Wait, did that drummer dude from the Beatles just release an iPad case? Actually, the answer is no. Still, if you want to get by with a little help for your iPad, then Vogel hopes to tickle your fancy with its multipurpose iPad case, the RingO (pronounced ring-“O”). The Vogel RingO is designed to be more utilitarian than your typical iPad case. But does it get the job done? Read on for our full review of the Vogel RingO for the iPad 2.
PROS
It looks good: Normally, plastic is a good way to make a cheap-looking product. But in the RingO’s case, the, um, case actually still looks nice despite not being made of something fancy like brushed aluminum. Companion attachments like the wall mount and the car mount grip look good, too.
Easy on and off: At the center of the RingO system is its ring socket, which allows you to clip it onto other attachments like the aforementioned wall and car mounts or a basic stand. Clipping stuff on and off is pretty easy, which further adds to the versatility of the device. Removing the case itself is also easy and you don’t have to worry about breaking your nails in the process.
Car mount is excellent: The car mount grip is by far the best attachment for the RingO. It’s certainly one of the nicer car mounts I’ve seen. Instead of using straps, the car mount uses a solid grip that latches onto the metal supports of the front seat head rest. Installing the grip is pretty easy once you get the hang of it . Once the grip is installed, you can just clip your iPad on and off. It would’ve been nice to have more leeway in adjusting viewing angles but it still works well overall. Just be careful when leaving it there without the tablet since little kids could smack their face into it.
Works with Smart Cover: If you’ve got a Smart Cover for your iPad 2, you can still use it to protect your tablet screen even with the RingO case attached.
CONS
It’s a bit chunky: The RingO is one of the chunkier iPad shells I’ve seen. Besides making your nice and slim iPad 2 look fatter, you also don’t get as much utility from the Apple Smart Cover since you can’t exactly use the latter as a stand with the RingO case attached.
Wonky stand: The stand attachment is OK but not as well designed as the rest of the RingO’s components. You basically get this weird looking V-stand thing going on so you can use it in either portrait or landscape mode. But you can’t adjust the angle that well and it just looks strange.
It’s pricey: Extra utility is the main selling point of the RingO but getting all those extra attachments will cost you. The All-in-One bundle (which also throws in all the attachments plus a screen protector) was retailing for about $120 at Amazon as of this review’s writing. There’s a $70 starter pack but it doesn’t have the car mount, which is pretty much the main reason most folks should get the RingO in the first place.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The Vogel RingO is a solid iPad case for folks interested in a multipurpose iPad case that can do more than just protect the back of their tablet. The extra utility comes at a cost. But for folks searching for a case that also doubles as a car mount, the RingO is worth looking into.
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