Premium Leather 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation Case
$169.95
Availability: In stock and shipping
• Orders recieved by 2pm PST ship same day
• All others ship next business day
• $5.05 flat rate U.S. ground shipping
Our 2020 / 2021 12.9 iPad Pro case offers 2 ways to protect your Apple tablet. One with and one without our Magnetic Accessory System. For Gen 4 and 5/M1.
Features:
- The last case you'll have to buy for your 12.9" Apple tablet. Guaranteed
- Perfectly fits Gen 5 2021 M1 equipped 12.9-inch iPad Pro
- Also designed for Gen 4 2020 12.9
- Premium, vegetable dyed, ultra "soft hand" ethically sourced leathers
- Hand crafted, one at a time, as an individual expression of the leather making art
- Choose from authentic, unfinished, real Vintage brown or
- Classic pebble grain, satin black hides
- Contrasting white stitching highlights the industry's highest build quality
- Available for Customization Program. Click here for information
- Frame-less design creates the appearance of your 12.9 floating in the case
- Innovative polymer tray will never wear out, never needs to be replaced
- Tray is impact absorbent and provides excellent corner protection
- NEW for 2021 / 2020 models - Tray cutouts for all buttons
- Folio will cover the Apple Pencil when Pencil is in the charging position
- 70 degree viewing angle adjustability
- Cover can be folded back onto itself like a magazine. (We recommend doing it slowly so the materials are allowed to stretch naturally).
- Completely padded, smart cover technology with auto on/ off feature
- Black ultra suede interior provides 100% distraction free experience
- Elegant magnetic case closure
- Full camera integration
- 11.50" x 9" x .5" / 14oz
- MAS (Magnetic Accessory System) Equipped Version:
- Choose from 4 optional, attachable / detachable Accessories:
- Apple Pencil Holder - Holds Apple Pencil or similar sized stylist
- Cable Pouch - Holds all your iPad cables, adapters, ear buds, etc.
- Paper Holder - Holds up to 8 sheets
- Business Card Holder - Holds up to a dozen cards
- Limited Lifetime Warranty / 14 Day Return Policy / $5.05 Flat Rate Shipping
- International Customers: Complete shipping costs and import duties will be shown at checkout. You will incur no further costs to receive your MacCase than those shown.
- Any questions? Call M-F 10-4 PST, 760 729 0620
Our iPad 12.9-inch Case: How Does It Improve Your Life?
- Chose the best version to meet your needs - With or without the Magnetic Accessory System (MAS)
- Provides a quality way to protect / transport your 4th generation 12.9" and accessories
- Feel good knowing you've chosen a product made from ethically sourced leather
- Will last at least as long as you own the tablet
- No need to keep buying case after case due to poor quality
- Meets your need for a professional, well made, durable, protective and aesthetically pleasing case
- Options allow you to customize the case to meet your needs
- If you're looking for a case like this to fit the Apple Keyboard Folio, click here
The Best Leather 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 Case for You?
MacCase invented the Apple-specific case market over 20 years ago. 20+ years later we are still innovating like no other. Our new leather 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 case offers 2 distinct versions.
One features a clean, minimalist front panel. The other features our Magnetic Accessory System (MAS) which allows for the attachment of our 4 optional accessories. Both models are made using our exclusive ethically sourced leather hides.
Visually, the MAS version has 3 circular magnets integrated into the front cover. If you want to utilize options like our Pencil case, choose this version. For more information about the 2 versions, click the "Additional Information" tab above.
Each version works perfectly with Apple's 2021 M1 equipped 12.9-inch tablet. The new M1 chip is a ground breaker for iPad. Our latest case designs maximize the your enjoyment juxtaposing the latest technology with old world craftsmanship.
Not sure what size or model iPad you have? Click here to find out how to measure an iPad for a case.
2021 iPad Pro 12.9 Leather Case - Design Review
The latest in a series of interviews about the story behind the design of MacCase products. For this interview, we are speaking to MacCase President Michael Santoro about the new MacCase 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation Case.
JKD- Welcome. The first question I have is did you see this new set of Apple tablets coming?
MS: Not really. Apple is typically on an 18-month iPad release schedule. If you begin at the last release date which was March of 2020, we were scheduled to get new iPad Pros in October of this year.
This shows you what a game changer this Mq chipset is for the iPad that Apple pushed the release ahead 6 months to get them to market. The fortunate thing for us is that they didn't change the form factor, only the hardware.
Our current generation cases perfectly fit the 2021 M1 equipped 12.9-inch tablets.
JKD: So while this was a surprise but you're not pressed to change anything?
