Apple has introduced a new accessory to go with the iPad mini it unveiled today: the TechWoven Smart Folio, a cover that swaps the polyurethane used on earlier Smart Folios for a woven fabric.
According to MacRumors, which cited Apple's announcement, the cover costs $79 in the United States, $20 more than the previous-generation Smart Folio for the iPad mini. It will be offered in two colors, Navy Blue and Taupe, chosen to complement the new tablet's Midnight and Starlight finishes.
A first for iPad covers
The reported headline change is the material. Apple's iPad Smart Covers and Smart Folios have used polyurethane since the iPad 2 era in 2011, and MacRumors says the TechWoven Smart Folio is the first iPad cover made from woven fabric. The report also notes that no polyurethane alternative was announced alongside it, which would make the new iPad mini the first iPad in years to launch without an Apple polyurethane cover option.
Redesigned construction
The Smart Folio also changes shape. It uses a redesigned two-panel construction that attaches to the iPad mini magnetically and supports adjustable viewing angles. Apple says the new design gives the cover a greater range of motion and opens up viewing angles that earlier folios did not offer.
Pricing and availability
The Smart Folio can be pre-ordered on Wednesday, October 28, at the same time as the iPad mini, and is due to be available on Friday, November 6. Apple lists the accessory on its online store.
Context
Apple announced the iPad mini earlier today with an 8.5-inch OLED display and an A20 Pro chip, starting at $699. Covers are a common add-on for the compact tablet, and the $79 price puts the new fabric folio at a premium over the model it replaces. Apple has not said whether other iPad accessories will move to fabric materials.
Pricing and availability are as announced for the U.S.; other regions may differ.
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