7 Best iPad Pro Cases with a Pencil Holder in 2023

Last Updated on March 24, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks

The iPad Pro is one of the top productivity and entertainment tablets around. But on its own, the tablet just doesn’t feel right. To truly enhance your experience with the iPad Pro, you need a reliable, sturdy, and attractive case. 

Oh, and if you have an Apple Pencil, then you should really consider cases with a built-in pencil holder. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Today, we’re showcasing a bunch of the very best cases with a pencil holder for the iPad Pro. 

We’ve included different types of cases with varied functionality and design. Go through the list and pick the one that suits you best! As a side note, most of the featured cases have options for all iPad Pro 12.9” and iPad Pro 11” generations. 

If it’s not mentioned, do a quick search to find the same case for your iPad Pro model.

1
1. PITAKA MagEZ Folio 2
Best Overall Case

1. PITAKA MagEZ Folio 2

  • Brand: PITAKA
  • Color: Black
  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9” (3rd – 6th Gen) / iPad Pro 11” (1st – 4th Gen)
  • Material: Polyurethane Leather 

First up, we’ve got the stellar PITAKA MagEZ Folio 2 case. What makes this case stand out is the foldable cover that has 4 different viewing angles. 

 There’s a 57° angle for video calls, a 62° angle for reading in portrait mode, a 34° angle for drawing and writing, and a 53° angle for watching movies and videos. It’s a really flexible case that you can use in many different orientations. 

 And because of the way the case folds, your iPad Pro is secure and stable. 

 The case itself is made of polyurethane leather that’s both dust and scratch resistant. It’s also skin-friendly so you don’t have to worry about rashes or abrasions. 

 For the pencil holder, there’s a magnetic clasp that securely fastens your pencil to the iPad. It can easily be detached when not holding the pencil in place, and you still have access to the iPad for charging and magnetic connection. 

 There’s no back cover since the case magnetically connects directly to your iPad. But PITAKA has a compatible case, the MagEZ Case Pro 2 that also supports the Folio 2. So you can have the best of both worlds, protection, and a cover case. 

 The only real downside to this case is the price. It’ll set you back $60 which is pretty pricey for a case. But it’s a great case with an attractive design and a very functional kickstand feature. 

I personally love to use it in bed and watch movies and sometimes on my tablet just to get a better viewing angle. 

Pros
  • 4 Different Viewing Angles
  • Magnetic Clasp for Apple Pencil
  • Lightweight & Sleek 
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Not Very Protective(in case of a drop)

     

2
2. ESR Rebound Magnetic Case
Best Slim Folio Case

2. ESR Rebound Magnetic Case

  • Brand: ESR
  • Color: Black, White, Grey, Lavender 
  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9” 6th Gen / 5th Gen / 4th Gen
  • Material: Polyurethane Leather 

If you like what you saw on the PITAKA MagEZ Folio 2, but don’t want to spend that much on a case, then the ESR Rebound Magnetic case is a great alternative. It’s cheaper and has a similar design and features. 

 The Rebound Magnetic is made of polyurethane material with a soft microfiber lining. 

 But unlike the PITAKA, this is a trifold case that can fold into 2 viewing angles. You can either bunch it up for a kickstand in landscape mode or put it down for writing mode.

 It also doesn’t have a physical cover attached to the iPad and connects with a strong magnetic attachment. But ESR claims it has a 1500g magnetic strength so it’s securely fastened and you don’t have to worry about it falling off. 

 For your Apple Pencil, since the corners of the case are open, the pencil can connect directly to your iPad. There’s a magnetic clasp that keeps the pencil in place when you close it.

 The magnetic clasp has a slit in between so you can see if the pencil is fastened or not. It’s not a huge feature, but it’s useful since you can quickly glance to check if your Apple Pencil is stored safely. 

 But as is the ‘case’ with folio style cases, it’s not the most protective. It’ll help dissipate any shock or drops but don’t expect the full protection of bulkier cases. Still, the ESR Rebound Magnetic is an attractive & sleek folio case.

Pros
  • Sleek & Trim Trifold Desing
  • Magnetic Clasp 
  • Built w/ Premium Materials
Cons
  • Not Protective
  • Can Have a Strange Smell
3
3. ZUGU Magnetic Stand Case
Most Viewing Angles

3. ZUGU Magnetic Stand Case

  • Brand: ZUGU
  • Color: Black, Blue, Red, Green, Brown, Purple
  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9” 6th Gen / 5th Gen
  • Material: TPU & PC Shell 

The ZUGU Magnetic Stand Case has a protective shell and doubles as a folio-style case. Unlike magnetically attached cases, the ZUGU case has a PC backshell to fit over the entire iPad Pro. 

