One of the best iPad equipment could make an getting older pill really feel like new once more, or offer you further methods to make use of that new slab you simply purchased. Whether or not it is a slim folio case, an Apple Pencil, a docking station or a paper-like display screen protector, there are such a lot of iPad equipment on the market that may remodel how you employ your pill regularly — and make your iPad last more, too. We have examined a plethora of equipment over time, and these are the perfect iPad equipment you may get proper now.
Fast Overview
Desk of contents
Which iPad era do you personal?
Earlier than you splurge on a bunch of equipment, it’s best to double examine which iPad generation you personal. There are a few methods to do that: first, you possibly can examine the again of your pill for its mannequin quantity, which is able to begin with an “A” and finish with a sequence of numbers. You too can go into Settings in your iPad, then Basic and search for the mannequin quantity within the high part. Should you see a sequence of letters and numbers with a slash (“/“) in it, simply faucet that to disclose the iPad’s true mannequin quantity.
An important iPad particulars to think about earlier than shopping for equipment are the charging port, display screen measurement and Apple Pencil compatibility. Most iPads now have USB-C charging, save for the now discontinued Ninth-gen iPad that also requires a Lightning cable. Make sure that to double examine your iPad’s display screen measurement earlier than shopping for a folio for iPad or a display screen protector — particularly you probably have the brand new iPad Air 11-inch. As for the Apple Pencil, try this information to how to choose the right Apple Pencil (and even substitute pencil suggestions) to be sure to’re getting the proper one for the pill you will have.
Greatest iPad equipment for 2026
iPad circumstances
Otterbox is an knowledgeable on the subject of safety, as seen with their telephone circumstances, however its Symmetry Series 360 series reveals that it has design chops, too. Symmetry circumstances look just like the Apple’s Sensible Cowl, however the clear, scratch-resistant again is sturdy with out including plenty of weight to the iPad. Plus, the sting safety is substantial, so that you gained’t have to fret about injury from the inevitable, unintentional bumps your pill takes. I additionally like the additional flap Otterbox added that retains the iPad display screen cowl closed and holds the second-generation Apple Pencil to the aspect of the iPad Professionals. Symmetry Sequence 360 circumstances can be found for many iPad fashions, and whereas they’re costlier than some no-name iPad case you may discover on Amazon, they’re value it if you’d like a terrific steadiness of safety and elegance.
Talking of cheaper iPad circumstances that refill Amazon’s search outcome pages, some which are truly worthwhile are from Moko and ProCase. Should you like the appear and feel of Apple’s Sensible Cowl, however don’t need to drop $50-plus on one, each of those manufacturers have dupes that offer you that model at a fraction of the price of the first-party choice. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
Should you actually need to indulge, Apple’s personal Magic Keyboard is the best way to go. This costly keyboard folio magnetically attaches to the newest iPad Professionals and retains them “floating” above the keyboard and trackpad. We praised the Magic Keyboard for its typing consolation and exact trackpad, however dinged it for its restricted vary of movement. It’s simply the fanciest keyboard case obtainable for the iPad and it’s one to think about if cash is not any object — or if you’d like probably the most fashionable iPad keyboard cash should buy. — V.P.
iPad stands and docks
Of the plethora of iPad stands I’ve used, Twelve South’s HoverBar Duo is the one which has come closest to good. The “duo” within the identify refers to the truth that the gadget can both prop your iPad up utilizing an arm connected to a weighted base, or the identical arm simply connected to a desk or desk utilizing its included clamp. The stand comes absolutely assembled on the weighted base, but it surely’s fairly simple to change to the clamp because of the included directions and fundamental instruments within the field. Should you spring for the latest model, it’ll be even simpler because of a brand new quick-switch tab that allows you to swap between the weighted base and the clamp attachment with any further instruments.
It wasn’t arduous to safe my 11-inch iPad Professional within the vice-grip that’s the HoverBar Duo’s pill clip, though it did take some power to maneuver the arm into the proper place. That’s in all probability for the perfect as a result of it confirmed how robust the arm is; it stayed in place with out buckling, sliding down or in any other case breaking a sweat. I largely used the HoverBar Duo with the clamp attachment, which allowed me to make use of my iPad Professional as a secondary display screen whereas working. The included clamp ought to match most desks and tables too, as it will probably accommodate floor thickness from 0.4 inch to 1.4 inches.
Should you’re keen to sacrifice flexibility for one thing extra elegant, Elago’s P2 stand for iPad could also be match. It’s fabricated from a single piece of aluminum with a ledge to your iPad and some well-placed cutouts which you can snake a charging cable by way of. The ledge can also be vast sufficient to accommodate most iPad circumstances. It might not be foldable or adjustable, however its minimalist design will make it a pretty addition to your desk. — V.P.
