the requirements of a policy in these environments is that the iPad must be protected with an "approved" protective case. Clearly this has a benefit for the end-user and the institution or organisation which purchased the device, but the biggest reason for this requirement is to mitigate the risk of catastrophic damage and the subsequent cost of a payout for the insurer.

To achieve insurance-approved status, cases have to go through rigourous testing and provide a certain basic level of protection, e.g. rigid corner protection. Many manufacturers now base the specification of certain cases on the criteria laid out by insurance companies, in order to compete in this growing market. The benefit of that competition for your company or educational establishment is more competition, more choice and in the end, better products.

We have a number of approved cases in our range for each iPad model and we have selected the following three products, as they are amongst the most successful with our customers who deploy iPads in to schools, colleges and commercial environments -

Griffin Survivor

Griffin Survivor - From £40

The Griffin Survivor series of cases rapidly became a benchmark product in terms of the protection provided for iOS devices, both with consumers and particularly in education and commerce.

Griffin’s design process began with a brief to meet or exceed the US Deptartment of Defense requirements for military-grade drop protection (which tests with drops of up to 1.8 metres on to solid surfaces) and the case is sealed against dirt, sand, rain and mud too. Thankfully the average KS1 classroom is not a war-zone, but it does mean the insurance companies (and by extension, anyone buying this type of case) can expect iPads to survive the normal rough-and-tumble. The outer-casing has a shock absorbing rubber bumper atop the shatter resistant frame, which has the side benefit of making it easier to grip, great for childrens' smaller hands.

You might think that such extreme levels of protection could hinder the use of the ports or the screen but with a specially designed stylus-friendly screen protection and Lightning and headphone ports which have hinged plugs, there is no loss of functionality either.

The Survivor is a heavier and bulkier case than some available, but the latest revisions have made it easier to handle and to comfortably position and a provided clip-on workstand does make it easier to type and view content when placed a flat surface.

STM Dux

STM Dux - From £22

The Dux range of protective cases offer a less-military aesthetic, as well as being a more lightweight design. It still offers insurance approved levels of protection as well as some of the features as the class-leading Griffin Survivor.

The Dux case exceeds the US Military standards for drop protection with it's polycarbonate frame and rubberized edges. With their own testing, STM showed that the Dux case was able to maintain all operating functions after plummeting 26 times from a height of 4 feet. Whilst It doesn’t offer the extreme levels of resistance against water and the other elements, the cover will ward off the occasional accidental spill. The Dux range has a solid feel which is easy to hold without being too bulky for childrens hands.

Access to the buttons such as the power and volume are easy. These are fully covered without inhibiting the response, which is good with a firm, positive feel.

Where the Griffin case has a detachable clip-on workstand to position the case for a better viewing angle, the Dux uses the front cover flap as a multi position stand. You can set it at a low-angle for typing or a more upright angle for multimedia viewing. The cover also works as an instant sleep/wake switch, as the magnetic closure which keeps the case shut also works like Apples own cases and engages the sleep/wake behaviour.

The Dux range also has a unique transparent back panel, which allows users to customize the device. You could use this for a tagging reference or a security code, or in the case of a on-to-one deployment, students can even place a personal image in.

Gripcase

Gripcase - Contact us for pricing and availability

The third case we would mention is a much simpler product. Unlike both the Survivor and the Dux products, the Gripcase, as the name suggests, is optimised for handling and holding. This is true in either landscape or portrait mode and with its four built-in handles, it is a very popular product in early years and SEN environments.

Though the drop protection that the Gripcase offers is considerable, the manufacturers don’t make the same military-spec claims as its rivals. The case design places the iPad in a specially formed foam recess, which has the benefit of keeping the ports well away from unwelcome objects.

This is a very different product to the other two cases, offering a specialist approach to iPad protection taking into consideration the needs of the children that are likely to be using it.

These three cases offer differing levels of protection for iPads and would offer different solutions depending on each end-users unique set of challenges, all while maintaining enough protection to satisfy your insurer. Whilst the Survivor case offers extreme protection, some users may find it too extreme for everyday use and at a price point which is hard to justify for volume purchases. The STM Dux-range slots in beneath the Survivor, offering a good combination of practicality, product accessibility, features and price. Finally, the Gripcase is a more niche product but wonderfully designed and subjectively a more attractive option, depending on your needs.

If you would like any help or advice on purchasing insurance approved iPad cases for an existing or future iPad install, please get in touch. We'd be delighted to help.

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