Using an iPad Air in the Bath: Why I Switched From a Waterproof Case to a Wall-Mounted Holder

This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.

Quick take

I tried keeping my iPad Air in a rugged waterproof case full-time, but it made the iPad heavy and less responsive. Now the iPad lives in a slim everyday case, and I only drop it into a waterproof holder mounted on the bathroom wall when I take a bath. For watching video in the bath, that works much better.

iPad Air in a waterproof holder on a bathroom wall — The holder on my bathroom wall, with a small Bluetooth speaker

What I tested

A wall-mountable waterproof tablet holder for tablets up to 11 inches and 15 mm thick
My previous rugged, always-on waterproof case for the iPad Air
11-inch iPad Air in a slim case with a glass screen protector
A dunk test with both cases

What I found

The always-on case didn’t work for me. Touch response got worse, it was awkward to use, and with the iPad it weighed over 700 g.
Easy wall mounting. It was the only holder I found with a magnetic base — many bathroom walls in Japan are magnetic. You can also use an adhesive pad, adjust the angle with the arm, or stand it on its legs. On my slightly textured wall the magnet held firmly.
Plenty of room. My iPad Air in its case (9.7 mm) fitted easily, despite some reviews saying 11-inch tablets are a tight fit.
Some compromises. Touch near the bottom edge and the unlock swipe are a little less responsive, there is some glare, and you can’t press the volume buttons — set the volume first or bring a waterproof speaker. Build quality feels a bit cheap, but it cost about ¥4,000 at the time of recording.
Splash-proof, not submersible. In the dunk test the rugged case stayed completely dry, while a little water got into the holder even when closed. Shower splashes are fine; don’t drop it in the tub.
The holder alone weighs about 660 g, which doesn’t matter for something that stays on the wall. I later switched from the magnet to the adhesive pad because it is less visible.

Side-by-side comparison

	Rugged waterproof case (always on)	Wall-mounted holder (bath only)
How you use it	Stays on the iPad	iPad goes in only for the bath
Dunk test	No water got in	A little water got in
Weight	Over 700 g with the iPad	About 660 g for the holder alone
Touch	Less responsive	Bottom edge and unlock swipe slightly less responsive

Who it’s for

People who want to watch video on an iPad in the bath but keep it light the rest of the time
Bathrooms with magnetic walls
Not for using the iPad in the water or for lots of precise touch input