Working at a pc could be a ache within the neck (actually), so I needed a technique to play with my iPad after work with out having to raise my head off the sofa. Certain, I might use my arms, however that will get tiring. This Tablift iPad holder appears just a little humorous, like some mech-spider attacking your chest, but it surely works precisely as I’d hoped. The adjustable legs are repositionable however fairly sturdy as soon as they’re in place, and three slots maintain your pill at completely different angles, together with a forward-leaning one which’s significantly good for mendacity down. It’s just a little cumbersome, so I curl up the legs and retailer it underneath my sofa. The slots and securing clip carry out finest in case your gadget is bare, although I’ve been ready to make use of it with a Smart Folio connected with little challenge. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter
Should you plan on pushing your iPad Professional to its limits as a day by day driver, you’ll in all probability want greater than the pill’s single USB-C port. Apple has supplied little steerage to which USB-C hubs and adapters work finest with the iPad Professionals — there’s no MFi certification for equipment like this but. Some hubs particularly promote that they work with the latest iPad Professionals, and if you wish to be further secure, I like to recommend shopping for a kind of that comes from a good model.
Satechi’s $100 Aluminum Stand and Hub is a favourite for its foldable design and the way it packs ports and charging capabilities right into a compact iPad accent. The holder itself rotates outward, revealing a hidden, connected USB-C cable and a rubber bumper that retains the stand in place in your desk. On the again edge are a 4K HDMI socket, one USB-A port, a headphone jack, each SD and microSD card slots and a 60W USB-C connection for charging.
I favored the flexibility of Satechi’s hub. I might simply use it after I wanted to prop my iPad as much as watch a YouTube video, and by simply plugging within the connected cable, I might change to utilizing my iPad as extra of a piece gadget with the entire essential connectors in place. It’s additionally surprisingly mild at 10 ounces. Mix that with its foldable design and you’ve got a full-featured hub that may simply be stuffed in a bag. — V.P.
Not everybody wants, or needs, to spend $100 on a dock for his or her iPad. (Should you’re utilizing it as a laptop computer substitute, it’s well worth the funding.) Should you’d somewhat spend much less, or simply need one thing a bit extra light-weight, Anker’s 7-in-1 USB-C hub is an efficient selection. It has most ports that you might ever need, with the one exception being an Ethernet jack. The slim dongle homes two USB-A ports, two USB-C connections, SD and microSD card slots and a 4K/30Hz HDMI port. We additionally like that it gives as much as 85W of pass-through charging, which implies you possibly can energy up your iPad whereas utilizing Anker’s hub as the principle connector between the pill and its charging cable. Anker makes a few variations of this hub, together with one that does have that coveted Ethernet port, but it surely’s arduous to beat $35 for the usual 7-in-1 mannequin. — V.P.
iPad keyboards and mice
Probably the greatest Bluetooth keyboards I’ve used just lately is the Logitech MX Keys Mini. It’s not designed particularly for the iPad, but it surely works fairly effectively with it. It combines plenty of the ergonomics and the overall appear and feel of the MX lineup right into a compact and transportable keyboard. The Keys Mini has a slim profile that’s barely raised as a result of its high bar, plus comfy backlit keys which are a dream to kind on. The backlight is one in all my favourite options as a result of it mechanically comes on when it senses your arms getting near the keyboard. That method it solely stays illuminated whenever you’re typing, conserving battery life in the long term. Logitech estimates the Keys Mini will last as long as 10 days, relying on backlight use, or as much as 5 months with none backlight use.
Logitech’s $100 MX Keys Mini could also be on the costly aspect, but it surely’s one which may very well be each your iPad keyboard and your important desk typing gadget. It might probably connect with as much as three units on the identical time, permitting you to swap between them rapidly with only a press of a key, and it has a couple of different helpful keys too like one which brings up the emoji picker and one other that mutes your microphone (fairly helpful on Zoom calls). However if you’d like an iPad keyboard that’s much more reasonably priced, and even thinner, we nonetheless just like the Logitech Keys to Go, which we’ve advisable previously and you’ll normally discover for between $50 and $70. — V.P.
We known as Logitech’s MX Anywhere 3S a “nearly ideal travel mouse.” It’s mild at simply 95 grams and the buttons are almost silent so that you gained’t bug anybody within the room together with your livid clicking. The improved 8K DPI optical sensor works on nearly any floor — together with, for instance, the upholstered arm of your sofa. Relying on the colour you decide, the MX Anyplace 3S is made out of between 61 and 78 p.c post-consumer recycled plastic. And the rechargeable battery lasts round 70 days on a cost. This era doesn’t embody a USB dongle (which wouldn’t work together with your iPad anyway) however we by no means observed any lag in Bluetooth efficiency in our exams anyway. — A.S.
iPad stylus
This seemingly gained’t come as a shock, however the Apple Pencil Pro is the perfect stylus you may get for the iPad. All fashions of the Apple Pencil are designed to work particularly with iPads and it reveals of their easy writing efficiency. The newest stylus has a double-tap characteristic which you can customise to a sure diploma, and pressure-sensitivity means that you can add as a lot or as little element as you need to digital art work. Plus, it nonetheless helps wi-fi charging whenever you snap it magnetically to the aspect of your pill. I extremely suggest shelling out the extra cash for an Apple Pencil when you’re an artist — you gained’t be upset. — V.P.
