Premium Leather 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 5th 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 2021 12.9 iPad Pro 5th gen case offers 2 ways to protect your Apple tablet. One with and one without our Magnetic Accessory System. For Gen 5.
Features:
- The last case you'll have to buy for your 12.9" Apple tablet. Guaranteed
- Designed for 5th generation 2021 M1 equipped 12.9-inch iPad Pro
- 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
- 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
How Will This 5th Generation 12.9 Case 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 5th 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
- Looking for something that works with the Magic Keyboard, click here
The Best Leather 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 5th Gen 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 5th 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. But they moved it up to March of 2021.
This shows you what a game changer this M1 chipset is for the iPad that Apple pushed the release ahead 6 months to get them to market. The confusing thing for us is that they didn't change the form factor. We thought we were good to go and that the new Gen 5 tablet would fit in our old Gen 4 case.
Our current generation cases perfectly fit the 2021 M1 equipped 12.9-inch tablets. But as Mies van der Rohe said, "God is in the details". After testing the new tablets in the current design, we discovered a few things. Small things but significant enough to warrant a new Folio model.
JKD: Can you tell us more about what you found??
MS: The first instance we discovered was that they moved the speakers a few millimeters. It seems like a small thing but it matters. Two of the many speaker holes were covered by the 2020 tray.
The second thing we found was a issue with the Apple Pencil pairing and charging with the tablet. If you're not someone who is using the Pencil then this is not a issue. Our customers tend to be pretty creative and many do use the Pencil. For them, this was a problem.
To solve both of these issues, we have designed a new tray for the 2021 Folio. We are going back to our original design where the tray was cut out so the Pencil can attach to the tablet unimpeded. The fix for the speakers is an easy one as well.
Our leather 2021 5th generation iPad Pro case will work as flawlessly as all of our other Folios have done for the last decade. Compromise is something others companies are welcome to participate in. "Good enough" is not in the MacCase design vernacular.
I want to put products into the world I and everyone that works here can be proud of. This is what we have been doing for over 20 years. Our Folios are our flagship product. There is no way I would put one out there that is not the best it could be. With this new design, I can sleep at night, (laughing).
Designer iPad Pro 12.9 Case
JKD: You have a long resume of things that you have designed and awards that you have won. You invented the Apple-specific case market as well as the automotive Easter Egg. Do you consider your iPad Pro cases "designer" cases?
MS: In the purest sense, all the work I do for MacCase is can be labeled "designer". I believe when someone does a search for a designer iPad Pro case they are looking for a fashion designer, not a product or a car designer. They are looking for a name that they recognize.
Typically they are looking for a name so they can believe they are impressing others or help them feel better about themselves. There are all kinds of designers in our culture. When people within popular culture refer to a designer or label a product "designer", they are usually referencing a fashion designer or fashion house of some sort.
I have looked at a lot of the so called "designer iPad cases" and they were awful. They materials were what you would expect for the $2000 they were asking but their functionality was laughable. There was non of the innovation of our Magnetic Accessory System.
MacCase products are designed by a designer to best they best at what they do. My name is on the back of each case. I'm proud of all the work I've done at MacCase over the years. We've really put out some outstanding and innovative pieces.
Our iPad Pro cases are just as "designer" as any from Louis Vuitton or Chanel. They're much, much better engineered, perform infinitely better and are about a one hundredth of the price.
The Magnetic Accessory System
JKD: With the 4th generation case, you introduced two versions, one with the Magnetic Accessory System and one without. Will the 5th generation also offer Apple tablet users this choice and if so why?
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. In addition, I believe in choice. Customers love having the option to purchase the magnetic equipped model or the clean variant. It's great to be able to offer this. Does it add complexity and make everyone's life at MacCase more difficult? Absolutely.
Great products are more then the sum of their parts. They have to work and function. Many products do this. But great products stir the soul. They move you. I think our products do that. They have always done that. So when the opportunity to reach a broader audience comes along, I will often take it.