 But even with the shell, the side of the iPad still supports wireless charging for the pencil. There’s a storage slot that securely fastens the pencil to the iPad while it charges. 

 And if you want more secure storage for your pencil, on the back, there’s a pencil pocket. This case has two great options to store your pencil securely, so it’s a plus for the ZUGU case. 

 The rest of the case is made of a ‘rugged TPU’ and has a microfiber lining. On the back, there are a few slits that act as air vents to cool down your iPad. 

 Where the case truly shines, though, is the magnetic kickstand. There are 10 different viewing angles you can position the kickstand in. You can easily adjust the viewing angle by simply moving the kickstand into one of the 10 slots. 

 This is the most adjustable viewing angle we’ve seen, so if flexibility is what you’re looking for, check this one out.

 Plus, the magnets on the back of the case are really powerful. You can even mount your iPad Pro on metal surfaces for easy browsing. 

 There’s a lot to love with the ZUGU case. It’s got everything covered; multiple viewing angles, drop and bump protection, wireless charging access for the Apple Pencil, and a sleek design. 

 The only downside is the price. The case will cost you up to $90 depending on the color. It is expensive, but honestly speaking, this case can do a lot that other cheaper cases simply can’t. 

Pros
  • 10 Viewing Angles 
  • Powerful Magnets 
  • 2 Ways to Store the Apple Pencil
Cons
  • Very Expensive
  • Bulky for a Folio Style Case
4
4. SUPCASE UB Pro
Most Durable Case

4. SUPCASE UB Pro

  • Brand: SUPCASE 
  • Color: Black, Red, Blue
  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9” 6th Gen / 5th Gen / 4th Gen
  • Material: TPU & PC Hardshell

The SUPCASE UB Pro is the case for people who need something that can take a hit. It’s an incredibly durable case that is made with multiple layers for extra shock resistance.  

 It’s also MIL-STD 810G-516.6 certified so you can be assured of its drop protection.

 This comprises a PC hard shell on the exterior, and a flexible TPU to cover the iPad Pro. The multi-layer design helps protect your iPad from both bumps and drops. But the UB Pro takes things a step further with a built-in screen protector. 

 The screen protector attaches to the front of the iPad not only protects the screen but the front corners too. There’s also a convenient cutout to magnetically connect the Apple Pencil and store it safely. 

 The UB Pro also has a built-in kickstand so you’re not missing out on viewing angles when watching videos or movies. Plus, the case also covers up the ports which protect the tablet against dust and water. 

 This case is a tank that will protect your precious iPad Pro against anything short of a nuclear bomb. But the downside is, your sleek and trim iPad Pro is now in a bigger, bulkier form factor.

 It’s the price you have to pay for protection. If you really need heavy-duty durability though, this is one of the best options available. 

Pros
  • Top Tier Durability & Protection
  • Built-in Kickstand
  • Space for Apple Pencil Storage
Cons
  • Bulky & Heavier Than Other Cases
  • Screen Protector is Plastic
5
5. CHESONA Keyboard Case
Best Keyboard Case

5. CHESONA Keyboard Case

  • Brand: CHESONA
  • Color: Black, Gray, Rose Gold, Blue
  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9” 6th Gen / 5th Gen / 4th Gen / 3rd Gen
  • Material: Twill & TPU Leather

Next up, we’ve got the CHESONA keyboard case. This is one of the few options for keyboard cases that actually feature a built-in pencil holder. While the sides of the case aren’t exposed, you can still use the wireless charging for the Apple Pencil.

 This isn’t your standard folio case and actually features a removable Bluetooth keyboard. This makes it way easier to work with the iPad Pro and impressively enough, the keyboard even has a function keys row. 

 There’s also an option for a keyboard with a trackpad and backlit keys that’s slightly more expensive. 

 The case itself is made of an anti-fingerprint twill material and TPU leather. It doesn’t attach magnetically and has a separate back case to fit the iPad Pro into. This makes it more durable and protective since it’s covering the whole iPad. 

 There are 3 different viewing angles in the case can position in. It’s not the most flexible in terms of viewing angle, but it gets the job done. 

 All in all, the CHESONA keyboard case is a sleek and functional case. And since there’s a separate TPU shell to fit the iPad into, it’s more protective than thinner folio cases. 

Pros
  • Includes Bluetooth Keyboard
  • Protective TPU Shell
  • Apple Pencil Wireless Charging Support
Cons
  • Keyboard can feel Small for Some
  • Inflexible Viewing Angles
6
6. ZtotopCases Leather Case
Best Leather Case with Pencil Holder

6. ZtotopCases Leather Case

  • Brand: ZtotopCases
  • Color: Black, Blue, Brown, Denim Black
  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9” 6th Gen / 5th Gen / 4th Gen
  • Material: PU Leather & Microfiber Lining

If you were looking for a classy, leather case for your iPad Pro, the ZtotopCases leather case is a great option. The outer casing uses premium PU leather that looks and feels great.

