This article was published on March 26, 2013

The Mika might be the most perfect, universal tablet stand


The Mika might be the most perfect, universal tablet stand

We’ve written a time or three about the stunning, Apple-centric products from Bluelounge. When TNW was at CES in Las Vegas back in January, we got a sneak peek at some upcoming products, including a universal tablet stand called Mika. I’ve now had a chance to properly review the stand, so it’s time to pass on the information to you.

Doing universal anything might seem like a departure for Bluelounge, but even if so it’s only a slight one. There’s no denying that the accessories have an unmistakable Apple appearance to them. The Mika is no exception to this. Though it’s billed as a universal tablet stand, it looks almost custom-made for the iPad and iPad Mini.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 10.43.24 PM

If you remember the Milo, it could easily be called the smartphone-sized sibling of the Mika. But there are some differences. Instead of the flat, micro-suction surface that the Milo uses to keep your device in place, the Mika is simply a piece of machined aluminum with rubber coating at its tips to protect your device.

Using the Mika with the iPad Mini, I was at first a bit concerned that the angle was a bit too upright. But what I quickly found was that, when sitting at my desk, it placed the tablet at a near-perfect angle to reach over, tap a few apps and then move away from it again. It’s also a great angle for reading, which I’ve found myself doing quite a lot lately.

I also questioned Bluelounge’s choice of not including the micro-suction surface on the bottom of the stand. I’m quite fond of that feature on my Milo stand, and I really thought that it needed to be on the Mika as well. But what I found was that I tend to move my iPad around with me, and having to release the Mika from my desktop (it’s a chore, as the micro-suction works really well) each time that I wanted to do so would have been a major pain. Instead, I just pick up the stand, take it to the kitchen or the dining room and place it where I want it without any hassle.

Bluelounge Mika

The size of the Mika is interesting. It’s, again, a nod to the fact that this truly is a stand that’s meant to be used with any number of devices. My iPhone 4S sits on it comfortably, a 10-inch iPad feels just at home on it. If you’ve snagged yourself a larger-screen phone, this could be the perfect desktop stand for something like the Samsung Galaxy Note II.

At around $40, it’s not cheap, but like every other Bluelounge product the build quality is definitely an example of getting what you paid for. It looks great, it’s nearly indestructible and I just keep finding more ways to use it. For less than the cost of few drinks, Bluelounge may very well have just marketed the world’s most perfect, universal tablet stand.

Bluelounge Mika

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