Nomad Modern Leather Case and Modern Folio Reviewed: Stylish Protection for Your iPad Pro

My 11″ iPad Pro is a fantastic tablet. It’s fast, light, and powerful. I use it for reading and games, but it doubles as a powerful productivity device. And now, thanks to new accessories, including the Nomad Modern Leather Case and the Modern Leather Folio, it’s even better.

Nomad continues to expand its line of accessories and recently released new cases for both the 11″ and 12.9″ 2021 iPad Pros. There’s something for everyone, and all of them promise not only to protect your iPad but to do so with the quality and “classiness” we’ve come to expect from Nomad.

Here’s a quick look at these latest Nomad releases.

Nomad Modern Leather Case

The new Modern Leather Case is a protective shell that wraps around the sides, top, bottom, and back. A simple design that snaps onto your iPad, the Modern Case is a great way to keep your iPad as light and mobile as possible while still surrounding it with layers of serious protection.

Premium leather is wrapped around a polycarbonate body. That means it not only offers multiple payers of protection, but it also gives the iPad a degree of warmth that modern electronics tend to lack. In addition, over time, the leather will develop a unique patina that makes it a one-of-a-kind case.

The Modern Leather Case has cutouts for the speakers, microphones, and camera array.

In addition, the side with the Apple Pencil “charging dock” is left open so you can carry and charge your Pencil.

That makes particular sense since this is the type of case you’ll want if you use your iPad AS A TABLET and take notes on it rather than docking it into a keyboard and using it as a laptop replacement. (I’m writing this review while using my 11″ iPad and my Brydge keyboard; this works great, but the combo is far heavier and less portable than the iPad-Modern Leather Case with iPad.)

Features include:

• Full-grain leather develops patina unique to you
• Slim construction
• Protective TPE bumper
• Apple Pencil compatible

If you are looking for a case that offers good protection to the sides and back of the iPad without adding too much weight and bulk, and you prefer to keep your iPad as “tabletesque” as possible, the Modern Leather Case is a great option. The leather is warm to the touch, ages beautifully, and thanks to its snap-on design, it is easy to insert and remove your iPad.

The Nomad Modern Leather Case starts at $99.95 for the 11″ iPad Pro, and it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Nomad Modern Leather Folio

The Modern Leather Case does a great job protecting the back, sides, top, and bottom of the 2021 iPad Pros, but it leaves the iPad’s screen unprotected.

For some, that might be a deal-breaker considering the fact that the iPad’s screen is the most vulnerable part of any tablet. And while you can purchase a glass screen protector, as I discovered when I chipped the screen on my last iPad Pro, screen protectors can only do so much.

If you share this concern, you are in luck. Nomad also released their Modern Leather Folio. And it takes protection a step further than the Modern Leather Case without adding too much weight or bulk.

The Modern Leather Folio is basically a Nomad Modern Leather Case with a leather cover reinforced by fiberglass for added protection.

The cover is divided into three panels that fold into themselves to create a kickstand for hands-free viewing and a more ergonomic typing surface if you use the onscreen keyboard.

Magnets wake the tablet up when you lift the cover and put it to sleep when you replace it.

As Nomad explains,

The Modern Leather Folio combines sleek design with functionality. Built with a high-grade polycarbonate body and a raised TPE bumper, Folio’s cover has panels of reinforced fiberglass for durable protection. Modern Folio is wrapped in premium leather that develops character with time and takes on a look unique to you. Fold Folio cover into the kickstand mode for easy reading, typing, writing and streaming.

Features include:

• Slim construction
• Protective TPE bumper
• Magnetic folio closure
• Smart wake & sleep functionality
• Apple Pencil compatible

While I like the Modern Leather Case, I LOVE the Modern Leather Folio. When the cover is in the closed position, the tablet is completely protected while still thin and light enough to carry all day.

Honestly, it looks like the classic leather folio I used to carry into staff and board meetings when closed. The Modern Leather Folio’s cutout for the Apple Pencil 2 means you can walk into a meeting looking professional and have an electronic notepad ready and waiting.

If you prefer to take notes using the onscreen keyboard, you can fold the cover in a manner that raises one end a bit, thereby providing a comfortable typing angle.

You can prop the iPad up using the cover if you are meeting over Zoom, so your hands are free while you talk. Or, if you prefer, when the meeting is over, and it is time to relax, you can prop up the iPad for hands-free viewing of videos.

The flexibility offered by the Modern Leather Folio makes it a fantastic accessory for your iPad. Like the Modern Leather Case, the leather will develop a patina over time and become a one-of-a-kind case. Starting at $149.95 for the 11 “iPad Pro, it is a pricey iPad accessory, but it’s also an investment that will outlast the iPad itself.

The Nomad Modern Leather Folio starts at $150, and it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review samples

What I Like: Excellent craftsmanship; Premium materials that protect your iPad and look great; Leather softens and gains personality over time; Designed to hold and charge Apple Pencil 2

What Needs Improvement: Pricey; Modern Leather Case doesn’t protect the iPad’s screen