The Pitaka MagEZ Case Pro comes with a magnetic charging puck that attaches to the back. | Image: Pitaka
If youโve wanted MagSafe-style convenient charging on an iPad Mini, Pitakaโs latest case is here for you. The new $79 MagEZ Case Pro for the sixth-generation iPad Mini (aka the iPad Mini 6) has magnetic points on the back that pass power through the iPadโs USB-C port when used with the included pad. Or you can use it with the $129 MagEZ Charging Stand, which elevates the tablet and provides a second Qi charging spot in its base for a phone or headphones.
There are some downsides to this approach. Pitakaโs case doesnโt make use of the magnets built into the back of the iPad Mini, and it blocks the USB-C port from access, leaving you with the magnetic pad as the only way to charge the device. Forget about transferring any data over a wired connection while the case is on, too. The case itself is a stiff rubber with a carbon fiber-like weave pattern, which should provide protection from most average drops but isnโt the most rugged thing Iโve seen. It also doesnโt cover the screen like Appleโs folio cases, so youโll probably want to pair it with some kind of screen protector.
On the plus side, the case does allow for Apple Pencil charging on the right side, and thereโs a little accessory that grabs the Pencil and holds it in place better when you toss the iPad in a bag.
GIF: Pitaka
The MagEZ Charging Stand holds and charges the iPad Mini 6.
Those downsides aside, the MagEZ certainly lives up to the easy part of its name, as charging just requires plopping the case near the base and letting the magnets do their thing. The magnetic attraction is strong, and the stand will hold the iPad easily in either landscape or portrait orientation. (The stand also tilts, but it does not have any height adjustment.)
Neither the case nor the stand comes with a charging brick, and Pitaka recommends at least a 45W USB-C Power Delivery brick if you want to charge the iPad and a phone at full speed at the same time on the stand. (The base supports 7.5W charging with iPhones or up to 15W charging with other Qi devices.)
You do have to really be committed to wanting magnetic charging to make this setup worthwhile, though, as neither the case nor the stand is particularly cheap. But if thatโs not a blocker for you, both accessories should be available starting today, May 30th.