The best iPad Air cases in 2024: stylish protection for your Apple iPad Air tablet

The best iPad Air cases are a must-have for any Apple product owner. However careful you may be, the risks of dropping, scratching, or otherwise damaging your expensive tablet can sometimes be unavoidable. Not to mention what accidents children, animals, or other grownups might have in its presence. 

It's not just about protection. The best iPad Air cases can look pretty darn cool, too, and usually include a stand for placing the tablet at a comfortable viewing angle, especially handy if you plan on watching movies on the train. Some iPad Air cases even come included with a keyboard and/or trackpad, essentially turning your iPad Air device into a laptop in one fell swoop.

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Below you'll find a selection of the best iPad Air cases available today, at a range of reasonable prices. Most of these cases are designed for the latest 4th generation iPad Air, although if you have the 3rd generation iPad Air, you can find the best cases for this model at numbers 2, 8, 11, and 12 on our list.

The best iPad Air cases in 2024

If you have the latest fourth-generation iPad Air model, then the best iPad Air case you can buy right now is this official one made by Apple itself.

This case is protective: constructed from a single piece of polyurethane, it's able to safeguard both the front and back of your device. 

It's flexible: you can easily fold it into different positions creating a stand for reading, viewing, typing, watching YouTube, or making video calls. And it's functional, in the sense that it automatically wakes your iPad Air when opened, and puts it to sleep when closed.  

This case comes in a wide variety of great colors, too, so you'll be sure to find a hue that matches your personal style. 

Light on funds? We have you covered with the ESR Slim case, costing merely a fraction of the price of other iPad Air cases we've recommended on this list, yet still delivering an adequate level of protection. Designed specifically for the iPad Air 4th Generation, this case offers the basic functionalities you'll need. 

Its flexible back and hard cover provide a decent level of grip, and protection against bumps and scratches. The magnetic front cover can be folded into two stand positions for viewing or typing. It supports auto wake and sleep functions, and you can also pair and charge your Apple Pencil 2. All at a remarkably low price.

An additional case on our list to have official approval from Apple, this scratch-resistant case made by Otterbox is specially designed for the iPad Air (4th generation).

With a clear plastic back and rubber border, this case has a sleek and elegant design, even though it's slightly bulkier than Apple's official case. Plus there's a multi-position stand for hands-free use, and opening and closing your case will activate your iPad Air's sleep and wake modes.

Most significantly, despite being so slim, this case also offers an impressive level of drop protection, as well as a limited lifetime warranty. So despite being on the pricey side, you certainly get good value from this iPad Air case.

If you don't just want a case that is going to protect your iPad Air; you may want a keyboard you can use it with too. And there's no better place to start looking than the Apple Magic Keyboard.

Compatible with both the iPad Air (4th generation) and the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd & 3rd generation), the Magic Keyboard case from Apple offers a good typing experience, with comfortable backlit keys and 1mm travel for comfortable and responsive typing.

The case also provides a trackpad designed for Multi‑Touch gestures and is compatible with the cursor in iPadOS. It has a USB-C port for pass-through charging; as well as front and back protection for your iPad Air. So yes, this case may be expensive, but you are getting great value in return. 

If you're looking for something that offers more value for money, here's a great iPad Air case from Logitech, which has the Apple seal of approval, as they also sell it on their official site. And for good reason, because it's a quality case featuring both a keyboard and trackpad and is less expensive than the Apple Magic Keyboard case. 

The soft, plastic keys have a lovely responsive feel to them, and they're backlit too. There's a row of iPadOS shortcut keys, providing one-tap access to the Home screen, Siri, Search, media controls, and more. There's a kick-back stand with a 40-degree tilt and space to charge your Apple Pencil (2nd generation) while keeping the case on.

All in all, while this gray-only case may not be as stylish looking as the Apple Magic Keyboard, its functionality is very impressive considering the lower price.

If you have a third-generation model, then the best iPad Air case for you is again the official Apple product. This version of the Apple Smart Cover comes with all the advantages of the 4th generation version listed above (flexible, protective, and functional), but sized perfectly for the iPad Air 3rd generation.

This case is also available to purchase for the iPad Pro 10.5-inch model, the iPad (8th generation) and the iPad (7th generation), just in case you have one of those knocking around too.

Got a 5th-generation iPad Air and want something styled a little more old-school than Apple's official cases? Then let us point you in the direction of this precision-cut genuine leather case from Casemade, crafted using natural cowhide leather, and lined with a soft brushed micro-felt that will keep your display scratch-free. 

Openings on the side of the case allow access to all of your tablet's external features, automatic wake/sleep is supported, and there's a useful dual-stand included with this case too. This case is also compatible with the slightly older iPad Air 4th generation (2020) model.

