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My search for the best iPad Pro accessories

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My search for the best iPad Pro accessories

Former lead editor at Macworld, Jason Snell has covered Apple and other tech companies for two decades. You can find him at Six Colors, and the The Incomparable, Upgrade, and Clockwise podcasts.

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The iPad Pro wouldn’t be a good Apple product if it weren’t surrounded by a universe of accessories.

One of the things I love about the iPad Pro is that when it’s stripped down to its naked robotic core it’s a powerful, useful device in a small, easily-carried package. But the iPad Pro wouldn’t be an Apple product if it weren’t surrounded by a universe of accessories.

Every accessory adds functionality to the core product, but also complexity and weight. It’s a tricky balance, and here’s what I’ve found best suits my lifestyle.

Case, cover, and bag

Let’s talk protection. What you need depends on the lifestyle you lead. For me, an Apple Smart Cover has always been a must-have item — not only does it keep my screen from getting dirty or scratched, but it…

Jason SnellFormer lead editor at Macworld, Jason Snell has coated Apple and different tech firms for 20 years. You'll be able to in finding him at Six Colors, and the The Incomparable, Upgrade, and Clockwise podcasts.

The iPad Pro would not be a just right Apple product if it were not surrounded by way of a universe of accessories.

Considered one of the issues I really like about the iPad Pro is that once it is stripped right down to its naked robotic core it is a tough, helpful software in a small, easily-carried package deal. However the iPad Pro would not be an Apple product if it were not surrounded by way of a universe of accessories.

Each and every accent provides capability to the core product, but in addition complexity and weight. It is a tough stability, and here is what I have discovered best fits my way of life.

Case, duvet, and bag

Let's communicate coverage. What you wish to have is dependent upon the way of life you lead. For me, an Apple Sensible Duvet has all the time been a must have merchandise — now not handiest does it stay my display from getting grimy or scratched, however it is a handy method to mechanically lock the software, and doubles as a stand. For my 12.9-inch, I have augmented this coverage with the $79 Apple Silicone Case — however best when I am taking the iPad out and about. At house, the case remains in a drawer, as a result of (as is the case with virtually each and every 12.9-inch iPad Pro accent) it simply provides an excessive amount of bulk.

I do not use a devoted bag for my iPad, as a result of between my Sensible Duvet and any case I would possibly make a selection to decorate it in, I think lovely comfy losing it in the pc slot of my go-to messenger bag. However there are without a doubt luggage in the market which might be devoted to wearing iPad Execs (and the accessories, like the ones under, that we encompass them with). For me, the maximum necessary factor is maintaining issues as gentle as imaginable. (Any case large enough to hold a 13-inch pc will take care of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, in fact.)

The Apple Pencil

It's not that i am a pencil or pen aficionado. The instant my academics in class started accepting typed homework, I used to be handing it in recent off the dot-matrix printer.

Consequently, the $99 Apple Pencil isn't my private favourite iPad Pro accent, however it is a really superb piece of equipment. Instead of the cap (underneath which sits a male Lightning connector for fast charging), it is a tool with out an interface. Or, to place it extra correctly, it has got the similar interface as each and every writing enforce since palms first picked up a stick and drew in the filth.

Rapid charging

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is huge, with a large battery to compare. It takes an overly, very very long time (principally in a single day) to completely rate the battery with the inventory cable and adapter that Apple provides. However there is a solution to get a lot quicker charging — if you are prepared to pay the worth.

That worth is a $49 Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter — constructed for the new MacBook, but in addition solely suitable with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and a $25 USB-C to Lightning Cable. Different iPad fashions, even the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, do not have the circuitry to make use of the additional wattage that the USB-C Energy Adapter places out, however the giant iPad Pro does. When you are annoyed via the sluggish velocity of charging, it will simply be value $74 to mend that.

Adapters are your good friend

The iPad Pro's Lightning port is just right for charging, sure, however it is also some way for the tool to hook up with different units in tactics we would not blink two times about if we have been connecting to a standard desktop pc.

