Verdict

Pros

• Versatile stand
• Good construction quality

Cons

• A bit expensive

National pride is a tricky subject for many residents of the United Kingdom. It’s perhaps worst for the English, viewed by many Europeans as being devoid of historical culture in a way that shoves being happy to be of a country all-too close to more harmful nationalistic behaviour. However, we should probably just get over ourselves and get on with it. Can do? Perhaps the Tuff-Luv Union Jack iPad 2 case is for you.

Using a standard folio design, the Tuff-Luv Union Jack iPad 2 case offers near full-body protection for your tablet, leaving just two of its edges a little exposed to grit and grime.

The Union Jack print is laid upon a light-padded faux-leather surface. Extra padding helps to give a near-leather softness effect, but close attention does reveal its pleather truth. It’s slightly tacky to touch, in a way that fine grain leather isn’t but in comfort terms, it’s a minor distinction.

The print choice was never going to be the height of class and distinction, but Tuff-Luv’s take on the flag design is good. White areas are slightly off the pure white tone, softening the look a little, and the popper-adorned red strap across the front suits it perfectly. It’s a bit more mod chic than Geri Halliwell circa 1997, although we imagine Spice Girls obsessives will be satisfied too.

The natty poppers aren’t there just to look black and shiny, either; they add stand functionality. They join up with a popper’d triangular flap on the back to offer five different degress of tilt.

This triangular part is semi-rigid, giving the stand good strength. Pushing down with the iPad 2 inside, it can clearly take a lot more weight than just the tablet itself. But we’re here to review, not destroy, so we gave it a rest after a few weighty prods.

One part we’re not entirely convinced by is the flap to secure the tablet inside. A Velcro flap sits over the leatherette screen surround. It’s strong enough to do the job, but seems an unnecessary visible element when the rest of the case is quite neat. Other folio designs use a flap that snakes under the iPad 2.

There are few complaints to make about the quality of construction of the Tuff-Luv case. The stitching is even and tidy, and the only manufacturing defect we spotted was a slight smear of the flag’s red in one spot. However, now that the iPad 2 is entering its twilight years, £35 feels like a lot of money for a case made of inexpensive faux-leather. Search for long enough and you’ll find a genuine leather case for less cash (granted, not one with the Union Jack splashed across it), offering greater durability and comfort.

Verdict
Solid construction and neatly-applied extras help to mitigate for the “loud and proud” design of Tuff-Luv’s Union Jack iPad 2 case. However, at £35 it seems rather expensive for what’s a slightly above-average faux-leather case. You’re paying a little extra for the design here, so make sure you care about having that flag surrounding your iPad.

Trusted Score