There are different choices which are extra reasonably priced than the Apple Pencil, although, like Logitech’s Crayon. It’s simply pretty much as good by way of latency and accuracy — drawing in Procreate was a lag-free expertise and my strokes all the time ended up precisely the place I needed them to be – and it’s much more grippy by default because of its oval-shaped design. However as somebody who primarily makes use of an Apple Pencil for digital artwork, I missed stress sensitivity when utilizing the Crayon.
Apart from that, the opposite greatest annoyance is that you need to use a Lightning or USB-C cable to cost it. (Even the latest mannequin for the iPad Professionals doesn’t magnetically connect to the pill for charging.) Whereas I wouldn’t recommend the Crayon for severe artists, I might suggest it for anybody who’s on a strict price range, particularly digital journal-keepers, dedicated note-takers and the like. — V.P.
iPad chargers
If I had been making an attempt to pack mild and will solely select one quick charger to carry with me, it could be Anker’s 67W three-port wall charger. Not solely is it much more compact than the earlier mannequin, it has three ports (together with one USB-A) and a max output of 67 watts. That’s sufficient to help most tablets and ultraportable laptops. And due to Anker’s PowerIQ 4.0 tech, the brick can detect which gadget plugged into its USB-C ports has the bottom battery earlier than allocating further juice to that gadget. For anybody who likes this design however needs one thing with the next energy output, Anker has a 100W model that is additionally actually compact. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
Of all the facility banks we tested, the Nimble Champ Pro was the second quickest to refill an iPad. The quickest general was Mophie’s large Powerstation Professional, however that one is absolutely overkill when you’re simply utilizing it for a pill. The Champ Professional, however, has a slim profile, a helpful carrying strap and two USB-C ports. On a fifth-generation iPad Air, it moved the battery gauge from 5 p.c to full in underneath two hours — and it nonetheless had sufficient juice leftover to offer it one other 75 p.c bump. That is the pack I seize after I’m having fun with my iPad on the sofa and don’t need to rise up to revive its dying battery. — A.S.
iPad display screen protectors
Should you’re a heavy person of the Apple Pencil or another stylus, it’s best to think about getting a display screen protector to your new iPad. They pull double-duty: Not solely do they act as a primary line of protection in case your iPad goes careening onto concrete, however they’ll additionally improve the digital drawing and writing expertise. Utilizing a stylus on an iPad is unusual at first as a result of gliding the stylus nib over a glass floor feels nothing like “regular” writing. Matte display screen protectors can get nearer to replicating the pen-on-paper expertise, they usually additionally stop the stylus nib from carrying down as rapidly.
Paperlike is the preferred model on this house, with matte display screen protectors for each mannequin of iPad. A set comes with two sheets and contains information stickers that will help you get the protector positioned correctly. The 2-pack usually sells for $40 ro $45, relying on the scale of your iPad. For one thing just a little cheaper, Bersem’s screen protectors are a terrific worth at $11 for a pack of two. Not solely does the matte end assist whenever you’re drawing or taking digital notes, but it surely additionally reduces display screen glare and doesn’t intervene with FaceID on the latest iPads. — A.S.
Bellemond’s “Kent Paper” overlay has probably the most satisfying texture of the paper-feel display screen protectors I’ve tried. The blur is minimal and the friction between the stylus and the display screen is good for drawing. I miraculously managed to get the Bellemond affixed with minimal bubbles after watching the video linked with the QR code on the field. Two sheets are available a pack, so you possibly can revert to a unadorned display screen for some time then return to the paper-feel down the street. Should you’d like just a little extra assist with correct placement of your display screen protector, you may admire Zagg’s GlassFusion+ Canvas which comes with a mounting tray for utility. It’s additionally made out of a polymer designed to soak up and defend your display screen from impression. — A.S.
All paper-feel protectors impart a slight blur, which is why magnetic covers which you can reposition make strong alternate options. They provide texture whenever you’re drawing or writing, however you possibly can take away them simply whenever you need to watch Star Trek with full readability. The PenMat from PenTips makes use of skinny magnets alongside the perimeters to affix the movie to your display screen and comes with a plastic sleeve to retailer the duvet whenever you’re not utilizing it. Utility and elimination is useless easy, and in addition, there are not any bubbles! The maintain is surprisingly safe and the mat has a lovely, velvety texture. I did discover a couple of faint squeaks when drawing with the Pencil, which didn’t trouble me however may bug those that are delicate to sounds. — A.S.
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