Okay Geek Farm
Incipio NGP case for iPad (3rd generation) review
Jason Tsay
The third generation iPad may look the same as the iPad 2, but it is actually a couple of millimeters thicker. As a result, accessory manufacturers have had to tweak all of their designs to accommodate the new dimensions. The NGP is one of Incipio’s new offerings for Apple’s tablet; how does it fare?
Features
- High-density polymer provides excellent shock absorption for your device
- Dense material protects against accidental drops and dings
- Standard protection guards your device against daily wear and tear
- Complete access to all ports and controls while maintaining full-coverage protection
Our Impressions
The NGP comes in a standard Incipio plastic box alongside a clear screen protector, polishing cloth, and application squeegee.
First of all, what does NGP stand for? Not to be confused with Sony’s codename for the PS Vita, NGP stands for “next generation polymer.” Put simply, it’s a fancy name for the hard plastic/silicone hybrid material that the NGP is made of.
Because the NGP is made of, well, NGP, it has certain properties that in theory, combine the best of both worlds in hard cases and silicone ones. While this material isn’t as flimsy and flexible as silicone, it is more malleable than hard plastic. What are the benefits of this? Well, you get better drop protection and feel. In case you’re wondering, we did inadvertently put the drop protection to the test. Just moments after putting on the case, we dropped our iPad from a couple of feet on carpet. Although we can’t say the same for any surface more rigid, our iPad walked away unscathed, giving a little bounce on impact. The case feels relatively rigid and definitely very durable. The slight amount of flex allowed us to easily plop our iPad in. Fit and finish is very good with the NGP. The surface of the case feels very good to the touch and the case is manufactured precisely for the third generation iPad.
We received the grey version of the NGP and in our opinion, it’s the best looking one. It has an opaque and frosted texture all around, which enables you to see the Apple logo and other print on the back. The blend with the aluminum back is incredibly slick and nice to look at.
The NGP doesn’t add much thickness to the iPad and actually makes it slightly more comfortable to hold, ridding the tablet of its sharp edges in favor of slightly more rounded and rubberized ones. The case subtlely curves around the edge of the iPad so you will have no problem holding the tablet by the bezel or accessing the home button. This design also allows you to lay your iPad on a table without scratching the screen. Cutouts for the headphone jack, microphone, orientation lock/mute switch, dock connector, speaker, and camera are all adequately sized and properly fitted. The sleep/wake button and volume buttons are covered with the hybrid material and molded precisely. While the tactile feedback of these buttons decrease, this was no doubt a compromise made in favor of protection, which is a decision we’re happy with.
Overall
Overall, the Incipio NGP has to be my favorite case for the new iPad. Personally, I have yet to see an iPad case that I truly like but the NGP changes that - it just does so many things right so simply. Without adding too much thickness, the NGP adds protection using a fantastic hybrid material. On top of that, a screen protector is included. We could not recommend the NGP more, especially at the perfectly reasonable $30 price tag.
Pro’s
- great protection
- easy access to all ports
- improved ergonomics
Con’s
- buttons lose tactility
Where to buy
Incipio — MSRP: $29.99
