Speck SeeThru SATIN for iPad Review: It’s Smooth As Silk

I’ve been finding myself using the “snap-on-back-cover” style of case with my iPad more and more lately. I prefer the ease at which this style case allows me access to the iPad’s screen. There’s no cover to peel back and no annoying tab to push out of the way. The Speck SeeThru SATIN case has quickly become one of my favorite cases from this genre.

The SATIN is made from a soft, grippy material. If you’re familiar with the See-Thru SATIN for the iPhone 3Gs, imagine it, just on a much larger scale. It’s fairly light-weight at 9.0 ounces and is available in three color variations, Black, Blue and Purple.

Speck doesn’t include a screen shield with the SeeThru SATIN, so if you need one I suggest ordering up one of their ShieldView film kits when you order you case. The kits each include 2 screen films that are anti-fingerprint plus a cleaning cloth.

The case isn’t the easiest to get on. Since it’s all one piece it takes some work to get your iPad properly seated inside the case. But once it’s in the you appreciate the work it took it to get there. What you get is a super form-fitting case that doesn’t flex or creak from the iPad being inside it.

The lip of the SATIN is raised resulting in a nice “lay-on-the-table” design. This means if you happen to lay your iPad face down on your desk or table the screen will stay free and clear of any debris that might otherwise come in contact with it.

The volume rocker gets covered by a rubbery material yet you still get nice feedback when you press them

On the top of the case the sleep/awake button also gets covered with the same rubbery material and offers similar feedback when depressed. The headset jack and secondary microphone get their own cutout. The headset jack is shallow enough that most headphones should fit into the port without issue.

Where this case really shines is on the back. For starters the SATIN features a flip up back panel which allows you to dock your iPad into the Apple Dock or Apple Keyboard Dock without having to remove it from the case. I prefer the flip up panel design versus some of the other iPad cases that I’ve tried which have removable panels. This is just one less piece I have to worry about loosing.

The back of the case also features a raised traction pad which not only offers an incredible amount of grip but also helps with keeping the iPad in one place when it’s on a desk or counter top. At first glance I was somewhat turned off by the back panel. But after using it a few times I was immediately struck by how useful it is. I’ve yet to come across a case for my iPad that offers a more secure grip when holding it one-handed.

The Speck SeeThru SATIN is a perfect case for use while at your home or office, or once you’ve arrived at any destination. If you plan to take your iPad out on the road you’ll probably want to invest in something to protect the screen during transport, such as a carrying sleeve. Snap-on-back-covers are functional and easy to manage but they do worry me. The minimalistic look and feel they offer is great while you’re using it but you also do need to take care of your screen when you’re not.

You can learn more about the Speck SeeThru SATIN case for the iPad or order one of your own by visiting the product page on the Speck web site located here.

MSRP : $49.95

What I Like: Awesome grip, sleek and slender fit.

What Needs Improvement: Hard to get on and off.