Compatibility Guide For iPad Cases
Buying a case for your iPad— or a Zugucase iPad Mini case— can sometimes seem incredibly complicated. Apple’s naming system doesn’t lend itself to the easy organization, and there’s no simple way of knowing whether what fits one model might possibly fit another. Here’s what you need to know about iPad cases compatibility and whether your new iPad can fit into an old case you have lying around— or whether you need to go and buy a new one.
iPad Mini Case Compatibility
Let’s start with Apple’s littlest lineup— the iPad Minis. These little tablets are all about the same size, and all but the last version sported a 7.9-inch screen. That said, there are differences!
The iPad Mini, Mini 2 and Mini 3 can all interchange cases. There’s no size difference between them worth mentioning, and they’ve all got cameras, ports, and microphones in the same spots.
The iPad Mini 4 saw some serious redesigns, so don’t expect it to fit in an older case. Thinner, lighter, and just a bit bigger, it requires a more modern case built on its own specifications. iPad Mini 5 is almost like the 4, but there’s just one difference— the back microphone changed position. On the iPad Mini 4, it’s right by the camera lens. On the Mini 5, it’s right in the middle of the back. What that means is if you put an iPad Mini 4 case on a Mini 5, your back microphone will be obstructed and the sound muffled.
What about the iPad Mini 6? The 2021 iPad Mini got a bigger screen size— now 8.3 inches on the diagonal— and is taller and narrower than other iPad Minis. So if you’ve got the newest iPad, you’ll have an excuse to go shopping for a new iPad Mini case— one made just for the sixth generation.
iPad Air Case Compatibility
The story of the iPad Air is similar to that of the Mini. For the first three reiterations, the size basically matched. The iPad Air and iPad Air 2 can all fit into the same case, so even a device upgrade doesn’t necessitate a new cover. After that, though, you’ll need model-specific covers.
While the first two iPads sported a 9.7-inch display, the iPad Air 3 bumped that up to 10.5 inches. The screen on the iPad Air 4 and 5 went up to 10.9 inches and there are subtle differences in size between those two models. The newer version is a tenth of an inch taller and wider, so if your case is flexible enough to handle that, you might be able to use it with both.
There are a few other case cross-overs that sometimes work: a 1st generation iPad Air can often fit into a case designed for the 5th and 6th standard iPad, and the 3rd generation Air can fit into the iPad Pro 10.5 case. In spite of all that’s new on the market, Apple does sometimes reuse sizes between product lines!
iPad Pro Case Compatibility
The iPad Pro has come in a wide variety of sizes, which makes case compatibility more complicated than ever. There are five generations of the 12.9-inch iPad, and three of the 11-inch. Then there’s also a 9.7 iPad Pro, and even a 10.5-inch version.
Obviously, you’re not going to be putting a 9.7-inch iPad Pro case on a 10.5 iPad, or a 12.9-inch case on the 11 inch. But are all the cases of the 12.9 inch interchangeable? This is not a simple yes or no question; the dimensions have changed, but not by a whole lot. If you’ve got a flexible case, it’s likely you can use it interchangeably. If your case is rigid and tight-fitting, you may want to get one just made for your model.
For instance, the 5th generation 12.9 inch iPad Pro turns out to be just 0.5 mm thicker than the 4th generation model. Half a millimeter isn’t much any way you look at it— and you’ll still be able to fit an old case on— but it won’t be as snug as it fits on your 4th generation iPad Pro.
The iPad Pro 12.9 first and second generation, though, are really interchangeable. After that, you’re better going with a separate case for each model. The first-generation iPad Pro 11 case won’t be a good fit for the second or third generation, but those two are interchangeable.
iPad Case Compatibility
The standard iPad line has also had its evolutions over the years, and an up-to-date model doesn’t look much like the first edition we saw way back when. But there has been a little more consistency with sizes here. The fifth and sixth-generation iPad have the same dimensions, and a case designed for one will be compatible with the other. In the same way, the 7th, 8th, and 9th generation models all share equivalent sizing and can use the same cases.
Finding Your iPad Model
If you aren’t sure which generation iPad you have, none of this information will be very useful to you. Luckily, it’s easy to find it out— all you have to look up the model number, then type it in a search box like this one on the Zugucase website.
To find your model number, flip your iPad over and look at the small text under the big word “iPad”. Line one just tells you the iPad was designed by Apple in California and assembled in China. Line two should read “model”, and right after that comes your model number, beginning with the letter A. That model number is what tells you exactly which iPad you’ve got, and whether it’s a Wi-Fi only version or one which supports 3G. As an example, the 9.7 iPad Pros all have model numbers A1675, A1674, and A1673.
Which iPad are you case shopping for, and will you need an exclusive case built for just your model or have been able to use a case over several generations? We’d love to hear about your experiences.