MS: No not really. If they update the form factor as well as the hardware, then it makes things difficult. We probably would have had some advanced notice from our suppliers about a form factor change if one was coming. Things were very quiet. The lack of the form factor changed showed us why.
The current generation models were only released last year. So if an update was coming, it's usually hardware only. We've seen this kind of thing before. If their current models are long in the tooth and a radical redesign is in the works, we can react in a radical way to match it.
This was the case when the original Pro level tablets came out. We did our biggest single design built out in our history, creating and releasing 4 completely new models at once. It was exciting but I promised myself I would never put MacCase through that again! (laughing).
In this instance, we're using this opportunity to build upon the success of the 2018 designs. Our Custom Program has been extremely popular so we are looking for ways to expand that. I'm also interested in doing something elegant and cool for the Magic Keyboard.
Designing the new 12.9 iPad Pro 4th Generation Case
JKD: Yes, let's talk about that. What does that mean for the new 12.9 iPad Pro 4th generation case? Or cases? Tell us about the 2 versions.
MS: As a designer and artist first, I always want things to look the best they can. I believe one of the reasons we have stayed in business over 20 years is the timeless aesthetic our products process. It doesn't matter whether it's a Premium Leather model or one of our nylon pieces, the design vocabulary is the same. The values and the things we strive for are the same. Customers appreciate this.
Yes the product has to work. Yes the product has to be comfortable. Yes it has to protect. But it also needs to stir the soul, to move you. I think our products do that. They have aways done that. So when the opportunity to improve customer satisfaction and aesthetics came along, I took it.
JKD: How does the new "clean", magnet free design improve customer satisfaction?
MS: It's really about choice. We're all customers and consumers in one form or another. How did Getty Lee put it, "Each another's audience". We improve customer satisfaction by offering a choice to use our accessories or not. If you're not, you now have an option to purchase one of our world class Folios without the magnets that make the attachment of the accessories possible.
No one wants to pay for something they do not need. No one wants to carry around the weight for something they do not need. I passed on buying an all-wheel drive car because I didn't want to pay the penalty of dragging around the extra weight of the all-wheel drive system in an environment where it is not needed.
The Best iPad 4 Leather Case
While the magnets that come as part of our 2021 iPad 4 leather case are not terribly heavy, they do add some weight to what is otherwise a lightweight design. Just like with me and the all-wheel drive car, if you never going to use our Magnetic Accessory System, you're still stuck carrying around the extra magnets for the life of the Folio.
Removing the magnets saves the weight. It also removes some of the complexity of manufacturing for the iPad 4 leather case. In the product design world, simpler tends to be better in the long run. But these are all practical, pragmatic reasons for the new version. I am most interested in the artful side.
When considering what makes up the best iPad 4th generation case, yes the pragmatic, functional, protective aspects are very important. But to be the best, a product has to add up to something greater than the sum of it's parts. Call it whatever you want, poetry, the "X" factor or the "it" factor.
The new, "clean" version of our 2021 leather ipad pro 12.9 case just might be the best looking Folio we've ever done. And we've done a lot of them. We've been here since day one so I do not say that about this new design lightly.
It's a looker. All the elements are perfectly balanced. Our signature curved panel which is highlighted by the contrasting white stitching returns as the dominate element of the front cover. This puts the emphasis back on the quality and back on the craftsmanship, which is where we want it.
That's not to say the version with the magnets doesn't posses those traits, they do. It's just that with the magnets you have 5 elements vying for attention. With the magnet free version you have just 2, the wonderfully crafted curved panel and our logo. Less is more.
The great thing about this is that it is not an "either/ or" proportion. Both the Magnetic Accessory System model and the "clean" model will be in production simultaneously for these news Apple tablets. This is something we have never done before. All of this is part of what makes our iPad 4 leather case exceptional.
2020 iPad Pro 12.9 Cover Differences
JKD: Are there other differences between the 2 iPad Pro 12.9 covers?
MS: No, other than the front cover, the 2 designs are exactly the same. They both use our new, 2020 crystal clear polymer tray.
JKD: Can you give us some insight about the differences between the 3rd generation folio and the new leather 2020 12.9 iPad Pro case?
MS: The big change Apple made was to the camera. They added multiple lenses to the rear panel, really expanding the importance of this area. The tray we used for the 3rd generation cover had a cutout to fit the lenses of the 3rd generation 12.9.
The design for the leather 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 case, will feature a tray designed to house and protect this new camera assembly. This will be an important feature that will dominate the rear panel of the cover.
JKD: Any other areas of change for the 4th generation Folio? What should customers be looking for in the new design?
