How Well Does the Smart Case Protect the iPad Air if Dropped?

How can anyone answer that?

Depends on so many factors. What angle the iPad lands at. What surface it is dropped onto. The exact force applied to the screen on impact.

You could drop a dozen iPads onto a floor identically, and they'd all suffer different damage ranging from none to catastrophic.

Due to its design the Smart Cover is more effective at protecting the screen from being struck or scratched by objects hitting the screen.

If you are considering dropping your iPad from chest height (or any height for that matter), I'd recommend not doing so.

Well, the front of the Smart Case is exactly the same as the front of the Smart Cover. Protection on the back won't protect the screen on the front...

I doubt you'll find many people experienced in dropping iPads from chest height. Most people try to avoid dropping their expensive gadgets at all.

As I said, every drop is different. Some will survive - some won't. Depends on circumstances (and luck).

I have the Smart Case on my iPad Air. Snozdop is right- there isn't a way to determine exactly what would happen to an iPad dropped from "chest height". As with most iPods and iPhones, having a case on them prevents damage from most accidental drops but isn't foolproof. I'm more comfortable having a full wraparound case on my iDevices and the iPad SmartCase is a good one...

Ryan

With any case the chances of damage are less, but trying to quantify that is impossible.

Personally I use a slip case while my iPad is not in use or in transit, and no case at all while in use. I have a Smart Cover but use it more as a temporary cover and stand.