Hi guys, I know we've all been looking for a good iPad case that covers the edges and accommodates wireless Apple Pencil charging. I am really pleased with this product and I'll be giving some quick initial thoughts after unboxing and installing it on my iPad.
I mainly use my iPad as a sketchbook and for editing photos on the go. I don't do a massive amount of typing on it.
The Symmetry 360 case comes in a very simple slide-out cardboard box, nothing fancy. Inside is the case, with a foam sheet installed where the iPad would be, and a piece of paper for instructions.
Build quality is very good. The grey is rather industrial looking though, and I would've loved some colour options. I would've chosen black or white anyway - equally boring options imo, so grey is alright.
Front flap is a nice smooth PU with a shallow leather-ish texture. Interior of the front flap is a velvety felt lining. The same materials are used for the flap that secures the Pencil (I love this feature!).
Edges are well protected with about 3mm of hard rubber surrounding the iPad. There's no felt lining for the edges. The rubbery material is nice and grippy, and will help prevent accidental drops. Cutouts have been provided for the 4 speakers, mic and USB-C access. The USB-C port cutout is generously wide, so using 3rd party charge cables and wired dongles are certainly possible. Note that repurposing USB-C hubs that attach flush to your MacBooks will not work on with this case due to the 3mm rubber border. Sucks because I bought a hub just like that. Power and volume buttons have a slight raise and add some resistance to being pressed. Good if you dont want them to be pushed accidentally while in the case.
The entire back is a sheet of thick polycarbonate/arcylic. I find it adds some needed rigidity to the case, and after the recent videos about how flexible these new iPads are, I'm quite happy that it adds some thickness to the profile to prevent any accidental warping. Camera cutout is good, and the back is sufficiently thick to recess the camera a little and prevent the lens from scratching should you place it flush against the table and slide it around.
Here are some photos!
Edit: I really prefer this over the Smart Keyboard folio due to the added protection. I plan to travel with this iPad quite frequently, so this case helps with 1) Edge and rigidity protection 2) not losing my Pencil in my bag. Weight-wise I'd say its similar to the Keyboard folio. Sits well on my lap. The flap does get a bit distracting when you're using the iPad since it's just, uh, flapping around, but I think it's a minor annoyance that I'll get used to. u/SackityPack pointed out below in his comment that the flap can be flipped backwards and out of the way. See the paragraph below for some example images. Will be returning the Smart Keyboard on Monday and saving some cash.
Edit #2: The pencil flap seems to be able to secure itself backwards via magnets. Very nifty! It allows some footprint reduction when using it in Sketch mode like this.