These ultra impact and folio cases from leading brand, CASETiFY, offer the perfect balance of style and protection in a completely customizable format that can allow you to represent yourself through your iPad Air case. CASETiFY's innovative new shockproof material, qìtech, offers the ultimate protection for your iPad with the peace of mind that it's always protected. 

Every detail of this ultra-sleek, and ultra-slim iPad Air case has been fine-tuned to offer superior impact resistance should the worst happen. What's more, the case is finished with an antimicrobial coating that limits the amount of harmful bacteria that may accumulate on the surface of your iPad Air case over time.

If you desire a genuine leather case, we'd recommend this high-class offering from Torro. The case is handcrafted from premium cowhide, top-grain leather that is sourced from the finest tanneries in the US and undergoes minimal treatment in order to preserve its natural properties and luxury appearance.

The inside of this black napa leather case is lined with soft microfibre material for additional scratch-resistant protection for your iPad Air screen, plus a toughened sturdy rear plate making the design tactile yet robust.

This case also supports the iPad Air's sleep/wake function, and there are two stand functions for TV viewing and typing, with a precision cut-out for your iPad's camera and flash, as well as the touch ID pad. 

The Magic Keyboard is not the only official iPad Air case that allows you to type comfortably. Apple also sells the Smart Keyboard Folio. So what's the difference?

To start with, this Smart Keyboard is lighter so it's a good choice if you carry your iPad Air from place to place frequently. 

It's also water-resistant. On the downside, however, it lacks a trackpad and the keys aren't backlit, and nor are they quite as responsive as those on the Magic Keyboard. Plus, there's only one USB-C port in contrast with the Magic Keyboard's two. 

Still, this is a nice keyboard and case, with compromises that may well be ones you're willing to make, given the much lower price.

Are you a little clumsy and worried about potentially dropping or otherwise damaging your iPad Air? Or maybe you have a busy household with children and animals on the lose where it's just a matter of time before an accident occurs? In this instance a more rugged drop-proof case may be the best option for you, and we recommend this one from UAG (Urban Armor Gear).

Despite being extremely light, weighing just 283g, this case provides a high level of protection against bumps, scratches and drops, even meeting military drop test standards (MIL STD 810G 516.6). It's also water-resistant. However, this case does not support the sleep or wake functions on the iPad Air (4th Generation) if this is something you require.

Designed for 3rd generation iPad Air models, the JETech Case is the cheapest iPad Air case we know of right now that's still of a decent quality. Of course, this is not a high-end case, and it does feel more plasticky to the touch in comparison to other cases in this guide. 

On the plus side, however, this case is available in a wide choice of colours, it's got a magnetic smart cover that supports automatic sleep/wake functions, and it can support your iPad in two standing positions for viewing and typing. For this price, you can't say fairer than that.

You might expect a cheap lower-end iPad Air case to look a little basic and unappealing, yet this ESR case designed for the 3rd-generation iPad Air is extremely affordable and very stylish too!

Its polycarbonate back plate with a large ventilation cutout will keep your iPad Air light and cool. The front cover, made of leather with wood grain texture and decorative stitching adds a touch of class. The soft microfiber lining inside the case helps with keeping your device safe.

Two non-slip grooves provide different viewing angles of the screen when used in stand mode, although be aware that this stand is not the sturdiest on the market. The case offers support for the auto wake/sleep function of the iPad too.

Aside from having the coolest name ever, this case for the iPad Air 4th-gen manufactured by Supcase has a brilliantly rugged design that also features class-leading drop protection and shock absorption, along with raised edges to protect your screen and camera.

Worried about smashing your iPad screen? Then you need a screen protector. And there's one already built-in to this iPad Air case! The design also supports the Apple Pencil 2's magnetic attachment and wireless charging capabilities, plus there's a nice pop out kickstand for when you want to watch movies using your iPad.

In short, this is a very solid iPad Air case, both metaphorically and literally.

We're seeing a lot of rounded keys used on wireless keyboards lately, and they're not everyone's cup of tea. But if that's a style you like the sound of, then check out this iPad Air case-keyboard combo from Chesona.

Coming in two parts, this separate keyboard and leather case combo allow you to switch between laptop and tablet modes at will. The keyboard's solid-color backlight and three-level brightness adjustment mode give you multiple options when you're typing in dimmer light. 

The case features a stand that provides three different horizontal angles for maximum viewing comfort. You also get a built-in Apple Pencil holder which supports charging, and four silicone pads on the four corners of the keyboard to protect it. Precise cutouts allow full access to all ports, sensors, speakers, microphone and cameras.

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