Review: Playful Widge stand and case makes your iPad more inviting

X-Doria’s $50 Widge iPad stand is somewhat similar to the iPhome 2 case/stand I recently reviewed, in that both are made with kids in mind. The Widge, however makes a better attempt at being aesthetically pleasing by offering a smoother, more streamlined plastic exterior, along with an almost appetizing color.

The Widge is lightweight and easy to carry thanks to a cutout handle in the back. There’s also something about the way the Widge looks and feels will likely make the kid in everyone feel good: It has an inviting, squishy feel, its fat corners makes it easy for kids (and adults) to grab on to, and it’s easy to clean.

The Widge fits tightly around your iPad (iPad 2 or newer), and at 10 by 7.7 by 3 inches in dimension, it’s conservative in the amount of space it occupies. It holds your iPad very securely, though it doesn’t accommodate an iPad in another case—or even just Apple’s Smart Cover—if you want to protect the glass, it will accommodate an on-screen cover, but that’s about it. (That’s one way in which the Widge is less versatile than the relatively homely iPhome, which lets you turn the iPad face-down to protect the glass when not in use.)

While testing the Widge at the office, I could easily grip the back to transport my iPad to meetings without having to fiddle with opening a case or stand or making any adjustments—it was just there and ready to work. The Widge offers two landscape-orientation stand angles: One is nearly vertical for screen viewing, while the other is about 30 degrees from horizontal for typing or other tasks where you’ll want to touch the screen frequently.

Speaking of positions, the Widge’s other significant limitation is that it offers no way to view your iPad in portrait orientation, a bit of inflexibility that I personally don’t miss that much, except for some sites and apps that look better when viewed vertically.

Bottom line

X-Doria’s Widge is a cheerful, child-friendly iPad stand that’s light, easy to carry, and secure. At $50, the price is a bit steep, especially for something that has less versatility than comparable products made for kids. But its eye-catching exterior will be appealing to kids and grown-ups alike.