Pros:
• Made from high quality materials
Cons:
• Doesn’t hold positions very well
• Leather frame covers part of iPad’s display
Aranez is an Australian brand that prides itself on making luxurious cases out of premium leather for smartphones and tablets.
Seeing as I’ve never personally invested in a more premium accessory for my iPad Mini, I was interested to see if the slick looks and high quality materials on the Aranez Ascend case would make me want to part with $69.95.
My first impressions when holding the Ascend iPad Mini case were good. It comes wrapped in genuine leather that feels soft and luxurious, grey stitching around the edge of the case and a subtle Aranez logo on the front cover that adds to its premium look.
It isn’t the thickest or most padded iPad case I’ve ever seen, but it’s dense and rigid enough to offer a decent amount of protection.
Flip over the case and you’re met by a small leather strap which you use to tuck in the front cover, allowing you to adjust between two viewing angles. As with most ‘folio-style’ cases, you can choose between an upright viewing angle as well as a slightly inclined typing position.
In terms of build quality, that strap was probably the least impressive feature of the Ascend case; mainly because it loosened up far too much after constant use. Although it was noticeable in the upright position, I really struggled to use it in the low angled typing position. It would pop out from the strap too easily and made it frustrating to use.
Aranez include an elastic stylus holder above the leather strap too. Since the elastic holder is at the back of the case it stays out of sight which is nice, but you end up being unable to lay the case flat on its back after inserting a stylus, so I found that positioning slightly odd.
On the inside of the Ascend case, Aranez includes three card slots that you can use to comfortably fit business or bank cards, plus a small pouch for paperwork underneath.
Beyond that, I really liked the soft grey felt material Aranez use on the interior. Paired with the lovely leather finish on the outside, it’s a combo that’s sure to make you’re holding a high quality product.
Getting your iPad in to place just involves tucking a leather strap underneath the Ascend’s leather frame, which is supposed to keep it securely positioned. While that design looks cleaner than using a velcro strap for example, it just doesn’t do a good enough job of keeping the iPad centrally aligned.
The leather frame ends up covering a couple of millimetres of the iPad’s display (on the left), something that quickly becomes annoying when you’re trying to read something closer to the edge, or swipe in using gestures.
Usually, I’d be able to live with a small inconvenience like that, but at this kind of price range, it’s a design flaw that I wouldn’t expect to see.
Verdict
Looking beyond the fabulous look and feel of the Ascend case, I found it a shame that it lacks in some important design features; namely the alignment of the display and the durability of the rear leather strap. When you’re paying $69.95 for an iPad case, those are compromises you shouldn’t have to make.
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