A word of caution about third-party sleep covers

[Burblebup]

Just a word of caution for those who are using or are thinking of getting one of those Chinese third-party sleep covers for their device, the ones that have a hard plastic wrap-over back rather than magnetic. I was using one on my Sage, and was happy with it until I went to take it out and nearly ripped my device in half (I could see it beginning to open at the seam, but thanking fully was able to avert a disaster in time). The wrap-around edge fits so tightly in the Sage's groove that it acted like a lever. So either take it out carefully or go for something else. Shame, as it is a decent-enough looking cover. Anyway, I am taking the latter option and getting the official cover, expensive though it is.

[BiliBug]

The back on my knockoff case is rubber, and getting the device out is quite easy, although I would imagine doing so numerous times would lead to stretching and eventually a loose fit. However, I usually do not take my reader out of the case once I put it on. I actually love my 3rd party case. It doesn't seem to add a lot of weight, and was less than 1/3 of the price of the official case. It protects the Sage as expected, and even has a magnet to keep the cover attached to the back while open. I ordered it on eBay, but I see similar ones popping up on Amazon now at a similar price point.

My one opinioned "complaint" is that it has an origami front cover, which I don't really like and never use as a feature. I would have preferred a solid cover like the power cover. I had the official origami cover for years on my Kindle Voyage, and had the same complaint. I never used it as a stand, and found it flimsy to open.

[Burblebup]

It is well made and I like it, which is a shame, but the rim of the cover latches right in the groove between the Sage's casing and the flush screen, which is what is risky when taking it out.

[pmwt]

After many years of service, my original kobo sleep cover flaked so badly I replaced it with a 3rd party one brought from Amazon. It was much cheaper than the old one but it has one flaw. It would triggers the ereader to sleep mode whenever I fold over the front cover to the back of the device. That never happened with the kobo original.

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by pmwt

After many years of service, my original kobo sleep cover flaked so badly I replaced it with a 3rd party one brought from Amazon. It was much cheaper than the old one but it has one flaw. It would triggers the ereader to sleep mode whenever I fold over the front cover to the back of the device. That never happened with the kobo original.

That can happen when the magnet is too strong. Out of all my covers, only 1 had that problem. I folded up several layers of aluminum foil and put it inside the cover, underneath the reader, and that solved the problem. You'll have to experiment a bit how many layers you need, but the foil is very thin and isn't a problem behind the reader.

[MGlitch]

The issue I have with third party covers is the front flaps don’t always lay flat when they’re open on the back. Never had that with the Kobo covers.

[ZodWallop]

When I bought my first Kobo, the 6" Aura, I also bought the official cover. It was cute, made the Kobo look like a little hardback (though you couldn't fold the cover over). Anyway, after a short time (>1 year) the plastic frame that held the reader in place broke. And this was inside the case where it should have been taking very little punishment.

So I bought a cheap Fintie cover and it lasted as long as the Aura did.

I'll stick with third party covers, thank you very much.

[Burblebup]

Yes, that was another flaw with my 3rd party cover. It didn't always put the device to sleep properly, and drained the battery over night. I guess the magnets are a bit off. I had to always lift up the cover a little to see if it was really off. In the end, I just turned off the sleepcover mode, which was no big deal. I'm hoping the official one doesn't do this when I get it, as it doesn't have a hole at the back for the power button.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Burblebup

...the official one... doesn't have a hole at the back for the power button.

Sounds like some top-notch quality right there.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Burblebup

Yes, that was another flaw with my 3rd party cover. It didn't always put the device to sleep properly, and drained the battery over night. I guess the magnets are a bit off. I had to always lift up the cover a little to see if it was really off. In the end, I just turned off the sleepcover mode, which was no big deal. I'm hoping the official one doesn't do this when I get it, as it doesn't have a hole at the back for the power button.

I’ve got a case for my Forma and Libra 2, both from Kobo. Both sleep and wake the device to my satisfaction.

I skipped the sleep cover for the Sage hoping the power cover would 1) start being sold in the US 2) add some more oomph to the Sages battery. It’s been nearly 6 months and no sign of it being available, and those in other countries who did get it have mixed results. I’ve since picked up the aforementioned Libra 2 which I like more than I expected I would. Anyway point is I expect the Sage sleep cover will work well. They’re not doing anything new with it, and they have the whole putting to sleep/ waking up thing dialed in.

[Burblebup]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Sounds like some top-notch quality right there.

I think the idea is that one doesn't need to use the power button, as the cover puts it to sleep and wakes it up. And if you do, it is easy to take out the Sage, as it snaps in magnetically.

[Burblebup]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

I’ve got a case for my Forma and Libra 2, both from Kobo. Both sleep and wake the device to my satisfaction.

I skipped the sleep cover for the Sage hoping the power cover would 1) start being sold in the US 2) add some more oomph to the Sages battery. It’s been nearly 6 months and no sign of it being available, and those in other countries who did get it have mixed results. I’ve since picked up the aforementioned Libra 2 which I like more than I expected I would. Anyway point is I expect the Sage sleep cover will work well. They’re not doing anything new with it, and they have the whole putting to sleep/ waking up thing dialed in.

I hope so. At least it shouldn't almost rend my Sage asunder when removed. Good job it only opened a fraction and went straight back as it was, nice and tight. Not sure if I have invalidated the waterproof function, though...

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Burblebup

I think the idea is that one doesn't need to use the power button, as the cover puts it to sleep and wakes it up. And if you do, it is easy to take out the Sage, as it snaps in magnetically.

However you want to label it, it's stupid.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Burblebup

I hope so. At least it shouldn't almost rend my Sage asunder when removed. Good job it only opened a fraction and went straight back as it was, nice and tight. Not sure if I have invalidated the waterproof function, though...

The waterproofing on the Forma on forward has been a coating on the interior components of the ereader, so you should be ok. Folks here have taken the back off the Libra 2 entirely without issue.

[Burblebup]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

The waterproofing on the Forma on forward has been a coating on the interior components of the ereader, so you should be ok. Folks here have taken the back off the Libra 2 entirely without issue.

Thanks for the reassurance! That's useful to know. Just out of interest, why would anyone take the back of their Libra 2, though??? I could understand if it were an older reader, and one were trying to replace the battery...