Best iPad Mini cases and covers (pictures)

Apple brings its Smart Cover to the iPad Mini. Unlike the larger Smart Cover (for standard iPads), this model has three folding points instead of four, which makes it a little easier to fold up into a stand for typing or video watching.
Note: At this time Apple isn't making a Smart Case for the iPad Mini. That model has a protective back cover. This Smart Cover only protects your iPad's screen.
Price: $39
See more info and pricing for the Apple Smart Cover.

The Chambray is a simple, elegant-looking folio case from Belkin. Available in multiple colors.
Price: $30
See pricing for the Belkin Chambray from Amazon.com.

The Belkin Quilted case is a bit snazzier than the Chambray, but it'll cost you an extra $10. Also available in multiple colors. Not real leather.
Price: $40
See pricing for the Belkin Quilted from Amazon.com.

Dodocase makes a few different versions of its notebook-style case with its signature protective bamboo tray. The Classic is the base model, and, as you can see, it's available in a few different color options. Adding a camera hole costs $5 extra (that's a small bummer). You can also create a personal inscription for $10 extra.
Price: $60
See more info and pricing for the Dodocase Classic.

Starting with the iPhone 5, Dodocase got into the protective sleeve game, and the Durables Sleeve now carries on to the iPad Mini.
Price: $50
See more info and pricing for the Dodocase Durables Sleeve.

Gumdrop's highly protective Drop Tech series line, which has a built-in screen protector, comes to the iPad Mini. It's a little pricey at $60, but slightly less expensive than Otterbox's Defender Series case. Also available with red trim.
Price: $60
See pricing for the Gumdrop Drop Tech Series case from Amazon.com.

Similar to the Gumdrop Drop Tech series but with more square corners, the Shock Drop is a highly protective case with an integrated screen cover. A little pricey for what it is but cheaper than the Otterbox. Also available in black.
Price: $60
See pricing for the Hard Candy Shock Drop from Amazon.com.

i-Blason is one of several "generic" cases from no-name brands that you'll find on Amazon. The Slim Folio Book Shell may not be all that fancy, but it costs only $15. It's worth noting that this one has a hand strap on the inside cover, which is nice for one-handed use.
Price: $15
See pricing for the i-Blason Slim Folio Book Shell from Amazon.com.

Incipio's making a few different iPad Mini cases. My favorite is the LGND -- its magnetic cover folds back origami-style to form a stand. Available in a few different colors.
Price: $30
See more info and pricing for the Incipio LGND case.

If a generic hard-shell case is what you're looking for, this is it. Available in a several different colors, this one's a decent deal at $16.
Price: $16
See pricing for the iPad Mini Lightweight Hard Shell case from Amazon.com.

There's nothing fancy about the Invellop Leatherette case, but it's a slim case for a very affordable price. Nothing wrong with that.
Price: $15
See pricing for the Invellop Leatherette case from Amazon.com.

I really like The Joy Factory's SmartSuit case. It's very slim, folds up into a stand, and has the automatic sleep/wake feature. The only problem with it is that you can find similar cases that cost less (see Poetic).
Price: $37
See pricing for The Joy Factory SmartSuit from Amazon.com.

This is Kensington's slim iPad Mini case, which is similar to Apple's Smart Case but has a back cover.
Price: $35
See pricing for the Kensington Protective Cover and Stand from Amazon.com.

Another one of several "generic" cases you'll find on Amazon. The Khomo is basic and doesn't cost much. Available in a few different colors.
Price: $13 (with shipping)
See pricing for the Khomo cover from Amazon.com.

Not to be confused with Khomo, London-based Knomo, a more upscale brand, offers an elegant iPad Mini folio case in leather (a few different color options are available). This is a nice case but pretty pricey at $69.
Price: $69
See more info and pricing for the Knomo Mini Folio case.

I don't highlight a whole lot of really expensive cases, but if you are looking for a swanky premium leather case, the Mapicases Soli Leather Mini case certainly fits the bill. Mapi is known for its high-quality leather, and this case should outlast your iPad.
Available in black, brown, red, and tan.
Price: $120
See pricing for the Mapicases Soli Leather Mini iPad Case.

M-Edge brings its Incline 360 case to the iPad Mini. The case, which folds into a stand, is thicker and more protective than the M-Edge Profile, the company's thinnest iPad Mini case. But it does allow you to prop up the iPad Mini vertically or horizontally, which is important to some people.
It's available in multiple colors, and although its list price is a bit high, it should run closer to $35 when it eventually hits Amazon.
Price: $45
See more info and pricing for the M-Edge Incline 360.

