Case Logic iPadW-101 Water Resistant iPad Case Review

Case Logic's iPadW-101 water resistant iPad case won't save your iPad if you drop it in deep water, but for keeping moisture off your tablet, or using the iPad in special circumstances, it's a great bet. I wouldn't use it as my primary iPad case, but for potentially wet situations, it would be great to have on hand.

The iPadW-101 water resistant case solves one of the major obstacles for book lovers like me who want to transition more of their reading to ebooks: how to read in the bath tub. Right now, physical books continue to win out for me because they can take some steam, or moisture from my finger, or even a drop in the tub without catastrophe (at worst I lose a $25 hardcover). I'm just not willing to risk water damaging my iPad in the bath. Now I don't have to.

That's because the iPadW-101 successfully protects the iPad from moisture (crucially, it doesn't protect against full submersion--it's not waterproof--but it's good enough for my uses).

Double Protection

Unlike many cases that close once, the iPadW-101 achieves water resistance by having two seals to keep the moisture out. Both are at the top of the case and function like very heavy-duty ziplocks--in fact the entire case is like a very heavy duty ziplock bag. Slip the iPad in, zip both seals, close the Velcro top, and you're good to go.

In my testing, I didn't find any traces of moisture seeping into the case, nor did any condensation accumulate inside the case in a steamy room.

Sensitive Screen

While it would be easy to create a water-resistant case that obscured the iPad's screen, the iPadW-101 manages to both protect and let you use the iPad at the same time. That's because the case is made from a transparent material that doesn't interfere with the iPad's touchscreen. While the screen isn't as responsive as without the case, I didn't encounter any serious issues while playing games, browsing the web, or reading ebooks.

A Couple of Challenges

That's not to say that everything's perfect with the case. For one, the tight fit and thick construction make it hard, though not impossible, to access the iPad's volume and hold buttons. It also covers the headphone jack (though playing audio through the case is fine) and dock connector, so you'll have to remove the iPad from the case in order to sync it.

Removing the iPad can also be a minor challenge. The case is a bit tight, and the seals powerful, so it's not always a smooth process. This isn't a major issue, but it's worth knowing about.

Conclusions

Given its drawbacks and specialized purpose, I don't think I'd recommend the iPadW-101 as an everyday iPad case. However, it makes a great secondary case for those of us who like to read in the tub or for people who need to use the iPad outdoors for work and need to be ready for any weather condition.

Thanks to its affordable price, using the iPadW-101 as a second case for specialized purposes seems very reasonable.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.