If you wanted a comfortable MagSafe-style charge on an iPad Mini, the latest Pitaka case is here for you. The new $ 79 MagEZ Case Pro for the sixth-generation iPad Mini (also known as the iPad Mini 6) has magnetic dots on the back that pass power through the iPad’s USB-C port when used with the included pad. Or you can use it with the $ 129 MagEZ charging cradle, which lifts the tablet and provides a second Qi charging point to its base for a phone or headset.
There are some drawbacks to this approach. The Pitaka case doesn’t use the built-in magnets on the back of the iPad Mini, and it blocks access to the USB-C port, leaving your magnetic pad as the only way to charge your device. Don’t forget to transfer any data over a wired connection while the case is on. The sheath itself is a stiff rubber with a carbon fiber-like fabric pattern, which should provide protection against most medium falls, but it’s not the toughest thing I’ve ever seen. It also doesn’t cover the screen like Apple’s cases, so you’ll probably want to combine it with some sort of screen saver.
The advantage is that the case allows you to carry the Apple Pencil on the right side, and there is a small accessory that grips the pen and holds it better when you throw the iPad in a bag.
The MagEZ charging cradle contains and charges the iPad Mini 6. GIF: Pitaka
Apart from these disadvantages, the MagEZ certainly fulfills the easy part of its name, as to load you just need to put the case close to the base and let the magnets do their thing. The magnetic attraction is strong and the stand will easily hold the iPad horizontally or vertically. (The stand also tilts, but has no height adjustment.)
Neither the case nor the stand includes a charging brick, and Pitaka recommends at least a 45 W USB-C power delivery brick if you want to charge your iPad and a phone at full speed while on the stand. (The base supports 7.5 W charging with iPhones or up to 15 W charging with other Qi devices.)
Still, you have to commit to wanting a magnetic charge to make this setup worthwhile, as neither the case nor the stand are especially cheap. But if this isn’t a blockchain for you, both accessories should be available starting today, May 30th.