Marware brings its basic folio case, the MicroShell Folio, to the iPad Mini. Available in multiple colors.

Price: $35
See pricing for the Marware MicroShell Folio from Amazon.com.

Moshi makes some nice cases for the larger iPad and it has brought them over to the iPad Mini. Similar to the Incipio LGND, the Versacover's magnetic cover folds back origami-style to form a stand. It comes in four different colors and is very slim. Alas, it's expensive, but it is one of the nicer cases out there.
Price: $50
See more info and pricing for the Moshi Versacover.

M-Edge's thinnest iPad case is also available in different colors.
Price: $40
See more info and pricing for the M-Edge Profile.

Marware's DoubleTake is a hard-shell case with a soft interior. Its cover folds back into a stand that allows you to prop the iPad Mini up in typing and video-watching positions.

Price: $55
See pricing for the Marware DoubleTake cover from Amazon.com.

The Concerti is Moshi's slim folio case. It's only available in this color (Falcon Gray).
Price: $45
See more info and pricing for the Moshi Concerti.

Another device, another tough Otterbox Defender Series case. Available in multiple colors.

Price: $34
See pricing for the OtterBox Defender Series from Amazon.com.

We're fans of Pad & Quill's handmade notebook-style cases, which are also available for the larger iPads, as well as iPhones. The entry-level Graduate Edition isn't quite as swanky as the step-up Octavo, but it's still nice.
Price: $59.99
See more info and pricing for the Pad & Quill Graduate Edition case.

The Poetic Slimline Portfolio is pretty ideal: it's slim, folds into a stand, and most importantly, it's really inexpensive at around $13 (it also has the automatic sleep/wake feature). Available in several colors. This one's a definite bargain.
Price: $13
See pricing for the Poetic Slimline Portfolio from Amazon.com.

I've included RooCase in some other case roundups, and it offers up some very affordable cases. I picked up the black version of this case on Amazon for $6 (other colors cost more). Not sure how long that will last, but it seemed like a bargain to me when I bought it.
Price: $6 to $15
See pricing for the RooCase DualStation Folio from Amazon.com.

The RooCase Ultra-Slim Folio is also a bargain at around $10 (for the black version). Other colors cost $20. Guess that extra dye costs more than you'd think.
Price: $10 to $20
See pricing for the RooCase Ultra-Slim Folio from Amazon.com.

Sena makes nice leather cases for the larger iPads (and iPhones) and it's shrinking its iPad line down for the iPad Mini.
Price: $89.95
See pricing for the Sena iPad Mini cases.

Speck's CandyShell cases, which are among the most popular for the iPhone, have now come to the iPad Mini. I prefer the Grip version slightly more to the standard CandyShell (they're both pretty pricey). While it doesn't protect the front of your iPad's screen, it's a thin case that adds very little weight or bulk to your Mini.
Available in multiple colors.
Price: $44.95
See pricing for the Speck CandyShell Grip.

Speck's made a lot of FitFolio cases for different tablets and e-readers, so it's no surprise it's available for the iPad Mini as well. I like this case a lot (my review sample is black). It's nice and trim and Speck's done a nice job with the clasp mechanism that keeps the case closed. Alas, the current version has no magnet inside that allows for automatic wake/sleep for your iPad. Apparently, that's coming this year.
Available in several different color options.
Price: $35
See pricing for Speck FitFolio from Amazon.com.

I'm kinda disappointed Speck didn't call its iGuy for iPad Mini case the iGuy Mini, but I'm sure other people will. This case was a surprise hit for the larger iPad as parents discovered they could safely hand their tablets over to small children with the iGuy on duty. Obviously not an everyday case, but one you might want to have around if you do have small children or clumsy adults.
Available in multiple colors.
Price: $29.95
See pricing for the Speck iGuy for iPad Mini.

Thin and protective, the STM Grip, which comes in multiple colors, is in my Top 5 favorite cases for the larger iPad. The company's Skinny Mini is also shipping now but it isn't quite as good.
Price: $33
See pricing for the STM Grip Mini from Amazon.com.

I liked Targus' Vuscape for the iPad 3, and now here it is for the Mini. A bit pricey at $40. Also comes in red and black.
Price: $40
See pricing for the Targus Vuscape from Amazon.com.