You're probably familiar with the saying "you get what you pay for". That was the conclusion of my LG washer and dryer review. If you're willing to pay for a premium product then you get the benefits of a premium product. However, I'm a huge fan of companies that figure out how to offer premium products at disruptive prices that make us reconsider why we were ever paying such a high price to begin with. That's exactly what I've found with this iPad Air 2 case by Supcase. In this review we'll cover the features that make this case just as good as the competition while costing about a third of the price.
This isn't a thin, lightweight case but rather a direct competitor to a rugged case like the OtterBox Defender. I bought this to protect an iPad that my kids use. I wanted something that was easy for them to hold while being extremely protective from everyday drops.
The case is made of hard plastic with a matte finish as well as rubbery edges that make it really comfortable to hold.
There are cutouts for all the sensors and camera on the front as well as a really generous audio jack opening that's protected by a rubber flap. Despite what many Amazon reviews said, my power and volume buttons line up well and are fairly easy to press. There's rubber contact points all along the back as well as a Unicorn Beetle logo in the center of the case. The Lightning port opening is very generous and has a rubber flap to keep debris out like the audio jack. Lastly, there are openings for the speakers on each side.
To install your iPad in the case you start by snapping on the front cover. Be sure the screen and screen protector are both clean and free of dust. Next, insert the iPad and front cover into the back of the case starting with the top. Work your way around the edges pulling the rubber edge over the front cover. This goes together really tightly and is what gives the Beetle Pro it's rugged and premium feel.
Removing the case is a bit more tricky but not too difficult. You start by the Lightning port and begin peeling the rubber back off. Work your way down each of the sides and don't try to pull the case apart until you've done so on both sides. At that point the case easily falls apart. Snap the front cover off and you're done.
The screen protector does tend to collect fingerprints and because it's plastic it scratches easily as well. But that's to be expected from any built-in, plastic screen protector.
In the end there is a piece of plastic between you and your iPad's screen. However the screen protector lays flush up against the screen and I haven't experienced any rainbowing or issues that degrade from the experience. I've been really impressed with the quality of this case. I didn't bother contacting Supcase to send me a review sample simply because the case is barely over $20. My daily driver for my iPad Mini is an $80 LifeProof Nuud case and although the Unicorn Beetle isn't waterproof it's definitely on par with LifeProof in terms of the quality of the materials. It's certainly as good if not better than a $60 OtterBox Defender. If you're looking for a rugged case for your iPad Air 2, or any other iPad, I definitely recommend giving Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro a chance. If you have any questions that I didn't cover in this review, feel free to leave those in the comments.