My Favorite iPad Accessories in 2024
The accessories that enhance my iPad every day.
One of the biggest advantages of the iPad is its versatility. By itself, the iPad is a great device, but accessories enhance its adaptability. So I decided to put together a list of my favorite iPad accessories that improve my experience and make me more productive with the iPad. These are not listed in a particular order of usefulness per se, they’re just in the order I think of them:
Magic Keyboard Case
Unsurprisingly, Apple’s Magic Keyboard Case makes a big difference in productivity when I do a lot of typing. Finger typing on an 11” or larger iPad just isn’t very efficient or fast. For short bursts of writing, finger typing is fine, but for long-form writing, it can feel painfully slow. The Magic Keyboard Case makes writing much faster. It also adds a trackpad which makes the setup more laptop-like, and makes things more convenient when I want to use my iPad more like a laptop. Also included is an extra USB-C port for pass-through charging, and on the newer models for the M4 iPad Pros, includes an aluminum design with a row of function keys that make accessing some system features more convenient.
While there are plenty of good keyboard cases for the iPad to choose from, I prefer Apple’s Magic Keyboard Case because it is lighter than most other options, thinner, and adds the extra charging port which I often use for topping off my iPad while using other external accessories with the iPad’s own port. I also have found that the cantilever design of the Magic Keyboard case greatly improves the balance of the configuration compared to other cases I’ve seen and tried that tended to tip far easier. And I currently use an 11” iPad, so another consideration that went into my buying decision was the key sizing/spacing. I’ve seen several keyboard cases for the 11” iPad that have significantly shrunken down keys to fit on the narrower case. The way Apple approached this was to just trim some off of the edges of the longer keys at the edges of the keyboard. This results in keys that are sized and spaced almost the same as the keys on the 13” Magic Keyboard Case. So switching between standard keyboards and the keyboard on my 11” keyboard case isn’t as jarring as switching with some other 11” keyboard case.
All of these advantages do come with a higher price-tag than most third-party keyboard cases. Deals can be had on eBay or similar online retailers, so if the regular retail price sounds too high to you, then you could always look for deals. Here are links to the two different versions of the keyboard case:
Magic Keyboard Case for M4 iPad Pro: https://is.gd/47LxKM
Magic Keyboard Case for prior iPads: https://is.gd/n524uu
Apple Pencil
The Apple Pencil is hands down probably my all-around favorite accessory for the iPad. It’s great for note taking, though where it really shines in my workflow is for digital art and 3D modeling/sculpting. It’s also useful for using anywhere you would normally type when using the iPad without a keyboard.
One of the things I like about the Apple Pencil vs other styluses I’ve tried is that it lacks physical buttons that can collect dust or get damaged, and overall somewhat interfere with the ergonomics. Instead, it uses touch gestures on the barrel of the pencil to trigger features. A quick double tap on the side of the pencil will switch to another pencil tool such as the eraser, or can trigger several other system pencil functions to choose from such as switching to the last used tool, showing the color palette, etc. Many apps include customization options for this gesture to select a tool or function of the app to trigger by double-tapping. The new Apple Pencil Pro designed for the M4 iPad Pro also incorporates a new gesture called “squeeze”. This triggers a feature or function by pinching the barrel of the pencil. This gesture can also be customized similarly to the double-tap gesture. Another change with the new Apple Pencil Pro is the integration of “Find My”. This ought to be helpful for those who may have a hard time keeping track of their stylus.
The pressure and tilt sensitivity are great for art. And the pencil also adds a much higher level of precision when interacting with designs or 3D models and sculpts. For sculpting, it feels more fluid as a chisel-like implement for shaping the digital “clay”. It is an essential accessory for my workflow, and I would highly recommend the stylus as one of the top accessories to enhance the functionality of the iPad.