MS: Over the years there have been a few customers who have suggested that the user experience would be better if the buttons weren't covered by the polymer material the trays are made from. The material was there for several reasons but we take customer suggestions seriously. We are always looking to improve our products.
For this new design, the buttons will not be covered. We have molded the trays so there are holes for the buttons to be accessed. Hopefully, customers will see this as an improvement.
Moreover, we have added extra protection to each corner. There are little "bumpers" that extend out slightly from the surface to help better absorb impacts. There is a nice interplay between the clear material of the trays and the extended protection of the corners. Visually, you see the bumpers which implies extra protection but they don't add any extra visual weight.
It's a small detail, but one we hope customers will appreciate.
Leather 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 Case with Pencil Holder
JKD: What about the 4 accessories? Will they be available for the new 2020 Folios?
MS: Yes, all 4 components of our Magnetic Accessory System, the Pencil Holder, Document Holder, Accessory Pouch and Card Holder will be available for the 2020 Folios. Moreover, any customer trading up for the new leather 2020 12.9 iPad case can still use any of the accessories purchased previously. By design, the options are backwards compatible.
Of course if you have the vintage leather hides, you might notice some visual differences between the new case and the older accessories due to their patinas being at different stages. This could be quite cool though. It should not be an issue with the black hides. Accessories purchased a year ago should visually integrate into a new black folio without a problem.
JKD: You mentioned earlier that you'd been designing and building these cases, covers and folios since the beginning of Apple tablets. What is the message you'd like to share with potential customers, with someone finding MacCase for the first time?
Farmeless iPad 12.9-inch Folio
MS: For the 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 Folio we're going to build on the success established by the first, second and third generations of this frame-less Folio design. It has been a huge success for us across the board.
It took a while for long time customers who were used to the frames to come around. Actually, that is not true. It took about 10 minutes of using the new designs for long time customers to fall in love with them.
For new customers, the frame-less folios were just better than anything else out there and continue to be. It's been great to get such positive feedback and to see the reviews coming in. Many people, many professional people are tired of buying case after case only to have them fall apart a short while later. Or they walk into a meeting, take their Apple tablet out and the case looks embarrassingly shoddy.
At some point they realize they've purchased the most expensive tablet on Earth and have put it in a bargain basement case. When they purchase a MacCase, specifically, this new iPad Pro 12.9 4th Gen case, it will be the last case they'll have to buy while they own that Apple tablet.
If they keep the tablet 18 months till the next one comes out, the case will only get better looking and improve with age. If they keep the tablet 18 years, the same is true.
We're putting truly good things, beautifully made things into the world. People will be proud to take their new iPad out for a meeting when it's wrapped in one of our new Folios. Our designs make a statement.
JDK: Excellent. Thank you for your time.
MS: Thank you.
FAQ -
Will my 2020 Pad Pro 12.9 4th generation case fit the 2021 M1 12.9-inch iPad Pro?
Yes. The 2021 M1 equipped 12.9-inch Apple tablet features the same form factor as the 4th generation model released in 2020. The hardware is extensively different but the overall dimensions are the same allowing cases designed for the 4th gen tablet to fit the 2021 design.
Will my 2020 Pad Pro 12.9 4th generation fit in my old 12.9 case?
No. The 4th generation of Apple's largest tablet computer is different enough from the 3 previous designs to not fit in cases designed for those earlier models. If you are looking for a case for the Gen 4, you will need a case designed specifically for the 2020 12.9 model.
What is the best iPad Pro 12.9 4th generation case?
The best 4th generation 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 case is the one that meets and exceeds your individual needs as an Apple tablet user. These needs should include level of protection, overall quality and durability, overall aesthetic appearance, man-made or natural materials and overall functionality.
Does this case work with the Apple Magic Keyboard?
The Magic Keyboard is a case onto itself. Because the rear panel of the tablet is completely covered by the rear panel of the Magic Keyboard there is no way to attach the tablet to the tray inside our Folio.
One Photographers Search for a Quality 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro Case
We recently received an email from San Diego based professional photographer Ken Rockwell ( http://kenrockwell.com ) that told of his frustration in finding a quality 12-inch iPad Pro case.
Ken outlined his "wish list" of what he wanted for his dream 12.9 case on a post on his blog. He then forwarded this post to MacCase Chief Creative Officer Michael Santoro when the discussion of finding a quality 12.9-inch iPad Pro case came up.
The following is the reply sent to Ken from Michael.
Ken Rockwell: Is it just me, or is it impossible to find a good iPad cover today?
Michael Santoro: I would agree. There are several factors that have caused this. One being the flood of cheap, poorly designed and executed tablet covers from China.
