10 Cool New Cases For The iPad Mini

Mini Tablet, Big Protection

The iPad mini is Apple's thinnest and lightest tablet yet, weighing just 0.68 pounds and measuring a barely-there 0.28-inches thick. That said, extra protection from bumps and bruises is probably a good idea.

Here are 10 new cases for the iPad mini, ranging from the super-ruggedized to the super-chic, and everything in between.

Apple Smart Cover

Any iPad mini users looking for all Apple, all the time, should opt for the Cupertino giant's own smart cover case.

Available on Apple's website for $39, the smart cover offers protection without the added bulk and comes with an integrated stand that can be used to prop up the tablet when typing emails or chatting on FaceTime. It's "smart," according to Apple, because it automatically wakes up when the cover is lifted and automatically goes to sleep when it's shut.

Apple's case comes in six different colors, including blue, pink and grey.

Marware DoubleTake

Marware's DoubleTake case for the iPad mini offers the same capabilities as Apple's smart cover, plus a little more durability. It sports the same integrated kick-stand for hands-free viewing and can also wake the mini up with the simple lift of its cover. But, it also includes a rubber inner layer for shock absorption, along with bumpers for the tablet's corners and protective grills for its speakers.

Marware offers the DoubleTake for $55 in a variety of colors.

ZAGGkeys Mini 9

Looking to turn your iPad mini into a full-fledged notebook? Try ZAGG's new Mini 9 case, which offers both a protective cover and keyboard that's compatible with Apple's newest and littlest tablet.

Like all of ZAGG's keyboard covers, the Mini 9 is engineered to provide 90 percent of the real estate delivered with the traditional keyboards found on notebook PCs. The keyboard itself is part of a case that ZAGG promises is both protective and practical, with an integrated stand that can prop the tablet up for an even more authentic, notebook-like feel.

ZAGG also offers a more compact Mini 7 keyboard case for an even more mini experience. Both start at $90.

Moshi VersaCover

Moshi has re-sized its unique, origami-style case to work with the iPad mini.

Called VersaCover, the case goes far beyond the notebook-style designs touted by most iPad covers, allowing users to twist and turn it into a range of viewing angles. Want to watch a movie? There's an angle for that. Interested in browsing the Web or reading a book? There's an angle for that, too. Need to type up an email? Yup, there's still an angle for that. VersaCover, put simply, is the best case out there for users who like to switch things up.

It launches at the end of this quarter, starting at $60.

OtterBox Defender Series

OtterBox has also gone mini with its popular series of Defender cases for the iPad.

The new, smaller covers tout all the same features of their larger older siblings, including a durable, silicon-based exterior to protect from drops, port protectors to keep out dirt and dust and a built-in screen protector to avoid those pesky smudge marks. It also comes with a stand so users can read and browse the Web on their minis, hands-free.

OtterBox's Defender Series cases start at $70 on its website.

Hard Candy ShockDrop

Hard Candy's ShockDrop case is also said to offer top-notch protection for the iPad mini, with 0.4 inches of shock-absorbing silicon at the corners, a semi-rigid screen protector and what Hard Candy says are "rip-proof" port covers.

Of course, all this extra padding means the ShockDrop case is a bit thicker and bulkier than the competition, but for clumsy iPad users, it may be the best option out there. The cases start at around $60 and come in either black or red.

iLuv CEO Folio

Said to be "inspired by the boardroom," iLuv's CEO Folio not only gives enterprise users a place to store their new iPad minis but also offers safe keeping for their pens, pencils and corporate IDs as well.

The case opens up like a traditional portfolio and includes slots for credit cards and IDs, along with a pocket for writing utensils or a stylus. Notebook paper can also be stored in the case, for any business users who still like take notes the good ol' fashioned way.

The CEO Folio sells for $65 on iLuv's website and comes in black.

Dodocase

The new iPad mini might be high-tech, but Dodocase has a way to give the gadget a more classic look and feel.

Like all Dodocase covers, the one for the iPad mini is designed to make the tablet look like a hardcover book, featuring a lightweight bamboo tray and a sturdy exterior for both elegance and protection. Made in San Francisco, all Dodocase covers are handcrafted using traditional bookbinding techniques while still offering modern conveniences like smart cover functionality and an integrated stand.

The cases range from $40 to $60 on Dodocase's website.

Incipio Feather

The iPad mini is the sleekest tablet to come out of Apple's vault, and with Incipio's Feather case, you can keep it that way.

Intended to deliver a barely-there feel, Incipio's case is less than 0.04 inches thin and features a soft-touch finish for a cover that's said to feel feather-light in your hands. While sleek in form factor, the case is still sturdy, made from a material the company calls "Plextonium" that keeps the mini safe from unwanted scratches and cracks.

The case starts at $30 and comes in a variety of colors.

Sena Envy

Forget high-end protection -- the Sena Envy iPad mini case shoots for high-end fashion.

Designed to look like a purse or clutch, the Envy case is decked out in genuine leather and touts what Sena calls a "luxurious" slim design. But, the case is still practical, too, equipped with slots that can hold up to four credit cards, a multipurpose pocket and a frame that holds the tablet securely in place. It also has openings for easy accessibility to ports.

It seems high-fashion does come at a price, though; Sena offers the case for $107.