There are several different versions of the Apple Pencil, so if you’re looking to buy one, you’ll want to check its compatibility with your iPad model. Below I’ve provided links to the different versions available:
Apple Pencil Pro for M4 iPad Pro: https://is.gd/rmCEe9
Apple Pencil USB-C: https://is.gd/smjVUk
Apple Pencil 2nd Generation: https://is.gd/Axwm26
Apple Pencil 1st Generation: https://is.gd/ivXo7t
Anker 541 USB-C Hub
For those who need additional ports to connect various accessories or storage devices, a good USB-C hub is essential for expanding the iPad’s connectivity. The Anker 541 Hub is my favorite hub for using with my iPad because it’s very small and compact for a hub, but is built very well and provides a good variety of ports. And rather than having a long cable between the hub and the iPad, it instead has a USB-C plug directly on the side, making it more convenient when using the iPad handheld. It includes all of the basic ports like HDMI, USB-C, USB-A for older USB accessories, SD Card slot, a Micro SD Card slot, and a headphone jack. This often proves useful when using older USB accessories with the USB-A port, and using an external monitor. As I mentioned before, the build quality is great, it has an all-aluminum shell, and the finish closely matches those of the iPad. It’s definitely a great option for those who might be in the market for a USB-C hub for their iPad. Below is an Amazon link (it’s not an affiliate link):
Anker 541 USB-C Hub for iPad: https://is.gd/FBPUds
ESR Paper-Feel Magnetic Screen Protector
I use a tempered glass screen protector on my iPad for protecting its display, but I still wanted to benefit from a more paper-like texture for drawing and writing. I like the gloss look of my iPad’s display, so I didn’t want to add a more permanent matte paper-like screen protector. This is where the ESR screen protector works perfectly. It magnetizes to the bezels of the iPad, and so it can be used over an ordinary tempered glass screen protector and removed when no longer needed. It doesn’t fit with the Magic Keyboard Case closed because it’s too thick, but it is great for when using the iPad without a keyboard case for drawing or note-taking. It adds enough friction with its textured surface that it feels more like writing with a pencil on paper than the Apple Pencil normally does with the tempered glass screen protector I normally use. It does add a matte finish, but it’s generally fine for note-taking and drawing and also seems to reduce glare on the iPad’s screen. I think this is definitely a good choice for those who want a paper-like experience for writing and drawing but also want the ability to easily remove it when they want a gloss finish. There are different versions for different iPad models, so as usual, be sure to choose the right size for your iPad. The version linked below is the size for the iPad Air 4th and 5th Generation, and the 11” iPad Pro 1st Generation through to the 4th Generation:
ESR Paper Feel Magnetic Screen Protector https://is.gd/UAXVVZ
Samsung USB-C Flash Drive
External drives are very useful for backing up files or for storing larger files that you don’t want to keep on your iPad’s native storage. SSDs are generally the way to go for transferring larger volumes of data because file transfers are typically several times faster with an SSD than standard USB flash drives. But external SSD drives are also larger than a flash drive and so can be less portable. And when using the iPad as a tablet handheld, an external SSD tethered with a cable can be awkward. This is why I decided to try this USB-C flash drive for storing project files that I want to access on the go.
This drive has worked perfectly for my use case! I got one with 256GB worth of storage, so it gives me plenty of extra space for 3D modeling/sculpting and art project files. And file transfers are very fast. I don’t regret choosing this as a portable storage solution over an external SSD from a speed or portability perspective. I do make sure to keep backups of the files I store on it just in case, as some say that USB flash drives can be less stable than SSDs, though this doesn’t seem to be as common of a shortcoming of USB flash drives anymore.
Another thing I like about this particular flash drive is its size and build quality. Even by USB flash drive standards, this drive is very small, and the shell is all aluminum. It also comes with a nice cap for protecting the USB-C plug end. It’s also advertised to be waterproof, shockproof, magnetproof, temperatureproof, and x-rayproof. It also comes with a 5-year warranty. I would highly recommend this for those who want a portable storage solution and don’t need the benefits of a portable SSD. Below is the Amazon link:
Samsung USB-C Flash Drive: https://is.gd/1jZFOR
Conclusion
These are a few of my most frequently used accessories. Combined, they streamline my workflow and make the iPad an even more versatile device. I hope you find some of these recommendations useful.