JKD: How does the "clean", magnet free design help you reach more customers?
MS: We recently got back into Staples.com. Offering the magnetic equipped model on a mass market platform like Staples would raise a lot of questions by potential customers. "Why are these circles here? What do they do? Can I get it without them?"
It would be nearly impossible to offer the Magnetic Accessory System on a platform like Staples.com. Describing what those are about and then not showing or offering the option causes even more confusion.
Having a "clean" version allows us to offer a beautiful Folio option to Staples customers without the confusion of wondering with the magnets do. Moreover, our research shows that not everyone who buys a Folio from our site is going to use the magnets. I'm sure there has been someone over the years who left our site because they didn't want the magnets on the front of the case.
The clean version helps us in both these situations. It gives us a world class product to offer on a platform like Staples.com or Office Dept. And it gives potential customers on our site another option. It's a win-win.
The Best iPad Pro 5th gen 12.9-inch Leather Case
JKD: I've asked you this on a number of occasions, but is this the best case for the 5th gen iPad Pro 12.9?
MS: "Best" is a very subjective word. It's like cars. What is the best car for one person might not be the best car for someone else. It's really about finding a product that best meets your individual needs.
At MacCase, we try to do this with every one of our designs. There is always a core group of goals we want the product to achieve. Or to put it another way, there is always a core group of needs we want the product to meet and often exceed.
We know if we do this and do it well, we'll have a case that many people out there will think is the best. There are a lot of folks out there who have needs that are different than the needs we design our Folios to meet. They might like what we have done but it's not the best case for them.
Hopefully there are other companies out there who make something that will work for them. Then their solution will be the best case for their 5th gen iPad Pro. We've been doing this a long time. We've seen a lot of companies come and go. I think one of the reasons we are still here is our commitment to quality.
People get this. And it's not only the products. I had someone call the other day and after I said hello, his first response was "Wow, you really do have a human being who answers the phone!" Customer service matters too. Especially on a $170 tablet case.
When you look at our materials, how well they are sewn, how well the product protects and functions and how well we take care of our customers before, during and after the sale, you'd be hard pressed not to say MacCase delivers the best iPad Pro 5th gen 12.9-inch leather case.
Leather 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 Case with Pencil Holder
JKD: What about the 4 accessories? Will they be available for the new 2021 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 2021 Folios. Moreover, any customer trading up for the new leather 2021 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?
Leather iPad 12.9-inch Folio
MS: For the 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 Folio we're going to build on the success established by all the previous generations of our Folio designs. These have been a huge success for us across the board. We know what works and we know how to design your case to last. This is where our lifetime guarantee comes from.
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 5th 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 5th generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro?
Yes, but while the overall size is the same, Apple moved the speakers slightly and changed the position of the pairing magnet for the Apple Pencil. Many 2020 cases will fit the 2021 Gen 5 12.9 but the speakers maybe be blocked slightly and the Pencil may not pair.
Will my 2021 Pad Pro 12.9 5th generation fit in my old 12.9 case?
It depends. The 5th 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. It will fit many cases designed for the 2020 Gen 4 12.9 iPad but the speakers may be partially blocked.
What is the best iPad Pro 12.9 5th generation case?
The best 5th generation 2021 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. So this case does not work with the Magic Keyboard.
One Photographers Search for a Quality iPad Pro 12.9 2021 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 iPad Pro 12.9 2021 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 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 5th 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 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 5th 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 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 5th 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 2021 12.9-inch Folio Functionality
KR: A quality iPad Pro 12.9-inch folio 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 folio style 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 folio. 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.
We have used our "offset protection design" for all our folio style cases since the introduction of the iPad in 2010. In all these years we have never had a contact us to let us know their Apple tablet was damaged in a fall. Could it happen tomorrow? Sure. But this would not negate the 10+ year track record of providing safety and security for our customers technology investments.
All MacCase 2021 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.