This past weekend I came home from my summer vacation and was greeted by a package from monCarbone. They were kind enough to send iGadgetlife a review sample of their carbon fiber iPad case – the HoverCoat. It is currently available for preorder, so this is a sneak peek at their first iPad case.
What sets the HoverCoat apart from other cases is its weight – it is feather light at 42 grams and it’s thickness or more accurately lack of thickness is only 0.6 mm.
I have reviewed cases made of silicon, rubber, plastic and leather, but this is my first carbon fiber model. The beauty of this material is that it has a high strength to weight ratio making it ideal for protecting your Apple device with a minimal price to be paid in terms of weight and size. Its low profile lets the iPad stand out instead of the case.
The main drawback to using carbon fiber is the price. The HoverCoat is one of the more expensive iPad cases because of this material. Another issue according to the wikipedia entry on carbon fiber is that it is “very strong when stretched or bent, but weak when compressed or exposed to high shock (eg. a carbon fiber bar is extremely difficult to bend, but will crack easily if hit with a hammer)”. Sounds like the case is good for protecting the back and sides of the iPad from minor dangers but would not do so well with a fall.
Info:
Carbon fiber is the ideal material to appeal to high end users in the electronic accessories market, according to monCarbone. The precision engineering of carbon fiber provides high tensile strength and durability greater than the properties of steel! Through its unique crisscross pattern, it also provides an elegant look and the feel of luxury.
“Previously used only in the aerospace industry, top racing cars and high end sports equipment, carbon fiber is virtually unbreakable and offers sports car styling,” Ming continued. “iPad users don’t want just another run of the mill plastic or silicon cover to protect their device! They want something that truly stands out in a crowd, without adding bulk and weight, to maintain and protect the beauty of their device – and HoverCoat is the solution!”
Hand Crafted, tailor-made iPad case cover
Reinforced scratch resistant finish
Made from 720,000 carbon fiber strings
Complete access to all iPad controls
UV resistant features prevent discoloration of the case under sunlight
What’ in the Box?
The HoverCoat arrives in a white cardboard box with the case visualized through a clear window on the front and back of the box. Also on the back of the box is a listing of the product’s features.
Inside the package we find just the HoverCoat. There are no instructions as applying the case onto the iPad is literally a snap. The HoverCoat comes in either Mystery Black (matte) or Midnight Black (glossy). For today’s review we will look at the Mystery Black version.
The HoverCoat is a shell style case designed to fit the back and sides of the iPad. It is comprised if a woven pattern that is best seen when holding the case at an angle.
monCarbone has left an opening for the dock connector and speakers at the bottom of the case. At the top of the HoverCoat are two separate openings for the power and headphone jacks.
The right side has an space for the volume controls. On the back of the HoverCoat towards the top is a series of open perforations. These openings are to prevent signal degradation of the 3G antenna. Strangely the case covers the Wi-Fi antennas.
The inside of the HoverCoat had a clear glossy coat that gives a better look at the carbon fiber weave. I imagine that this is what the Midnight Black version would look like as it is the glossy model. At the bottom of the inside of the case we find the monCarbone name and crane logo.
The first thing you will notice about the HoverCoat is how light and malleable it seems. It is very flexible and can be bent fairly easily and quickly bounces back to form once tension is released. In terms of weight it feels slightly heavier than a piece of loose leaf paper.
Usage:
To install the iPad into the HoverCoat simply snap it into place. Since the case sits so snuggly on the iPad, removing it requires sliding your fingernail along the edge of the HoverCoat to pry it off.
Immediately I noticed that my iPad felt the same in terms of weight with the HoverCoat on as when the iPad is naked; it is that light. The carbon fiber composition makes it stronger than most other shell case materials meaning your iPad will be safe and sound in the monCarbone case.
Since the case is just a shell it only protects the sides and front of the iPad. Your front screen is still exposed, so make sure you are sporting a screen protector at least.
The HoverCoat Mystery Black version looks different from most other carbon fiber items with its matte finish. Mosty carbon fiber accessories tend to go with the glossy look. This matte finish provides a nice texture to the back of the iPad making it feel more secure when held compared to a smooth plastic shell.
All of the iPad controls and buttons are easily accessible with the HoverCoat in place. I am happy to report that the case did not impede the Wi-Fi reception.
The only concern I would have about the HoverCoat is since it fits so precisely, if you sport a skin on the back of your iPad it may not fit in the monCarbone case. Of course if you have skin on your iPad you probably would want to have a clear case and would not be looking at this model.
Conclusion:
I have reviewed numerous shell cases for the iPad and have found most to be fine in terms of build and protection. However they all seemed to add bulk to the iPad making the device seem bigger than it should be. In that respect the HoverCoat is a different beast. It weighs next to nothing and hugs the iPad so closely you can hardly tell its there. In that respect it’s more skin than shell.
The monCarbone case is basically awesome. The only thing that may put off people is the price, but in my opinion if you want a sleek, light weight shell case then the HoverCoat is well worth the price. If you like the shiny carbon fiber appearance then I suggest you grab the Midnight Black as I personally like that version slightly better than the Mystery Black.
| PROS | CONS |
| +Light weight +Minimal profile +All controls easily accessible |
-Price |
Comments are closed.