Review: Hypershield for iPad 2

I think like a lot of people, one of the first things I did when buying an iPad 2, was to look at what official case solutions were available for it - following on from the universally well-received case for the iPad 1, I was expecting something designed for the job. In some respects, Apple didn't disappoint, with the Smart Cover - a piece of design magic that used magnets to auto-align and clamp itself to the iPad.

However, there were a couple of problems I could see with it - firstly, there was no protection for the back of the iPad 2, and secondly, there was no real impact protection of any kind offered by the Smart Cover - in fact, I could envisage a situation where an impact could result in the cover shearing off and scratching the iPad 2 even further. And let's face it, even the least clumsy of us drop things from time to time!

So to combat my concerns, I went in search of a back cover that could complement the Smart Cover - and soon found what I wanted in the Hypershield. For a reasonable price, you can pick up a Hypershield that matches both the colour and material used to make up whichever Smart Cover you purchased - check out the range here.  As you can see from the pic, I grabbed the grey polyurethane Hypershield, to match the Smart Cover I purchased. 

Installing the Hypershield requires some care, since it's a snug fit on the iPad 2 - but overall installation shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. I recommend taking your Smart Cover off whilst putting the Hypershield on. Once it's on you can then snap the Smart Cover back in place, and you'll see the Hypershield doesn't interfere with the Smart Cover operation at all.

Interestingly, the Hypershield is actually quite heavy for what it is, but, good protection for your iPad 2 comes at a price - and in this instance it's a weight penalty. But it's still absolutely fine to hold for extended periods of time. The Hypershield won't protect from major drops, but it will provide that vital level of protection to avoid scratches and dings from fumbles that occur nearer to surfaces.

There's not too much else to say, other than the fact that for £20, it's a really neat solution to provide light impact, and back protection, for your iPad 2 - so in that respect, well-recommended!

RATED: 8/10

I bought my Hypershield from Protronica.