The A13 was provided by tomtoc for the purposes of this article and embedded video.
The A13 Defender is an inexpensive and compact way to protect your expensive laptop. For me, it’s my trusty 14″ M2 MacBook Pro, which has been with me on countless flights and slippery walks to campus than I can recall. Coming in at $28.99 on tomtoc’s website and Amazon, this sleeve is available in several sizes and colors to accommodate those who seek better protection for their laptops.
Overview
The model I have has a black exterior with a two orange highlights – just enough to give it a distinguished, yet elegant look. The tomtoc logo is orange, as well as a small tab by the outer compartment to highlight where the zipper would be placed were the compartment to be securely closed. Fortunately, tomtoc has a certain design language I like. I’ll describe it as subtle, yet elegant.
The standout feature of the A13 is the CornerArmor technology that protects the most sensitive part of laptops (as they tend to land on corners, right?). Additionally, the sleeve has passed the September 2020 Military-Standard-Drop-Test.
Specifications
- Internal Dimensions – 12.31″ x 8.71″ x 0.61”,
- External Dimensions – 13.78″ x 9.84″ x 1.57″
- Front pocket – 10.04” x 8.07”
My Experience
I use a tomtoc backpack, where I am confident I can transport my MacBook or gaming laptop without concern. But when I’m walking short distances with my laptop, and I know I don’t need much else, I like to slide it into this sleeve and head out the door. For example, I have a handful of cafes to choose from that are within 2 miles.
One of the biggest pains for me, when I travel on business, is carrying around a bag or suitcase to customer sites. This past week, on a trip to the Midwest of the USA, I did something new with this sleeve: I left most of what I traveled with in the hotel, slid my MacBook into the A3, and jumped into my Uber.
Who is this For?
If you’re looking for excellent protection for your laptop, at a surprisingly low price, you’ll love the A3 Defender. It’s made of quality materials, has various colors and sizes to choose from, and features CornerArmor technology. If you walk short distances with your laptop and you don’t want to carry a backpack, this A3 Defender is a great choice. Additionally, if you don’t want to put your laptop in your carry-on while flying, the A3 can be used to secure your laptop inside of your checked bag or suitcase.