The best iPad Air cases in 2023

The best iPad Air cases are protective, lightweight, and versatile.

Whether you have a fourth- or fifth-generation iPad Air, we’ve rounded up our top picks for your tablet below, ranging from slim folio covers that fold into different positions, rugged cases to protect from drops and scuffs, and keyboard cases that let you use the tablet like a laptop.

Overall, the best protective case for the iPad Air is the Otterbox Defender case, an ultra-durable option with a built-in screen protector. Our favorite budget option is the low-cost yet sturdy Fintie Hybrid Slim case, which has a compartment for the Apple Pencil. 

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• Otterbox’s ultra-sturdy Defender series of cases offers top-of-the-line protection and includes a built-in screen protector.

• Apple’s straightforward folio case provides a strong magnetic connection to your iPad as you adjust it into a variety of positions.

• A light yet durable case, the Fintie Hybrid has an interior slot for the Apple Pencil and comes in a wide variety of chic colors.

• With a clear polycarbonate rear panel and a folio cover that adjusts into a stand, this Otterbox case is protective and not too bulky.

• This rugged case from Urban Armor Gear has military-grade drop protection and a cover that you can convert into a stand.

• The folio cover on this case has raised edges for added screen protection and can be adjusted into a stand with four different viewing angles.

• A backlit keyboard, military-grade drop protection, and a high-precision trackpad place this keyboard case ahead of the rest.

• ESR’s thin Rebound case protects your iPad Air from everyday scuffling and includes a detachable magnetic cover that you can use as a stand.

• Available in six different colors, this case has a soft-touch cover with a clear back to show off your iPad, along with air cushion padding for protection from drop damage.

• For a minimalist keyboard case without a trackpad, look no further than this official keyboard folio that offers two comfortable viewing angles.

• For a sophisticated and personalized look suited for professional settings, we love Nomad’s Modern Leather case that will patina with use over time.

What to look for in an iPad Air case

First and foremost, you should make sure that an iPad Air case is directly compatible with your particular iPad Air model, and not with other iPad models that differ in size. Our list contains cases meant for the latest model of the tablet, the fifth-generation iPad Air (one of the best iPads you can buy), but they’re also each compatible with the fourth-generation iPad Air, which has the exact same dimensions. 

Between reliable protection of the tablet’s screen and cameras, weight, style, and function, there are plenty of other factors that could influence your decision to purchase a particular case. 

If you’re looking to use an Apple Pencil, compatibility with Pencil charging will likely be a key factor in your decision — luckily for you, all of the cases on our list are compatible with the wireless charging capability of the second-generation Apple Pencil while it’s magnetized to the side of a fourth- or fifth-generation iPad Air. Some of the cases have slots for the Pencil within the case itself, while others have a magnetic flap or unobstructed space on the tablet to keep the Pencil more accessible.