Best iPad Cases for Ohio State Students: the Truth!
Image by Samuel Bryngelsson on Unsplash.
If you were one of the lucky Buckeyes to have gotten a free iPad from Ohio State, congratulations! Your tablet is a great tool to help you get through college and beyond. However, you may want to trade your case out for something different. Whether you’re a current student or a recent graduate, there are some important things you need to know. Don’t buy a new iPad case until you read this article! Not everything is as it seems. Let’s talk about the best iPad cases for Ohio State students and what you need to know.
Current and Prospective Students: Don’t Buy a New Case…Yet
If you’re a prospective student, you shouldn’t buy a new case for your university-issued iPad. I hate to tell you this, but Ohio State is no longer issuing iPads to incoming freshmen. So, unless you already own an iPad or are looking to get one, it’s not a good idea to get a new case.
Aww…man! Source.
If you already have a university-issued iPad and you haven’t graduated yet, don’t buy a new case! Well, you could, but you technically aren’t allowed to use it. I doubt they’d actually know if you removed it. However, the university is very picky about what you’re doing with their property. The iPad and the other equipment they provided like the Smart Keyboard are still owned by the university. If it’s lost or damaged, you will be held responsible according to their Student Technology and Liability Agreement:
“If the Apple Pencil or Apple Smart Keyboard are damaged, you will be held financially responsible for the repair or replacement of the equipment, unless a financial hardship waiver is claimed. The Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard include an initial period of AppleCare+ coverage for both manufacturer defects and accidental damage. The cost for repair or replacement in the event of accidental damage under the agreement is $29 (plus applicable tax). For details on AppleCare+ coverage visit checkcoverage.apple.com.”
So with that being said, replace your case at your own risk if you are a current student.
Recent Graduates and Former Students: Good News!
You probably know this by now, but once you’ve graduated or left the university, you can get the chance to claim ownership over your iPad and other equipment. This is based on time you’ve had the equipment, not necessarily whether or not you graduate. The time varies based on when you got your iPad. The good news is that you can see exactly what it will cost you, if anything, to get ownership of your iPad on this deprecation value chart.
Deprecation means that the longer you wait, the cheaper your iPad becomes. As an example, if you received your iPad during the 2018/2019 school year and left school early after a year, it would cost you $335. If you left after about two years, you can walk home with the iPad for free. Well, your tuition technically paid for it, but never mind that!
Should I Get a New Case?
It depends on how old your Ohio State-issued iPad is and how well you took care of it. The attached Smart Keyboard is fairly tough and will protect your iPad, but it can get pretty beaten up after years of use. My roommate’s keyboard and case have gotten pretty beaten up. There also is a lot of negative commentary out there about the keyboard.
You have a few options:
- If your Ohio State-issued iPad is more than 2-4 years old and you haven’t taken very good care of it, it’s time to upgrade to a newer generation iPad.
- If you have taken fairly good care of your iPad but the case has taken a beating, it’s time to get a new case, keyboard, or both.
- Ditch that iPad and go for a Surface Pro, baby!
What About the Keyboard?
My roommate has had this Smart Keyboard for about four years now and it’s gotten pretty torn up.
If your keyboard is beat up and you need a new one, I have some good news and bad news. The good news is that just about any Bluetooth keyboard you find on Amazon is going to do just fine for you. However, if you want one that attaches directly to the iPad without Bluetooth pairing, you have to buy Apple’s Smart Keyboard. The model will differ based on your iPad. It’s not the greatest, but blame Apple for that. Here’s where you can find new Smart Keyboards,
- iPad Air/Pro 10.5″ (2018-2019 and 2019-2020 School Years) Smart Keyboard: I think this works for both models since they’re both 10.5″.
- iPad Air 10.5″ (2019-2020 Academic Year) Keyboard
What Are the Best Cases for OSU-Issued iPads?
To recommend some options, I will organize the rest of the article based on the models given out by Digital Flagship during different school years. This is based on the deprecation chart I mentioned earlier. If you want to double check your iPad’s model, follow these steps.
Best Cases for iPad Pro 10.5″ 256GB Wi-Fi (2018-2019 School Year)
If you received your Ohio State-issued iPad during 2018-2019, one of the most durable cases out there is the SEYMAC stock Case for iPad Air 3 2019/ iPad Pro 10.5. It has a hand strap on the back to help you hold your device. It also has a loop on the back to hold the pencil. It has a convenient kickstand too so you can continue to use your iPad like a laptop.
Another option I recommend if you are more into style is the ProCase iPad Air (3rd Gen) 10.5″ 2019 / iPad Pro 10.5″ 2017. Not only is it a bit more stylish, it’s also cheaper. If you take good care of your iPad and aren’t outdoors with it a lot, you shouldn’t need maximum protection like my previous suggestion. You can prop it up, but one big downside is that there’s nowhere to store the pencil.
iPad Air 10.5″ 256GB Wi-Fi (2020-2021 School Year)
Ohio State changed things up a bit the following school year and gave freshman iPad Air models instead. There is some crossover when it comes to case compatibility, but I found a few options that will work.
A household name by now, the Otterbox Deefender Series Case for iPad Air (3rd Generation) is a great choice for maximum protection if you’re willing to spend a bit more to protect your tablet. The kickstand has several different orientations like laptop mode, studio mode, and even vertical mode. There’s even a little place to put your pencil.
If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, go for the JETech Case for iPad Air 3 (10.5-inch 2019, 3rd Generation). It has a slim design and can prop the tablet up when needed. There’s unfortunately no pencil holder, so that rots. However, you’re only paying about $10 for it, so that’s a win in my book!
iPad Air 4 64GB Wi-Fi (2021-2022 School Year)
This is the last model of iPads that Ohio State has given to students, so you may not be ready to trade out your equipment just yet. However, here are some options I found.
The Fintie iPad Air 4th Generation (2020) 10.9 Inch offers professional-looking protection for your tablet. It has a very nice leather-looking design that reminds me of a padfolio. It has a built-in kickstand and pencil-holder. It looks good, is functional, and doesn’t break the bank. That checks off all the boxes for me!
A very durable option I found was the SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro Series Case Designed for iPad Air 4 (2020). It has a screen protector, a pencil holder and a kickstand with laptop and studio modes. If you need extra durability, this is a great choice.
Should I Get a New Tablet or Laptop?
If your iPad is older, beaten up and abused after hitting your head studying for O-Chem exams over and over, it might be time to swap out your well-loved Ohio State iPad for a new tablet.
A New Tablet
Treat yourself with the new iPad Pro (2021). It’s got the latest software support from Apple and powerful hardware to back it. Another option I recommend is the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. It combines tablet and laptop perfectly. If you hate Windows and want to make me cry, you could smash it for anger management!
A New Laptop
Your Ohio State-issued iPad may have been your only device through college. It might have been a companion to your laptop. Both are probably pretty old by now depending on when you started, so it might be time to go all in on a new laptop instead. The Surface Laptop Studio is a great choice with multiple form-factors. It has a studio mode, tablet mode, and laptop mode. You could also play it safe and get the new MacBook Pro. The design language is very similar to the iPad, so you’ll be right at home with that.
Protect Your Ohio State iPad
Now you should have all the tools you need to protect your Ohio State student iPad. Thanks for giving my article a read! If you have any other suggestions on alternative cases and accessories for your iPad, please leave a comment below with your suggestions.