 The case attaches to the iPad Pro with a hard PC backplate. It doesn’t cover the entire iPad and attaches only to the corners. But since it doesn’t cover the whole iPad, it isn’t as protective as other cases. 

 With the exposed sides though, you can still magnetically attach your Apple Pencil to the iPad. To store your pencil, the case has a stylus loop to keep it in place. But we will say that it isn’t as secure as other cases since it’s just a small loop.

 There are 3 viewing angles you can place the case in but similarly to the CHESONA keyboard case, the angles aren’t that different. They’re almost the same angles and don’t give you much room to position your iPad differently. 

 But a unique feature of this case is the built-in hand strap on the rear. This lets you put your hand through the strap to hold your iPad with one hand. It’s way easier to use your iPad one-handed when you have something secure to hold onto.

 There’s also a fairly spacious pocket that can fit some cash, bills, documents, and other papers. Though based on experience, this pocket may loosen over time so we wouldn’t recommend putting very valuable documents or a lot of cash in it. 

 Overall though, this is a great leather case that has all the bells and whistles you’d expect. We wish the tiny stylus loop was a little more secure, but otherwise, it’s a solid leather case. 

Pros
  • Built-in Hand Strap & Doc Pocket
  • Premium Feel & Design
  • Affordable Price
Cons
  • Stylus Loop isn’t as Secure 
  • Limited Viewing Angles
7
7. DTTOCASE Clear Case
Best Clear Case with Pencil Holder

7. DTTOCASE Clear Case

  • Brand: DTTOCASE
  • Color: Black, Blue, Red, Brown, Purple, Gold, Orange, Gray, Green, Yellow, Pink
  • Compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9” 6th Gen / 5th Gen / 4th Gen / 3rd Gen
  • Material: TPU

Last up, we’ve got the DTTOCASE Clear Case. 

 Not only is it a great clear case, but it also has the most color options on the list. There’s a wide variety of colors and shades to choose from. If you wanted something brighter than the usual black case, this is a great option.

 The case itself is made of three layers consisting of a soft TPU shell, a PU leather cover, and a clear PC backplate. The case fits over the entire iPad and doesn’t use any magnetic attachment. 

 As an added protection, the case comes with a camera protector cover that protects the camera array. A great bonus that most other cases don’t have. In terms of protection, this is a solid case that has decent drop and scratch protection. 

 On the corner of the iPad, there’s a slot for your Apple Pencil. 

 The interior is exposed so you can still use wireless charging for your pencil while it’s securely fastened. At the rear of the pencil slot, there’s a cutout so you can quickly tell if your pencil is there or not. 

 The case is a trifold case so you’re limited to two different viewing angles. It’s not much, but good enough for most people. 

 As a whole, we think this clear case is a great bargain. There’s a lot of different colors to choose from, there’s solid protection all-around, and you can still use magnetic wireless charging for the Apple Pencil. 

 The only problem we have with clear cases is the ‘clear’ part itself. It’s a definite looker since you can see the premium iPad Pro finish, but these kinds of cases tend to scratch easily. 

 By the end of the first month, you’ll notice micro-scratches on the case. It isn’t a deal breaker, but it does get annoying if you’re the type to fixate on even the smallest scratches. If that doesn’t bother you though, try this one out.

Pros
  • 3-Layer Protection w/ Camera Cover
  • Apple Pencil Wireless Charging Support
  • Plentiful Color Options
Cons
  • Clear Cases Can Get Scratched Over Time
  • Kickstand Can Feel Flimsy

Is it Okay to Use the iPad Pro Without a Case? 

It’s not illegal to use the iPad Pro without a case, but honestly speaking, you might be limiting how you can use the tablet. These days, a case doesn’t just protect your tablet from bumps, drops, and scratches

It’ll still give you a good amount of protection, but they do more than that. 

Like the cases we’ve featured today, they come with convenient features like a pencil holder that takes the fuss out of storing your pencil. Some cases don’t have access to the side of the iPad Pro which the pencil magnetically attaches to.

So they solved the problem by giving you a spot to place the Apple Pencil. It’s not as intuitive as simply attaching it, but it works. 

Another big reason to use a case is the built-in kickstand

Most cases have some sort of ability to fold the case or a kickstand so it can be propped up. This makes it much more convenient to use the iPad Pro when watching movies and videos, for FaceTime calls, or for drawing/writing notes

There are usually multiple viewing angles you can position the case which makes it super convenient to use the tablet. It transforms your one-dimensional tablet into a comfortable viewing and drawing/writing experience.