I was speaking to a closeout buyer who was telling me he was paying .05 cents on the dollar to companies looking to rid themselves of cheap, mass produced Apple tablet products from China. All that junk is crowding out the quality.
Another factor in the reason why there are so few quality iPad Pro 12.9-inch cases to be found is that retail buyers performance reviews are based on how many units they move. They are scared to stock an Apple tablet cover over $100 when, you guessed it, so many cheap alternatives are so readily available.
Lastly, the few companies that are actually making quality iPad Pro 12-inch cases are selling them through their online stores. Do a search for any combination of keywords containing 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation Case and see how many boutique companies show up on page one on any of the search engines.
The answer is hardly any. Ebay, Amazon, Target, Walmart, et al. dominate the search results for such a generic term. Companies making quality iPad Pro cases exist, we're just a bit harder to find.
KR: It's not complicated, but for some reason it seems I've only found one kind of cover that meets my basic needs. I've pointed this case out to the people at MacCase when it's been on sale. My family owns a load of them in different sizes, but I can't find them anymore. Especially one to fit a 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation.
MS: Smaller companies only need to get burned once in a market that is designed to burn itself down every 18 months, to walk away. It's a tough business. In a way it's a lot like the music industry. You're only as good as your last hit.
KR: I just bought this case, which feels very impressive (and even more so for just ($15), with nice leather and coming in a marvelously soft padded velvet bag. It seems fantastic until you put your iPad in it and realized that the four corners are cut-out, so in actual use after you throw away the silly velvet bag, it won't protect a dropped iPad! This frustration is why I'm asking you folks for ideas.
We all have different tastes, but it's beyond me as to why iPad cases all uniformly get at least one of these important requirements wrong.
Quality Materials for a 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation Case
KR: It should be thick, soft, durable leather, and should have a good grain so it doesn't slip out of your hand.
MS: MacCase offers two distinct styles of vegetable tanned hides: Our Premium Leather pebble grain, satin black and our authentic, distressed Vintage brown. Both offer an extremely soft hand and are extremely durable. Each hide offers plenty of grip as well as a luxury, quality feel.
KR: It should be soft on the inside so nothing gets scratched.
MS: All MacCase Folios feature an interior fully lined with black ultra-suede and stitched with black thread that is dyed three times so it disappears. All you are left with is screen.
We have been making iPads cases since there have been iPads and serve some of the worlds most demanding customers. We have never had a single customer ever report damage to their iPad due to our case not doing it's job.
KR: It should come in black or brown, and ideally also natural light brown, as well as whatever other colors the ladies like.
MS: These are the exact colors MacCase offers. If they are not enough, our Custom iPad Pro Case Program exists to build the Apple tablet case of your dreams.
KR: Cases like the one I use with my iPad Pro are made of crummy hard leather that feels like plastic, and its inside also feels like plastic — but it's the best I've found for my iPad Pro so far.
MS: Most leather iPad cases use what is known as "bonded" leather. Bonded leather is created by mixing very low quality, scrap leather bits with paper, saw dust and other fillers along with scrap vinyl. A bonding agent is mixed with the garbage to create a paste that is spread out on large tables to create a film from which the patterns are cut. This is why the "leather" feels so hard, slippery and like plastic. Because basically it is!
KS: Nice materials aren't that hard to find, but the problem is, regardless of price, getting one with a proper functional design.
iPad Pro 2020 12.9-inch Case Functionality
KR: A quality iPad Pro 12.9-inch case should protect the iPad from falls from every angle — which means the four corners need to be covered! Ideally covered not just with a sheet of leather, but with seams sewn in such a way that the case hits a thick edge of leather if dropped.
I have no idea why so many cases simply don't bother to protect the four small corners, which just happens to be about the only place you actually need protection from falls.
MS: Protecting the corners are a high priority for us. We use 2 elegant solutions to protect the corners.
The first is our custom polymer tray than holds your Apple tablet in the case. The material is soft and pliable but shock absorbent. It protects the corners as well as all the outside edges.
The second protection method we employ has worked for hundreds of years to protect the pages of books: offset. A hardcover book is constructed so there is an offset between the edge of the hard cover and where the pages begin. This offset protects the the pages all along the edges but more importantly, is highly protective at the corners.
If the book is every dropped, the hard cover itself takes the impact absorbing the shock. The pages remain secure due to the offset between where the pages end and the edge of the hard cover.
The same is true for the binding edge. The pages are tucked inside, offset from the top and bottom of the hard cover. The offset works the same way as the outside corners if the book is ever dropped.