In spite of its identify, the $39 Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter isn't just for cameras. As a result of it will possibly itself be powered by the use of Lightning, it permits you to attach different USB units to the iPad, although they require extra energy than the iPad itself may just ship. I have used this adapter to energy high quality USB audio interfaces, USB microphones, or even Apple's personal $29 USB Ethernet adapter. (Sure, your iPad can use Ethernet.)

If you wish to have to glue your iPad to an exterior display, in all probability for a presentation, you will have to spend money on a few video adapters — simply as you might for a Mac pc. For the iPad, your choices are the $49 Lightning Digital AV Adapter — which has an HDMI port and helps as much as 1080p video — and the $49 Lightning to VGA Adapter, as a result of inevitably that position you are giving your subsequent presentation may have a 10-year-old projector that handiest helps VGA.

Talking of exterior video, the $149 Apple TV is in reality a horny nice iPad accent. You'll be able to use AirPlay to glue wirelessly to a TV with an Apple TV hooked up, liberating you from stressed out iPad adapter nonsense. There also are a large number of video resources which might be nonetheless now not to be had on the Apple TV, however have iOS apps that may can help you use AirPlay.

A stand or an arm

There are lots of, many iPad stands in the market — and much more stands intended for different functions that finally end up running nice as iPad stands. My good friend Andy Ihnatko has, for a number of years, sworn by way of a easy artwork stand he purchased at an artwork provide retailer for a couple of greenbacks. I incessantly use a picket stand intended for kitchen use that I picked up at Macworld Expo.

I do love a just right iPad stand, although. The Sensible Duvet can be utilized as a stand, positive, however it is not rather as strong as a forged stand made for this type of function.

As any person who frequently varieties on an iPad Pro the use of a Bluetooth keyboard, a stand is a smart addition. The one drawback is that, as with a pc, the ergonomics of getting your keyboard and show at identical heights don't seem to be in particular just right. I want somebody made a mounting arm I may just connect to a table or desk after which clip my 12.9-inch iPad Pro into, however I have never discovered one. (There are some for the 9.7-inch model, even though!)

The search for the best possible keyboard

So it is come to this. In many ways, the final iPad Pro accent in point of fact is an exterior keyboard.

There are a host to make a choice from, particularly in the event you throw Bluetooth keyboards into the equation; in all honesty, if you have got a spare Bluetooth keyboard round, it can be all you wish to have. (I wrote this very article on an Apple Magic Keyboard, hooked up by means of Bluetooth to my iPad Pro.)

I do like Apple's Smart Keyboard greater than I assumed I might. On the 9.7-inch iPad Pro it is lovely unbelievable, in spite of the shrunken-down key measurement. The 12.9-inch type is a tight keyboard, nevertheless it does upload to the bulk of the tool, so I favor the Sensible Duvet maximum of the time.

There are different keyboard choices if Apple's choices depart you not up to overjoyed, then again. The Logitech Create gives the typing revel in of a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, despite the fact that you need to clip the iPad into the case. iMore's personal Serenity Caldwell said it's clunky and heavy, but she loves it — and I positive agree on the "clunky and heavy" phase.

The brand new Razer Mechanical Keyboard case is much less clunky, however even heavier.

I have never but attempted the Zagg SlimBook Pro, however via maximum accounts it is much less clunky than the Create (it is Bluetooth-based, so you'll be able to detach the keyboard from the case) nevertheless it additionally has a lesser keyboard.

Briefly, I am not positive there is a best keyboard for the iPad Pro but. The Sensible Duvet comes shut, and so does a Bluetooth keyboard of your selection, coupled with a stand. Of all the accessories for the iPad Pro, it is humorous that the maximum necessary one could also be the person who hasn't actually been solved but.

Your selections

That about rounds up my adventures into iPad Pro accent territory. What gizmos and devices are you the use of for your iPad Pro?

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