Not to mention keyboard cases that turn your tablet into a compact laptop. 

The iPad Pro is built sturdily and durable enough to be used without a case. But in reality, the iPad Pro is an expensive piece of tech. You should consider protecting it with a case to mitigate untimely drops or scratches

Plus, it gives you plenty of more ways to use the tablet. What’s not to love? 

Do All iPad Pros Fit the Same Case?

Unfortunately, for the iPad Pro 12.9”, only the 5th Gen and 6th Gen cases are interchangeable. The 5th Gen iPad Pro and the latest 6th Gen iPad Pro have the exact same dimensions, so you can fit older 5th Gen cases on the new iPad Pro.

Alternatively, the 3rd Gen iPad Pro 12.9” and 4th Gen iPad Pro 12.9” have the same dimensions and cases are interchangeable. But the 3rd Gen iPad Pro 12.9” has a single rear camera so it might look weird even if it fits into the case.

This is the same for the 1st Gen iPad Pro 12.9” and 2nd Gen iPad Pro 12.9” both of which have the same dimensions. But again, the 2nd Gen iPad Pro 12.9” includes a flash for the camera. 

Using a 1st Gen case on a 2nd Gen iPad Pro will cover up the flash. It’ll still fit, but it isn’t exactly the same camera layout. 

To make it easier to understand, here’s the breakdown of which iPad Pros have the same dimensions – 

  • iPad Pro 12.9” 6th Gen & 5th Gen 
  • iPad Pro 12.9” 4th Gen & 3rd Gen
  • iPad Pro 12.9” 2nd Gen & 1st Gen

The iPad Pro 12.9” 4th Gen doesn’t have the same thickness as the 5th Gen and 6th Gen iPad Pro 12.9”. While theoretically, it could fit into the same case, it’s not as secure and it might end up falling out of the case. 

We advise buying the right case for the right Generation iPad Pro.

But there is a caveat here as some manufacturers have created the cases with compatibility in mind. For example, many magnetically attached cases are compatible even with older-generation iPad Pros. 

Refer to the product description to see exactly which iPad Pro generations are compatible.

Luckily, this is not the case for the smaller iPad Pro 11”. The 11” iPad Pro has the same exact dimensions for the following generations – 

  • iPad Pro 11” 4th Gen
  • iPad Pro 11” 3rd Gen
  • iPad Pro 11” 2nd Gen

The 1st Gen iPad Pro 11” has the exact same dimensions as the newer iPad Pros, but it has a single rear camera. It will fit into newer cases, but since there’s only one camera module, it’ll look a little strange. 

Does the Apple Pencil fall off iPad Easily?

In most cases, the Apple Pencil is securely fastened if it’s on a stable surface without anything touching the pen. The magnetic connection is strong enough to keep it stuck to the iPad Pro even if you’re moving around. 

However, if the Apple Pencil happens to hit or touch anything with enough force, it will fall off. So it’s not the best setup to keep the Apple Pencil magnetically attached to your iPad Pro and just shove it into a bag. 

It will most likely come undone and fall into your bag. 

If you’re just holding the iPad and attaching the pencil to the side while it’s stationary, there shouldn’t be any problems. But the magnetic attachment isn’t 100% secure so it can fall off at times. 

That’s a major reason we recommend a case with a pencil holder. It’s more convenient, and secure, and you don’t have to worry about it accidentally falling off. 

Verdict 

There are just so many great cases to choose from for the iPad Pro and we’ve mentioned just a few of our favorites. Before you choose one though, you should figure out how much you want to spend on a case. 

You might think it’s not worth the extra cash, but premium cases are actually worth it. They tend to have the best feel, durability, and features. That said, there’s nothing wrong with owning more than one case.

Shop around and try different cases to find the right one for you. Luckily, Apple’s products are the most widely supported devices in terms of accessories so you’re never out of options!

ProductTitleRating
1. PITAKA MagEZ Folio 2Best Overall Case10
2. ESR Rebound MagneticBest Slim Folio Case9.9
3. ZUGU Magnetic Stand CaseMost Viewing Angles9.8
4. SUPCASE UB ProMost Durable9.7
5. CHESONA Keyboard CaseBest Keyboard Case9.6
6. ZtotopCases Leather CaseBest Leather Case9.5
7. DTTOCASE Clear CaseBest Clear Case9.4

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Best iPad Pro Cases Compatible with Magic Keyboard

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I love tech and all about it. I'm interested in finding ways how they can make my life more productive, and I share my knowledge with my blog readers. I'm an iPad Pro, iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch user, so I know a thing or two about these devices and try to write helpful content around these topics.