All MacCase 2020 iPad Pro Folios are constructed the same way as a high quality books and protect the iPad just as well. In fact, the combination of our build quality, superior materials and innovative polymer tray make interacting with our Folios much like interacting with a heirloom book.
Access to Ports and Controls
KR: There needs to be a hole for every connector, camera, button and switch The Kavaj case I bought looked great, until I realized that the volume controls and more were hidden under leather, making them clumsy to use at best.
Of course there needs to be a big enough hole around the headphone jack so headphones fit, but that hasn't been a problem with the tablet covers I've used.
MS: MacCase Folios have addressed these issues since day one. Our 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation Case has evolved the ports and controls areas removing the polymer materials. Older designs had areas like the volume buttons covered but in the new generation, we've opened them up.
Don't Cover the Tablet Screen
KR: Again you'd think this was obvious, but some case makers insist on covering the screen, or enough of the bezel around the screen so it's impossible to make swiping gestures properly. This Kavaj case I bought was completely defective in design; it covered so much of the bezel that it made it impossible to use split screens on my iPad pro.
MS: This is another huge advantage of our innovative polymer tray. If you look at your 12.9 there is a machined aluminum edge right where the glass screen ends. Our polymer tray covers this aluminum edge but not any part of the screen. When you open our 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation Case, all you see is screen. The tray practically disappears.
This type of design has been in production since late 2017. We have yet to have a single customer complain about any issues with the screen. Actually, we've not had a single customer complain about any aspect of this current generation case design. They work. If they didn't, our customers would surely let us know in a hurry.
The Quality User Experience
KR: For crying out loud, an iPad case is supposed to just flip open and turn on. That's the whole point, which Apple's smart face covers do so well, except that Apple's face covers offer no protection against drops or the back of the iPad.
Apple makes back covers, but I haven't found them in leather, which would be ideal. Apple's leather iPhone cases are perfection, but I haven't found an equivalent for the iPad.
MS: Since day one, MacCase iPad Folios have had seamless, auto on/off functionality built into each cover.
KR: There shall be no latches, bands, locks, straps or other baloney in the way of opening it. It's beyond me why designers go out of their way to add cutesy tabs that have to be undone to get at your iPad.
MS: This is what you get when inferior design ability meets the need to stand out from the hoards of other cheap cases from all the other manufacturers. Moreover, using a piece of bonded leather scrap to make a tab is so much cheaper than utilizing expensive magnets to do the job.
Again, MacCase Folios have always used expensive magnet closures and completely avoided the inferior design solution of bands, tabs, etc. These kinds of design details are what sets the quality iPad Pro cases from MacCase apart.
Keep the Case Design Simple
KR: An iPad is supposed to be portable. A case needs to be a case, and should not have pen holders, business card holders, cup holders or keyboard holders hanging off the sides or making it twice as thick as it ought to be. I don't want to carry an office with me; all I want is an iPad case, please.
MS: It's funny that you mention this. We developed a prototype that had many of these features and it was quickly abandoned for all the reasons you mentioned. But for every customer like yourself that doesn't want those things, there are plenty that do.
This lead us to develop our Magnetic Accessory System. This industry leading integration of accessories to hold the Apple Pencil, papers, business cards and the charging cable sets the standard for elegance and functionality.
One of the most brilliant aspects of our system is that if you do not want them, if all you want is the case, that's all you can get. No penalties. No paying for stuff or features you don't want or need.
iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation Leather Case Materials
Mac Case models are unique in the leather goods world. Much of the leather that is used in consumer products are a by-prodcut of the beef industry in one form or another. Any MacCase, we wanted a better, more human way to use this noble materials.
We source our hides from ex-dairy cows who get put out to pasture once their milk giving days are behind them. When their time comes and they move on to that great pasture in the sky, their hides become available. It is much harder to source leather in this way. It can create what process people call "supply chain issues".
We feel it's worth it though. If it sometimes takes a bit longer for the hides to become available, we can live with that. Knowing that we are sourcing our hides in the most humane way we could find allows us to sleep at night. It also allows us to bring wonderful products like our iPad Pro 12.9 4th generation case to market with a clear conscious.
KR: So what is MacCase doing? I'd love to hear about your ideas if you have a suggestion that meets every one of these simple requirements. It's easy to find cases that meet most, but screw up on one or another.
I'd love to spend $100 or $200 for one made in USA or another first-world country, but I have yet to find one at any price from any country which meets all these basic requirements today.
MS: Please come and have a good long look at what we are doing.
Our price points are right around the $160 mark depending on model. Since their launch with the original iPad we have never had a single report of an iPad being damaged or of an issue with the quality of the case itself.
I would love to know if what we are doing will pass the "Ken Test"!