Thanks to the genius and relative simplicity of Apple’s Smart Cover accessory for the iPad 2, this was bound to happen. Slap several magnets into a four-part polyester-covered, er, cover, and you get a cheaper Smart Cover clone, right? Apparently, it’s not that simple. MIC Gadget managed to get hold of a Smart Cover knockoff from China, but quickly realized that it’s just not worth it. Literally, it just wasn’t worth it, because the knockoff wasn’t that much cheaper than the original, costing a converted $33 compared to Apple’s $39. Probably not even worth the effort of ordering and shipping to begin with, but shaving off $6 still would have been a decent deal if only the knockoff actually, you know… worked. If you were thinking of saving a few dollars by picking up a Smart Cover alternative, you might want to check out the side-by-side comparo after the break first.
If you watched the video, the following information probably isn’t necessary. But in case you just wanted the quick list, here it goes: the knockoff Smart Cover’s magnetic hinges doesn’t line up and snap into place and the hinge parts literally fell apart. Considering that this is supposed to protect your iPad, that alone should serve as your “do not buy this” warning unless you want to risk dropping your tablet every time you open it. Oh, and for some reason, it apparently smells funky too (according to MIC Gadget’s hands-on).
On the plus side, it does share the real Smart Cover’s auto sleep/wake feature, but we already know that you don’t have to be a genius to pull that off. You just need a magnet in the right spot.
Tags: iPad Accessories, Knockoffs, Smart Cover
