It features built-in silicone straps, a detachable cover, a removable stylus strap, and more.
The iPad mini case will be available for $70 starting in July. An iPad Air 11 case is also on the way.
Last year, I bought a Kindle accessory on a whim, and it changed how I read for good. This year, the same company that makes my favorite Kindle accessory just dropped a new gadget at CES 2026 -- and I've been wishing it into existence for a while.
Strapsicle is the brand behind a set of silicone e-reader straps designed to pop over the corners of several popular devices, including Kindle and Kobo, creating a secure, ergonomic, and custom hold for reading at any angle.
I loved my Kindle Paperwhite straps so much that I acquired multiple sets, continue to use them every time I read, and I have even converted some of my coworkers, like Maria Diaz, into buying their own set. In April 2025, Strapsicle even earned a ZDNET Editors' Choice award for ingenuity and value.
Strapsicle's flagship e-reader straps.
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
What makes Strapsicle's design stand out is the way you can slide your hand under either strap and read from any position. There's no fussing about where to stick a grip or worrying about adding bulk with a clunky case. Strapsicle is an excellent accessory for those with dexterity or mobility issues, or in my case, a great way to keep my face safe from accidental drops.
Plus, the accessory costs under $25 -- a great value investment that remains one of my favorite products I've tested in my time at ZDNET. My Kindle Paperwhite is never without Strapsicle straps, and I've been asked about the gizmo nearly every time I've been on a flight since using them. This year, the e-reader accessory was the perfect stocking stuffer for my BookTok family and friends, and it's easily become one of my most recommended items.
In my initial review, I highlighted how much I'd like to see Strapsicle release accessories for the iPad lineup. I can't say the idea came from me, but I'll take the nod that the brand unveiled an iPad mini accessory this week as a fun happenstance. I'm sadly not at CES, but I asked my manager (and ZDNET's advice managing editor), Alison DeNisco Rayome, to check out what's new.
The new iPad mini case
Strapsicle claims its new iPad mini case is the world's first to feature built-in silicone straps, designed for prolonged comfort and accessible reading. An iPad Air 11 case is also planned for 2026.
Strapsicle detailed in its press release that an estimated 55 million-plus Americans suffer from chronic pain from mobility issues or other ailments, such as arthritis. These types of problems can make holding certain tech products like phones and tablets a challenge, especially for more susceptible individuals, including seniors, young children, and those with disabilities.
Strapsicle's iPad case is designed to combat this challenge, while offering the same secure and comfortable hold of the brand's flagship Kindle straps. Ideally, this case becomes an excellent tool for those using their iPad to read, create, and more.
The built-in grips on the new Strapsicle iPad mini case.
Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET
"While the iPad mini and iPad Air are incredibly powerful and portable mobile devices, their initial design wasn't intended for hours of comfortable holding while reading," said Ben Stainlay, co-founder and head of product for Strapsicle, in the brand's CES release.
"With the Strapsicle iPad mini Case, we've created a solution for customers [who] are increasingly using their iPad mini for reading, that feels like a natural extension of your hands -- secure, flexible, and designed for real people and real use."
Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET
Key features of the new case include built-in silicone straps for one-handed or two-handed use, a detachable cover, a removable Apple Pencil strap, and interchangeable straps that allow users to mix and match colors as desired. Strapsicle says the interchangeable, integrated straps help provide pen-hand support, neutral hand and wrist posture, and low muscle load.
The Strapsicle iPad mini case will be available through retailers worldwide starting July 1, 2026, for a retail price of $70. I don't own an iPad mini, but I'll be counting down the days until I can outfit my iPad Air 11 with a Strapsicle case and ditch my current daily driver.
