Many cases for the iPad Pro add a lot of unnecessary bulk, a problem the Oxford Leather Case from Pad & Quill solves through the clever use of adhesive. Featuring a simple book-style design that offers full front and back protection, the Oxford Leather iPad Pro Case uses a strong adhesive to hold the iPad Pro firmly in place while leaving it free to be used with the Smart Keyboard.

Design

Opening a Pad & Quill product is fun because Pad & Quill excels at packaging. The Oxford Case came wrapped in a simple bit of thick brown paper, sealed with red wax and the Pad & Quill insignia. It's tasteful packaging and I always enjoy when manufacturers put a little effort into the unwrapping experience.

padandquillpackaging
Pad & Quill's Oxford Case, like many of its products, is carefully crafted by hand from high-quality leather. In this case, it's made from a single piece of full-grain bridle leather and comes in two colors: Whiskey and Chestnut. An expensive, high-quality leather pairs nicely with Apple's larger-screened tablet, and the Oxford's design looks like it will work equally well in business and casual situations.

padandquilllook
Leather like this will change and age over time, giving each Oxford case a unique, broken-in look to add personality, so that's something to keep in mind when considering this option. Inside the case, there's a softer leather to protect the iPad's screen, and there's also an interior pocket to hold papers and the Apple Pencil.

padandquillinside
I wasn't a fan of sticking the Apple Pencil inside the pocket of the Oxford because it adds a noticeable bulge in the case, but I did find it handy for the stray papers I normally keep tucked in my daily planner.

The Oxford is a folio or book-style case, which means it offers full front and back protection for the iPad Pro when it is closed. To keep it closed tight while in a bag or backpack, there's an elastic strap like one might find on a journal.

padandquillinsidewithipad
On the inside of the Oxford case, there are adhesive tabs on one side. The paper covering the tabs will need to be removed and the iPad Pro will need to be stuck to the adhesive, keeping it firmly in place. Due to the adhesive, the Oxford should be treated as something of a permanent case, not one to be removed frequently. If the adhesive does start to become less sticky after the iPad Pro is removed, Pad & Quill does sell extra adhesive.

I held my iPad Pro upside down and shook it vigorously for approximately 10 minutes and the adhesive held strong, but it's still something that has the potential to fail or degrade over time, so that's something that should be kept in mind when using this case. I wouldn't go out of my way to shake my iPad Pro or hold it upside down, even though the adhesive seems to work well.

Smart Keyboard Compatibility

The cover of the Oxford case is designed in a way that lets it work with Apple's Smart Keyboard, and I found this feature to be quite clever. At the back of the Oxford case, there's an area where adhesive is not used, which lets the iPad Pro be lifted away from the cover. From there, the case can be bent to form a stand for the iPad, which, as it turns out, is also pretty handy for watching videos.

padandquilldisplaymode
With the back over positioned as a stand, the iPad Pro's Smart Connector is free to connect to the Smart Keyboard. Connecting the Oxford to the Smart Keyboard is a matter of lining up the Smart Connector on the iPad Pro to the Smart Connector of the Smart Keyboard and then tucking the cover behind the iPad Pro.

padandquillwithsmartkeyboard
It's easy to get the Smart Keyboard connected to the iPad Pro and in the right position, and as I said before, the cover of the Oxford case itself works great as a stand when watching TV or reading in bed or with the iPad Pro on a lap. The only downside is that using the Oxford case in this way does produce a noticeable line on the back -- this didn't bother me, but it is easy to see and ruins some of the clean aesthetic of the case.

padandquillsmartkeyboardfit
Since it works as a stand, the Oxford case can also be paired with standalone Bluetooth keyboards. Having the option to use the Oxford as a stand or pair it with the Smart Keyboard was a pleasant surprise for me, and a feature that I appreciated as the iPad Pro is more of a permanent case that shouldn't be frequently removed.

padandquillbendline

Bottom Line

Given its thin size, attractive exterior, Smart Keyboard compatibility, and ability to provide total protection for the iPad Pro, the Oxford Leather Case from Pad & Quill will definitely appeal to some users who are looking for those features.

The use of adhesive is going to be a turn off for other people, positioning the Oxford Leather Case as a love it or hate it product. Holding the iPad Pro in place via adhesive is a clever way to keep it secure without adding bulk, but adhesive always has a chance of failing and it's going to prevent the iPad Pro from being removed from the case for the most part.

padandquillstanding
For someone who wants permanent all-around protection for the iPad Pro, the Oxford Leather Case is a good option. It's undeniably attractive and it's not going to add too much extra weight to the iPad. Being able to use it with the Smart Keyboard and as a stand is an added bonus.

padandquillfinal
For someone who needs more protection or wants to be able to remove their iPad Pro from its case on a regular basis, the Oxford Leather Case isn't the best choice. It's also worth noting that this isn't a stick it on and forget about it case - you're always going to want to be careful about how you pick it up due to the chance the adhesive could fail, but overall, this is a nice, slim case for the iPad Pro that has a lot going for it.

Pros:

  • Doesn't add a lot of bulk
  • Works with Smart Keyboard
  • Attractive design
  • Made from quality materials
  • Adhesive is strong

Cons:

  • iPad can't be removed often without degrading adhesive
  • There's always a chance adhesive could fail
  • Expensive

How to Buy

The Oxford Leather iPad Pro Case from Pad & Quill can be purchased from the Pad & Quill website for $129.95.

Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review.

Top Rated Comments

Max(IT) Avatar
124 months ago
Seriously? Adhesive? Seriously?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mxmgodin Avatar
124 months ago
This looks really, really great, but adhesive tape to hold the iPad? No thank you. I prefer a case from which the device can easily be swapped in and out without struggling and/or degrading the case or even the device itself.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sza Avatar
124 months ago
"adhesive tabs on one side" ... are you kidding me???
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bubba Satori Avatar
124 months ago
Look, a hipster.
I wonder if the beard and hat have adhesive tabs?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jeahsj Avatar
118 months ago
I purchased this case and absolutely love it. The leather is high quality and the construction is excellent. The adhesive tape works perfectly. Not one concern about its strength. I don't like cases where you have to slide in an iPad or click one in and have the case cover portions of the iPad. This case with my iPad Pro is so lean and thin as there is no extra material needed. So thin, it looks like a portfolio rather than an iPad. I have a full view of the iPad, both front and all sides. I am getting many compliments on the case. Glad I found it. And yes....adhesive...seriously! ;-) Works perfectly.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bronksy Avatar
124 months ago
Chewing gum included.
Genuine hipster chewing gum.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition

Thursday July 3, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's Upcoming Macs Listed in New Report

Thursday July 3, 2025 9:09 am PDT by
AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic today shared a list of alleged identifiers for future Mac models, which should roll out over the next year or so. The report does not reveal anything too surprising, but it does serve as further evidence that Apple is seemingly working on new models of every Mac, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. Apple is...